Anil’s Ghost Character Analysis

Anil

Anil is Nelson’s daughter and the novel’s protagonist. As a forensic pathologist, she is sent by a human rights group to investigate human rights abuses related to the civil war in Sri Lanka, where… read analysis of Anil

Sarath

Sarath is Gamini’s brother and one of Palipana’s protégés. Ravina is his former wife, and he works closely with Anil as they investigate Sailor’s death and identity. Sarath has been appointed to… read analysis of Sarath

Sailor/Ruwan

Sailor is the name that Anil and Sarath use to refer to the skeleton they find in Bandarawela—the skeleton that was interred recently after being exhumed from its initial burial site. Anil and Sarath later… read analysis of Sailor/Ruwan

Ananda

Ananda is Sirissa’s husband. Ananda once worked ceremonially painting the eyes of statues of the Buddha, but after Sirissa goes missing during a massacre in the Ratnapura district, he falls into despair and begins… read analysis of Ananda

Gamini

Gamini is Chrishanti’s ex-husband and Sarath’s brother. Sarath and Gamini’s relationship is marked by fierce sibling rivalry, as when he was growing up, Gamini often felt like he lived in Sarath’s shadow. Gamini… read analysis of Gamini

Palipana

Palipana is Nārada’s brother and Sarath’s mentor. Palipana also connects Anil and Sarath with Ananda, who helps them solve the mystery of Sailor’s identity. Palipana was a renowned anthropologist in Sri… read analysis of Palipana

Gunesena

Gunesena is a man whom Sarath and Anil find with nails through both of his palms, affixing him to the road, as they return to Colombo after visiting Palipana. Gunesena’s injuries underline both the… read analysis of Gunesena

Nārada

Nārada is Palipana’s brother, and he also served as a teacher for Sarath. Sarath says that Nārada, who was a monk, helped him understand himself in a simpler and clearer way. Though Palipana… read analysis of Nārada

President Katugala

In Anil’s Ghost, President Katugala is the president of Sri Lanka. He disavows any knowledge of the government’s role in war crimes, state-sponsored terrorism, and extrajudicial killings. Anil and Sarath know Katugala isn’t telling… read analysis of President Katugala

Dr. Perera

Dr. Perera is the senior medical officer at the hospital where Anil works. Dr. Perera once worked with Anil’s father, Nelson, which makes Anil start to trust him. Dr. Perera is portrayed as a… read analysis of Dr. Perera

Minor Characters

Cullis

Cullis is the man with whom Anil was most recently romantically involved. Cullis was married to another woman for the entirety of his relationship with Anil. Anil ultimately grew tired of being in a relationship that could not move forward, so she broke off the relationship.

Sirissa

Sirissa is Ananda’s wife and a school employee who disappeared during a massacre in the Ratnapura district in 1989.

Leaf

Leaf is a friend of Anil’s whom Anil met when they worked together in Arizona. Leaf and Anil enjoyed watching Hollywood movies together. Leaf later develops Alzheimer’s disease, which drastically changes Leaf and Anil’s friendship.

Ravina (Sarath’s Wife)

Sarath’s wife Ravina took her own life before the events of the story take place. Gamini was also in love with Ravina, though Sarath does not seem to be aware of that.

Chitra

Chitra is an entomologist who Anil enlists to help narrow down where Sailor may have been initially buried. By analyzing insect larvae in Sailor’s bones, Chitra discovers that Sailor was most likely first buried in the south of Sri Lanka.

Dr. Linus Corea

Dr. Linus Corea is a doctor who insurgent fighters kidnapped from a golf course in the early 1980s. The insurgents then forced Corea to act as the doctor to their wounded soldiers.

Chrishanti

Chrishanti is Gamini’s ex-wife, who left their marriage in large part because Gamini had become so consumed by his work that he didn’t have time for much else.

Lakma

Lakma is Palipana’s niece, who is both his guide and his pupil at the monastery where he lives.

Lalitha

Lalitha was Anil’s caretaker when Anil was a child.

Nelson (Anil’s Father)

Nelson is Anil’s father. He was a prominent doctor in Sri Lanka who died in a car crash along with Anil’s mother. Anil remembers him fondly and wishes he were still alive so she could continue to learn from him.

R——

R—— is the suicide bomber who kills President Katugala and 50 civilians at the end of the novel.

Anil’s Ghost Characters