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 was more professionally successful than Nārada, Sarath says that there was no detectable sibling rivalry between the two brothers, at least not on Nārada’s part. That provides a stark contrast to Sarath’s relationship with his brother, Gamini, which is defined by a fierce sibling rivalry. Nārada was killed under mysterious circumstances before the events of the novel take place, making him another victim of the war’s violence and someone whose killers will most likely never face justice for their crimes.