Shehan Karunatilaka is a Sri Lankan novelist, screenwriter, and writer known for his inventive storytelling and sharp social satire. He was born in Galle and grew up in Colombo. He later studied in New Zealand and has worked internationally in cities such as London, Singapore, and Amsterdam, as well as in advertising, journalism, and creative writing.

Karunatilaka is best known for his novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida (2022), which won the Booker Prize and was originally published in South Asia as Chats with the Dead (2020). His earlier novel, Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew (2010), also received major critical acclaim and multiple awards.

His work often blends satire, mystery, and political commentary, particularly focusing on Sri Lankan history, society, and conflict. He is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary voices in South Asian literature, known for his originality, dark humour, and imaginative narrative style.