Riza Jaufer is a Sri Lankan writer born in 1987, whose literary work spans multiple languages, including English and Tamil. His writing often explores Sri Lankan cultural narratives and societal issues, particularly focusing on the personal and professional struggles of individuals navigating these complexities.
Riza published a magazine named "Thoorikai" (தூரிகை), an independent Tamil-language magazine in 2016. Although it had a short run, it marked an important step in his career.
At the age of 23, Riza began his career as the managing editor of NewsView, a bilingual regional monthly newspaper in Sri Lanka, predominantly published in Tamil. During his time at NewsView (2011–2013), he wrote numerous short stories that were published in the newspaper, enriching its cultural and literary content.
Riza is perhaps best known for his debut novel, The Sri Lankan Profession. The first few chapters of the novel were written in Tamil and published in Thoorikai between 2016 and 2017.
However, Riza later rewrote the novel in English during covid lockdown, continuing the story in a new language.
The novel was fully published on this blog, offering readers an early opportunity to engage with the story. However, circumstances have yet to provide an opportunity to make it available in print.
The Sri Lankan Profession explores themes of identity, ambition, and societal expectations, with a particular focus on the personal and professional struggles of its characters. It is one of the first English-language novels to offer a unique perspective on the lives of Sri Lankan Muslims, examining the challenges of balancing personal ambition with societal pressures.
Riza’s diverse academic background, which includes degrees in Business Management and Islamic Law, along with a postgraduate diploma in Psychology, enriches his writing with a nuanced understanding of human behavior.
He also has experience in teaching and motivational speaking, focusing on holistic personal development, and hopes to return to this in the future.
Riza Jaufer may be contacted via rizajaufer.english@gmail.com
