ROY RATNAVEL was born in 1969 in the capital city of Colombo, Sri Lanka. At the age of seventeen, he became a political prisoner, and spent grueling months in brutal and oppressive conditions. After his miraculous release from prison, he arrived in Canada all alone at the age of eighteen. Ratnavel is now an executive at Canada's largest independent asset management company. He is an accidental Sri Lankan by birth, an unapologetic Tamil by heritage, and a proud Canadian by choice. Prisoner #1056 is his first book. Ratnavel currently resides in Toronto with his wife and son.
Millions of people fleeing countries less fortunate have found here in Canada a refuge from mistrust and hatred and violence which has allowed them to achieve their potential in the rich soil of our freedom. Roy's life is one such story. While Roy's remarkable personal journey is unique to him, reading his book one cannot help but hear a familiar refrain that will resonate with millions of Canadians, because at its core it is the story of the immigrant experience. And in the final analysis, we are all children of immigrants. -The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, 18th Prime Minister of Canada Pick up this book and you'll feel like taking on the world. Roy Ratnavel's story proves that you really do make your own luck, that you really can make it to the top with hard work-and that there are still people out there with the courage to speak their minds. An exciting, thoughtful, inspiring read. -Jeff Rubin, bestselling author of The Expendables A stirring struggle to forge promise and purpose from a life scarred by pain, and to bridge two worlds with compassion and hustle learned in each of them. Ratnavel shows we can pull each other up by our bootstraps. -James Bradshaw, reporter for The Globe and Mail