The room fell silent. An eerie silence.
Not the kind of silence born out of fear.
But the kind that comes when something dangerous begins to make sense.
The devils looked at one another.
For the very first time in eternity, they were not thinking about punishment. Not the slightest.
They were thinking about… potential. A new idea was just found, but existed right in front of them, until a politician from Sri Lanka had to show them.
“Say that again,” Ring a Bell leaned forward.
Senasuru adjusted his invisible tie. He knew the tables had turned.
“I can make Hell… more efficient.” He sounded almost heroic. Dangerously so
A murmur spread across the table.
Your Nightmare scratched his chin. Ring a Bell was breathing heavily. Judas the Senior’s eyes were gazing at a future horizon. Stabber the Great was smacking his chops. Every devil had a sense of zealous anticipation.
“Efficient how?”
“Metrics,” Senasuru replied instantly. He knew he had the room under his thumb.
“Targets. Performance-based torture. Resource optimization. Branding.”
“Branding?” Calm as Hell raised an eyebrow.
“Yes,” he said calmly.
“Right now, Hell is feared, naturally. But fear alone is outdated. You need engagement. Retention. Loyalty.”
“Loyalty?” Judas the Senior chuckled nervously.
“Yes. Repeat customers,” Senasuru said, without blinking.
Even the flames in the chamber seemed to hesitate.
“What exactly are you suggesting?” asked Stabber the Great.
Senasuru walked slowly around the table, as if he already belonged there.
“You see, you’ve been doing this all wrong, all along.”
The devils stiffened.
“You punish people after they die,” he continued.
‘’I mean, think about it. Punishing the dead is as bad as beating a dead horse. But we… we perfected the art of making them suffer while they are alive.”
A deep, uncomfortable silence followed.
“We made them stand in lines they will never finish.
We gave them hope just enough to keep them waiting.
We made them fight each other while we watched from above.
We turned survival into a competition… and called it democracy.
Imagine a man of power reduced to survival abroad… because of decisions he once defended and thanks to the crisis we created. Now that is the art of psychological pain. Way more brutal and efficient than your lava pits ‘’
No one spoke. They had just been served the coldest dish of reality, an uncomfortable truth they couldn’t swallow.
Not even Double-Trouble wanted to utter a word.
“We didn’t need fire,” Senasuru smiled faintly.
“We made them burn anyway.”
Calm as Hell slowly closed the file.
There was something in her eyes now.
Not anger.
Not disgust.
But realization.
“And you’re saying… ” You can bring this here?” she asked quietly.
Senasuru nodded.
“Hell doesn’t need to expand.”
He paused.
“It needs to evolve.”
The board exchanged glances.
This was not supposed to happen.
They were supposed to judge him.
Not… learn from him.
After a long silence, Ring a Bell finally spoke.
“Very well.”
He straightened in his seat.
“Senasuru Bandara…”
A pause.
“…you are hereby appointed as Strategic Advisor to the Torture Policy Board.”
Double-Trouble dropped his dagger.
“But my lord,” he stuttered.
“Silence.”
Senasuru bowed slightly.
Not out of respect.
But out of habit.
“Effective immediately,” Ring a Bell continued,
“You will begin restructuring Hell.”
Senasuru smiled.
That same smile he had worn during elections.
“And your first proposal?” asked Your Nightmare.
Senasuru turned slowly.
“There’s no need to build new torture chambers.”
He looked around the room.
“We’ll outsource.”
“To where?” whispered Judas the Senior.
Senasuru’s smile widened.
“To Earth.”
And somewhere far away, on a small island once called paradise…
A new election was being announced.
Dhanuka Dickwella is a distinguished Sri Lankan poet, author, and multifaceted professional whose work spans literature, geopolitics, and social activism. Holding a Master’s degree in International Relations, he has established himself as an expert in geopolitics and geoeconomics, fields that inform his analytical and creative endeavours.
His professional portfolio includes significant editorial and journalistic roles: he serves as the Executive Editor of The Asian Reviews magazine, a platform dedicated to bridging the literary worlds of East and West. Additionally, he contributes as a guest writer for the Chicago-based Armenian Mirror-Spectator, focusing on geopolitical issues in the Caucasus region, and as a columnist and guest speaker for Force, an Indian magazine addressing security and defense matters. Dickwella’s career in public service is equally notable. Dhanuka Dickwella is the Chief Coordinator for Canada for the Panorama International Literature Festival 2026. He has been actively involved in Sri Lankan politics, having served as a grassroots politician, political campaign director, and council member of a local government body in a rural Sri Lankan town. Prior to his political engagements, he founded and led a foundation dedicated to empowering youth and supporting underprivileged communities, reflecting his commitment to social equity. Currently, he advises youth groups on political activism and broader political trends, leveraging his extensive experience to foster the next generation of civic leaders. Beyond his analytical and political pursuits, Dickwella is a celebrated poet and blogger whose literary work explores the complexities of human emotion and experience. His debut poetry collection, Voices of Lust, Love and Other Things, showcases his ability to weave personal narrative with universal themes. An ardent climate and social activist, he champions sustainable development and social justice, driven by a vision of a better world for future generations. A proud Sri Lankan patriot, Dickwella is also a devoted father to his daughter, whose influence is a cornerstone of his personal and creative life. Dhanuka Dickwella’s diverse achievements reflect a rare synthesis of intellectual rigor, artistic expression, and civic dedication, positioning him as a prominent voice in both Sri Lankan and global contexts.
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