Triton
Triton is the narrator and the protagonist of Reef. As a boy, Triton begins to work for Mister Salgado. A curious, quick learner, Triton strives for perfection in his work, particularly his cooking. Focused on domestic work and introspection, Triton pays little attention to the political unrest around him. Later, Triton moves with Mister Salgado to England, where he opens his own restaurant.
Ranjan Salgado
Ranjan Salgado is Triton's employer and an upper-class academic. Mister Salgado is a quiet, private man who studies oceanography, particularly coral reefs.
Joseph
Joseph is Mister Salgado's head servant when Triton comes to the Salgado household. Rude and bitter, Joseph is dismissed after showing up to work drunk and assaulting Triton. Triton hates Joseph and is afraid of him.
Nili
Nili is a Christian hotel manager of a lower social class who has a romantic relationship with Mister Salgado. Nili enjoys an eccentric social circle and later leaves Mister Salgado after he accuses her of having an affair with an American.
Lucy-amma
Lucy-amma is Mister Salgado's elderly chef. Triton learns about cooking by watching her.
Dias Liyanage
Dias is Mister Salgado's childhood friend who works as a government officer. Mr. Dias is good-natured, a drinker and smoker who takes pride in his connections with influential people, including the Queen of England. After the opposition party takes over in Sri Lanka, Dias goes missing and is presumed dead.
Wijetunga
Wijetunga is Mister Salgado's assistant at the oceanography research lab. He finds it difficult to speak in Mister Salgado's presence and later encourages Triton to join the anti-capitalist revolution.
Tippy
Tippy is Mister Salgado's opportunistic friend who studied in America, enjoys gambling, and disrespects Triton and Nili. While trying to make money off the Sri Lankan Civil War, Tippy informs Mister Salgado that Nili is alone in a mental hospital.
Robert
Robert is a highly educated American and part of Mister Salgado and Nili's friend group. He is criticized for his licentious behavior, taking advantage of impoverished Sri Lankan women. Robert and Nili have a short-lived affair, which ends Nili's relationship with Mister Salgado.
Mr. Pando
Mr. Pando is Mister Salgado's neighbor. When his wife catches him cheating, she coats Mr. Pando's body in chili peppers, causing him to cough and sweat for the rest of his life. Mr. Pando's screams of pain are the first disruption to Triton's "paradise" in Mister Salgado's household.
