The Nikon camera
The Nikon camera symbolizes Maali's passion. Maali is passionate about showing the world the evils in Sri Lanka. The best way to achieve that objective is to befriend his camera to help him capture moments that will inform the world about human suffering in Sri Lanka. The reader learns that Maali is keen on maintaining his Nikon camera because it gives him a reason to continue living despite the persistent threats from the authorities.
The photographs
The photographs symbolize the suffering of the Sri Lankan people. Maali is a journalist by profession and takes photos of the prevailing situation. The photos show how people are killed and their properties destroyed. The government is doing little to prevent the escalating situation. One of the photos shows a senior government official staring at burning houses while smiling. Consequently, the government and other militia are using violence to score selfish goals at the expense of innocent citizens.
Bloodstained clothes
The bloodstained clothes symbolize the brutality journalists are exposed to in Sri Lanka. When Maali wakes up, he is surrounded by several journalists in the form of souls in misery. Their clothes are stained with blood. Other journalists have no limbs. The government does not want journalists to expose their evils to the world, and anyone going against that directive is tortured and killed.
