Sri Lankan literature is the literary tradition of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...

. The largest part of Sri Lankan literature

Literature

Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...

 was written in the Sinhala language, but there is a considerable amount of works in other languages used in Sri Lanka over the millennia (including Pāli

Páli

- External links :* *...

, Tamil

Tamil language

Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...

, and English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

).

Up to the present, short stories are a very important part of Sri Lankan literature; the output of Sinhalese short story writers is greater than that of the Tamil and English writers combined and has elicited a greater measure of critical analysis.

Sinhala Writers

Liyanage Amarakerthi Gunadasa Amarasekara Gunadasa Amarasekara Gunadasa Amarasekera is a prominent Sinhala writer, poet, and essayist from Sri Lanka. Gunadasa Amarasekera was born in Yattalamatta in Galle District. He was educated at Mahinda College, Galle and Nalanda College Colombo... Somaratne Balasooriya Indu Perera Chandraratna Bandara Asoka Colombage Shri Charles De Silva Sugathapala de Silva Sugathapala de Silva Sugathapala De Silva is an acclaimed Sri Lankan dramatist and novelist, translator, radio play producer, and Sinhala Radio Play writer.-Early life:... Aluthgamage Simon De Silva Daya Dissanayake Ranjith Dharmakeerthi N.H Yadun Gunaratne Siri Gunasinghe Siri Gunasinghe Siri Gunasinghe is a sanskritist, art historian, premier Sinhalese poet, novelist, literary critic and film maker.-Early life & Career:Siri Gunasinghe was born in Kegalle District of Sri Lanka... T.B. Ilangaratne Eric Illayapparachchi Eric Illayapparachchi Eric Illayapparachchi is a Sinhalese writer and poet. He wrote the libretto for Agni, an opera composed by Premasiri Khemadasa which had its premiere on 26 May 2007 in Colombo. One of his short stories was made into a television drama for the series Vinividimi Adura on Sri Lanka's ITN network... Jayasena Jayakody Soma Jayakody Karunasena Jayalath P.B Jayasekara P.B Jayasekara P.B. Jayasekara, also known as Premathilaka Jayasekara, is a Sri Lankan short story writer and translator. His short story, kotiyawas awarded the first place at the Ravaya literary festivals in 1993 and Darudukawon the first place at the "Independent literary festival" in... Bhadraji Mahinda Jayatillake K. Jayatillake K. Jayatillake Kaluachchigamage Jayatillake is a Sinhala novelist and literary critic. He was born in Kannimahara, Gampha district, Sri Lanka and was a contemporary of Mahagama Sekara having studied in the same school...

P. M. Jayatillake Piyasena Kahandagamage Piyasena Kahandagamage Piyasena Kahandagamage is a Sinhala novelist and poet. Born in Baddegama, Galle, Sri Lanka he was a teacher by profession and a union leader... Kapila Kumara Kalinga D.F. Kariyakarawana Jayatilleke Kammallaweera Kumara Karunaratna Munidasa Kumaratunga Sirilal Kodikara Sirilal Kodikara Sirilal Kodikara is a novelist, poet, journalist, and radio play writer who writes in Sinhala.He was a Buddhist priest in the early part of his life.-Work:... Dharma Sri Kuruppu Gunadasa Liyanage Sunanda Mahendra Sunanda Mahendra Sunanda Mahendra’s Ogha Tharanaya won the State Literary Award for the bestSinhala poetry collection, 2006. Many poems from thecollection are now translated into English. He has won the State... Anula Wijeratne Menike Hemapala Munidasa Arawwala Nandimitra Simon Navagattegama Rupa Sriyani Ekanayake Cyril C. Perera Tennyson Perera Kamal Perera Sumithra Rahubadda Sunethra Rajakarunanayake

Maya Ranjan Madawala S. Ratnayake Nandasena Ratnapala Ediriweera Sarachchandra Ediriweera Sarachchandra Ediriweera Sarachchandra was an Sri Lankan playwright, novelist, poet, literary critic, essayist and social commentator. Considered Sri Lanka's premier playwright, he was a senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya for many years and served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to France .- Early... Upulshantha Sannasgala Mahagama Sekara Mahagama Sekara Mahagama Sekara is one of Sri Lanka's well known poets and was a significant figure in Sinhalese poetry. He was also a teacher, lyricist, playwright, novelist, artist, translator and a filmmaker. Sekera is best remembered as a poet and songwriter with several of his works even becoming popular... G. B. Senanayake G. B. Senanayake Gunathilake Bandara Senanayake was a prominent Sinhala writer who portrayed Sinhala middle-class life in his novels... G. S. B. Senanayake H. A. Seneviratna A. V. Suraweera Benthota Albert Silva Piyadasa Sirisena W. A. Silva W. A. Silva W. A. Silva was a best selling author of Sinhala literature. Wellawattearachchige Abraham Silva was born in Wellawatte, Colombo... Janaki Sooriyarachchi Miniwan P. Tillakaratne Ajith Thilakasena Ajith Thilakasena Ajith Thilakasena is a critically acclaimed Sinhala writer who deviated from the conventional use of language and created his own version which is suitable for the modern age... Sena Thoradeniya Gunasena Vithana Sybil Wettasinghe Martin Wickramasinghe Martin Wickramasinghe Martin Wickramasinghe , MBE was a Sri Lankan novelist. His books have been translated into several langues.... Sarath Wijesooriya Gunadasa liyanage

Sinhala Poets

Veththawe Thero Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thero Gajaman Nona Elapatha Mudali Munidasa Kumaratunga S. Mahinda Thero Sagara Palansooriya P. B. Alwis Perera Wimalaratne Kumaragama Wimalaratne Kumaragama Wimalaratne Kumaragama is a prominent Sri Lankan poet, of the Colombo era. A Divisional Revenue Officer by profession, his poems were centred round Wanni,and the people of Wanni. They emanate the life of the villagers and its characters, surroundings, environment, animals and their experiences... Rafael Tennakoon Arisen Ahubudu Siri Gunasinghe Siri Gunasinghe Siri Gunasinghe is a sanskritist, art historian, premier Sinhalese poet, novelist, literary critic and film maker.-Early life & Career:Siri Gunasinghe was born in Kegalle District of Sri Lanka... Mahagama Sekara Mahagama Sekara Mahagama Sekara is one of Sri Lanka's well known poets and was a significant figure in Sinhalese poetry. He was also a teacher, lyricist, playwright, novelist, artist, translator and a filmmaker. Sekera is best remembered as a poet and songwriter with several of his works even becoming popular... Gunadasa Amarasekara Gunadasa Amarasekara Gunadasa Amarasekera is a prominent Sinhala writer, poet, and essayist from Sri Lanka. Gunadasa Amarasekera was born in Yattalamatta in Galle District. He was educated at Mahinda College, Galle and Nalanda College Colombo... Parakrama Kodituwakku Parakrama Kodituwakku Parakrama Kodituwakku , is a notable Sinhala poet. After the revival and experimentations of Sinhala poetry during 1950s and 1960s, the 1970s were marked by the rise of several young poets including Parakrama Kodituwakku, Monica Ruwanpathirana and Rathansri Wijesinghe... Buddhadasa Galappatty Monica Ruwanpathirana Eric Illayapparachchi Eric Illayapparachchi Eric Illayapparachchi is a Sinhalese writer and poet. He wrote the libretto for Agni, an opera composed by Premasiri Khemadasa which had its premiere on 26 May 2007 in Colombo. One of his short stories was made into a television drama for the series Vinividimi Adura on Sri Lanka's ITN network...

Rathna Sri Wijesinghe Sunil Ariyaratne Sunil Sarath Perera Senerath Gonsalkorala Kithsiri Nimalshantha Sirilal Kodikara Sirilal Kodikara Sirilal Kodikara is a novelist, poet, journalist, and radio play writer who writes in Sinhala.He was a Buddhist priest in the early part of his life.-Work:... Ariyawansha Ranaweera Dharma Sri Kuruppu Lal Hegoda Darshana Medis Upananda Batugedara Meemana Prematilaka H.M. Kudaligama Wimlasiri Perera D.A. Kumarasingha U.A.S. Prera ( Siri Ayiya) Kapila E. Senevirathna John Rajadasa

Wilson Hagoda Wimalendra Wathuregama Bantis Ranaweera Makandure Gunawardana B.H. Amarasena Sudharma Senevirathna Chandrasena Batugedara Somapala Jayakody Sesiri Wijesekara Manjula Wediwardana Upul Senadheerage Thushari Priyangika Vipuli Niroshini Hettiarachchi Lakshantha Athukorala Gamunu P. Dasanayake Eng.Tharindu Weerasinghe Upekala Bhagya Athukorala Capt. Tharindu Weerasinghe Sajeewani Kasthuriarachchi Udaya R.Tennakoon

Sunanda Karunaratna

Essayists and Nonfictional Writers

Martin Wickramasinghe Martin Wickramasinghe Martin Wickramasinghe , MBE was a Sri Lankan novelist. His books have been translated into several langues.... Ediriweera Sarachchandra Ediriweera Sarachchandra Ediriweera Sarachchandra was an Sri Lankan playwright, novelist, poet, literary critic, essayist and social commentator. Considered Sri Lanka's premier playwright, he was a senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya for many years and served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to France .- Early... Gunadasa Amarasekara Gunadasa Amarasekara Gunadasa Amarasekera is a prominent Sinhala writer, poet, and essayist from Sri Lanka. Gunadasa Amarasekera was born in Yattalamatta in Galle District. He was educated at Mahinda College, Galle and Nalanda College Colombo... Nalin de Silva Nalin de Silva Nalin de Silva is a Sri Lankan theoretical physicist, philosopher and a political analyst. He is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and the Dean of the faculty of Science at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.Prof...

Piyaseeli Wijegunasinghe Piyaseeli Wijegunasinghe Piyaseeli Wijegunasingha was a Trotskyist, a Marxist scholar and a member of Socialist Equality Party from 1968... Karthigesu Sivathamby Benedict Dodampegama Jayalal Rohana Jayalal Rohana Jayalal Rohana is a Theater Director,Writer,Actor,Makeup Artist And Sinhala Radio Play writer in Sri Lanka. He has won greater reputation from his bright career as an actor in Television after was a best actor Sumathi in Tele awards competition...

Roland Abeypala Shelton Payagala Shelton Payagala Payagalage Don Shirley Shelton was a film director and writer who began as an acting instructor since the mid 1970s. He was born in Hatton, Sri Lanka in 1944 and died on 23 June 2009.- Biography :... Sucharitha Gamlath J B Disanayake J B Disanayake Deshamanya Jayaratna Banda Dissanayake is an Emeritus Professor and one of the leading authorities of the Sinhala Language. He is currently Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand... Sunanda Karunaratna

Sinhala Play Writers

John de Silva John de Silva John de Silva was an influential Sri Lankan playwright.- Early life :de Silva was born on January 13, 1857 in Kotte. He worked as a teacher and a lawyer before entering theater... Ediriweera Sarachchandra Ediriweera Sarachchandra Ediriweera Sarachchandra was an Sri Lankan playwright, novelist, poet, literary critic, essayist and social commentator. Considered Sri Lanka's premier playwright, he was a senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya for many years and served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to France .- Early... Sugathapala de Silva Sugathapala de Silva Sugathapala De Silva is an acclaimed Sri Lankan dramatist and novelist, translator, radio play producer, and Sinhala Radio Play writer.-Early life:... Sunanda Mahendra Sunanda Mahendra Sunanda Mahendra’s Ogha Tharanaya won the State Literary Award for the bestSinhala poetry collection, 2006. Many poems from thecollection are now translated into English. He has won the State... Simon Navagattegama Gunasena Galappatty Gunasena Galappatty Gunasena Galappatty in Dikwella in Matara, Sri Lanka) was a Sri Lankan dramatist, and Sinhala Radio Play writer regarded as the pioneer of suspense drama in Sri Lanka.-Education:... Dayananda Gunawardena Dayananda Gunawardena Dayananda Gunawardena was a Sri Lankan playwright, actor, lyricist, [dramatist]], radio play producer, and Sinhala Radio Play writer.-Early life:...

Henry Jayasena Henry Jayasena Henry Jayasena born in Bendiyamulla, Gampaha is a Sri Lankan actor and dramatist.-Early Life:Jayasena studied at the Gampaha branch of Lorenz College and at Nalanda College Colombo. Some of Jayasena's notable classmates at Nalanda College were Karunaratne Abeysekera, Dr Harischandra Wijayatunga,... Dhamma Jagoda Dhamma Jagoda Dhamma Jagoda was the first Head of the Drama Unit at the National Television channel Rupavahini Corporation in Sri Lanka. He was a pioneer theater and television play director and actor In Sri Lanka... R.R Samarakoon Jayalath Manorathne K.B Herath Kapila Kumara Kalinga

Ranjith Dharmakeerthi Jayalal Rohana Jayalal Rohana Jayalal Rohana is a Theater Director,Writer,Actor,Makeup Artist And Sinhala Radio Play writer in Sri Lanka. He has won greater reputation from his bright career as an actor in Television after was a best actor Sumathi in Tele awards competition... Dhanajaya Karunarthne Piyal Kriyawasam Rajitha Disanayaka Taranga Galappatty

Sinhala Radio Play Writers

Karunartha Amarasinghe Ananda Amarasiri Sugathapala de Silva Sugathapala de Silva Sugathapala De Silva is an acclaimed Sri Lankan dramatist and novelist, translator, radio play producer, and Sinhala Radio Play writer.-Early life:... Malaka Dewapriya Malaka Dewapriya -Biography:Born in Sri Lanka on 30 March 1979, Dewapriya graduated with a B.A. from the University of Colombo in 2005. After graduation, he received a scholarship for Video/Film/New Media at Akademie Schloss Solitude, in Stuttgart, Germany, from 2007 to 2008... Dayananda Gunawardena Dayananda Gunawardena Dayananda Gunawardena was a Sri Lankan playwright, actor, lyricist, [dramatist]], radio play producer, and Sinhala Radio Play writer.-Early life:... Thilak Jayarathne J.H Jayawardene Kathaline Jayawardene Rohana Kasturi

Sirilal Kodikara Sirilal Kodikara Sirilal Kodikara is a novelist, poet, journalist, and radio play writer who writes in Sinhala.He was a Buddhist priest in the early part of his life.-Work:... Sunanda Mahendra Sunanda Mahendra Sunanda Mahendra’s Ogha Tharanaya won the State Literary Award for the bestSinhala poetry collection, 2006. Many poems from thecollection are now translated into English. He has won the State... Victor Migel Megala Mudiyanse Dharma Sri Munasinghe Dharma Sri Munasinghe Dharma Sri Munasinghe was a Sinhala Radio Play writer and Film screenwriter & Director, best known for his work as the writer of the famous sinhala radio plays Muvan palessa and Monara thenna... Aravvala Nandimithra Simon Navagattegama Karuna Perera K.A.W Perera

Mervine Senarathne Ananda Sirisena Mudalinayaka Somarathne Sumithra Rahubadde Jayalal Rohana Jayalal Rohana Jayalal Rohana is a Theater Director,Writer,Actor,Makeup Artist And Sinhala Radio Play writer in Sri Lanka. He has won greater reputation from his bright career as an actor in Television after was a best actor Sumathi in Tele awards competition... Udaya R Tennakoon P.Velikala

Sri Lankan Tamil authors

Eelattu Poothanthevanar Eelattu Poothanthevanar Eelattu Poothanthevanar was one of the earliest known classical Tamil poets. His poems were included in the Tamil sangam or Cankam poetry anthologies compiled in Tamilakam before 250 AD... Murugesu Ponnambalam

Dominic Jeeva A. Kandasamy

Varadar S.F.Reena Naushad

Pa.Ahilan
A.Jeuraja
Chattanathan
Nanthini Xevair
Ranjakumar
M.A.Nuhman

Sri Lankan and Sri Lankan diaspora authors who write in English

Gertrude De Livera Michael Ondaatje Michael Ondaatje Philip Michael Ondaatje , OC, is a Sri Lankan-born Canadian novelist and poet of Burgher origin. He is perhaps best known for his Booker Prize-winning novel, The English Patient, which was adapted into an Academy-Award-winning film.-Life and work:... Nira Wickramasinghe Nira Wickramasinghe Nira Konjit Wickramasinghe is Professor of Modern South Asian Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands and a well known international academic. She was a professor in the Department of History and International Relations, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka until 2009... Jayadeva Uyangoda Jayadeva Uyangoda Jayadeva Uyangoda is a prominent political scientist and constitutional expert in Sri Lanka.As a leftist student leader and a member of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna movement in the 70s, he was arrested and imprisoned by the government. After the change of regime he went on do his doctoral research... Romesh Gunesekera Romesh Gunesekera Romesh Gunesekera FRSL is a British author with a Sri Lankan background.-Life and work:Born in Colombo in 1954, Romesh Gunesekera explores aspects of his native island.He grew up in Sri Lanka and the Philippines, moving to England in 1971... Shyam Selvadurai Shyam Selvadurai Shyam Selvadurai is a Sri Lankan Canadian novelist who wrote Funny Boy , which won the Books in Canada First Novel Award, and Cinnamon Gardens... Tissa Abeysekara Tissa Abeysekara Deshabandu Kalasuri Vishvaprasdini Dr. Tissa Abeysekera was a Sri Lankan filmmaker, writer, critic, presenter, interviewer and political activist.-Early life:... Carl Muller Janaki Sooriyarachchi Ashok Ferry Punyakante Wijenaike Chitra Fernando Samuel Ratnajeevan H. Hoole Michael Ratnarajan R. Hoole J. Wijetunge Anne Ranasinghe

A. J. Gunawardena Regi Siriwardena Regi Siriwardena Regi Siriwardena was a Sri Lankan academic, journalist, poet, writer, playwright and writer of screenplays.- Early life & education :... Jean Arasanayagam Jean Arasanayagam Jean Arasanayagam is an English-language poet and fiction writer. The theme in her work is ethnic and religious turmoil in Sri Lanka. Her husband, Thiyagarajah Arasanayagam and their two daughters, Devasundari and Parvathi, all share the same passion for writing, one, Parvathi has taken after Jean... Pradeep Jeganathan Lishan Perera Lishan Perera Lishan Saliya Perera is a teenage novelist. One of the youngest published authors in the world his novels are available in Asia.-Biography:... Kusal Perera Aditha Dissanayake Sunethra Rajakarunanayake Ameena Hussein Madhubashini Ratnayake Isankya Kodithuwakku Rajiva Wijesinha Rajiva Wijesinha Rajiva Wijesinha, MA, DPhil is a Sri Lankan writer in English, distinguished for his political analysis as well as creative and critical work... Lal Medawattegedara Nihal De Silva Nihal De Silva Nihal De Silva is the author of "The Road From Elephant Pass", which won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and the Gratiaen Prize. He also published "The Far Spent Day" and "The Ginirella Conspiracy".- Biography :...

Vivimarie Vanderpoorten Elmo Jayawardena Manuka Wijesinghe Anura Saparamadu Daya Dissanayake Tharindu Weerasinghe Delon Weerasinghe Sena Thoradeniya Dineli Jayasekara Jayashantha Jayawardhana Ruwanthie de Chickera V.V. Ganeshananthan V.V. Ganeshananthan V.V. Ganeshananthan is a Sri Lankan American fiction writer, essayist, and journalist.Ganeshananthan is the author of Love Marriage, a novel set in Sri Lanka and North America, which was published by Random House in April 2008. Love Marriage was named one of the Washington Post Book World's Best of... Ru Freeman David Blacker David Blacker David Blacker is a Sri Lankan author.In the early 1990s, as a 19-year-old, Blacker served in the 6th Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army at Elephant Pass, seeing action in the regiment's heroic defense of the base.. In 2001, after being wounded in battle, he went to Europe and took a... Pramod Kandanarachchi Ravi Sathasivam Niromi de Soyza Udaya R. Tennakoon

See also

• Sri Lankan culture
• Henry Parker (author)
  Henry Parker (author)
  Henry Parker was a British engineer in colonial Ceylon during the Victorian era. He was attached to the Irrigation Department from 1873 to 1904. During his work as engineer he developed an admiration for the skills displayed by the ancient Sinhalese at the time of the construction of their...
  
  , British engineer who studied and compiled the oral literature
  Oral literature
  Oral literature corresponds in the sphere of the spoken word to literature as literature operates in the domain of the written word. It thus forms a generally more fundamental component of culture, but operates in many ways as one might expect literature to do...
  
  of Sri Lanka

External links

• http://www.lankalibrary.com/
• http://www.loc.gov/acq/ovop/delhi/salrp/all-countries.html
• http://www.tamilcanadian.com/northeastern_herald/pageview.php?ID=1907&SID=390
• http://www.lankahands.com/category.php?id=15
• Gertrude De Livera -
• BOONDI.LK - Sri Lankan Site for Literature, Arts and Politics -
• A list of recommended Sri Lankan literature
• Heart Chakra