Nihal De Silva
Encyclopedia
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".
, evident in The Road from Elephant Pass
and The Ginirella Conspiracy. He received his primary education
at St. Josephs College, Colombo
, and later completed his studies at the University of Ceylon
(now University of Peradeniya
, Kandy
).
"Nihal was a stalwart of St. Joseph's College, an avid golfer and a wildlife enthusiast. His keenness for wildlife are to be seen in the many books he wrote, some of which were award winning, amongst them being the 'Gratien award'."
De Silva ran his own water-purifying business supplying bottled mineral water
. He lived in Colombo with his wife Shirlene and his two children, Shanik and Shamal. De Silva was killed in a landmine explosion at the Wilpattu National Park
on 28 May 2006.
The story revolves around a male and female protagonist, An ex- female LTTE(of Tamil origin), An army officer(of Sinhalese origin). A beautifully crafted story around a pair who were thought to be natural and initial enemies, they were able to overlook their differences and political stance to come together in order to overcome the hostilities around them and get safely to Colombo, protecting an explosive secret.
This book sold over 3000 copies in its initial printing, forcing the publisher, Vijitha Yapa to print twice more.
"Nihal de Silva won the State Literary Award for the Best Novel of 2003 and the Gratiaen Prize for 2003. The citation was as follows:
"For its moving story, for its constant feel of real life, for its consistency of narrative momentum, for its descriptive power, for its dramatic use of dialogue to define social context, capture character psychology and trace the development of a relationship, for its convincing demonstration that resolution of conflict and reconciliation of differences are feasible through mutual experience and regard and last though not least, for its eminently civilized handling of the last degree of intimacy between a man and a woman, our choice for the 2003 Gratiaen Prize for creative writing in English is, unquestionably, 'The Road From Elephant Pass' by Nihal de Silva."
This book was followed by 'The Far Spent Day' based on political corruption. A young man of again Sinhala origin is pulled into the injustices of society, but he attempts to fight back when all forces attempt to destroy him.
'The Ginirella Conspiracy', his third novel is again an intriguing story about the Politicization and ragging in Sri Lankan Universities.
Throughout these three books his love for birds, flora and fauna are very evident.
"Seven people were killed on Saturday as three powerful land mines blasted while a group of tourists were visiting the National Park in a double-cab.....The victims were identified as Darel Perera, Nihal de Silva, Nanadana Abeysuriya, Endista Abeysuriya, Chandi Asirwadan, Anula Asirwadan and Anura Dissanayake." BBC 29.05.06
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is an international literary award for a work of fiction, jointly sponsored by the city of Dublin, Ireland and the company IMPAC. At €100,000 it is one of the richest literary prizes in the world...
and the Gratiaen Prize
Gratiaen Prize
The Gratiaen Prize is an annual literary prize for best work of literary writing in English by a resident Sri Lankan. It was founded in 1992 by the Sri Lankan-born Canadian novelist Michael Ondaatje with the money he received as joint-winner of the Booker Prize for his novel The English Patient...
. He also published "The Far Spent Day" and "The Ginirella Conspiracy".
Biography
De Silva was known for his interests in avifaunaBird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
, evident in The Road from Elephant Pass
The Road from Elephant Pass
The Road from Elephant Pass is a 2008 action thriller film produced, screen played and directed by Chandran Rutnam based on the novel The Road from Elephants Pass by Nihal De Silva.-Plot:...
and The Ginirella Conspiracy. He received his primary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
at St. Josephs College, Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, and later completed his studies at the University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
(now University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
, Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
).
"Nihal was a stalwart of St. Joseph's College, an avid golfer and a wildlife enthusiast. His keenness for wildlife are to be seen in the many books he wrote, some of which were award winning, amongst them being the 'Gratien award'."
De Silva ran his own water-purifying business supplying bottled mineral water
Mineral water
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
. He lived in Colombo with his wife Shirlene and his two children, Shanik and Shamal. De Silva was killed in a landmine explosion at the Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu National Park is a park located on the island of Sri Lanka. The unique feature of this park is the existence of "Willus" - Natural, sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rainwater. Located in the Northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka...
on 28 May 2006.
His Books
He set off to being famous with the book 'The Road From Elephant Pass' at the age of 63 and it was published in 2003.The story revolves around a male and female protagonist, An ex- female LTTE(of Tamil origin), An army officer(of Sinhalese origin). A beautifully crafted story around a pair who were thought to be natural and initial enemies, they were able to overlook their differences and political stance to come together in order to overcome the hostilities around them and get safely to Colombo, protecting an explosive secret.
This book sold over 3000 copies in its initial printing, forcing the publisher, Vijitha Yapa to print twice more.
"Nihal de Silva won the State Literary Award for the Best Novel of 2003 and the Gratiaen Prize for 2003. The citation was as follows:
"For its moving story, for its constant feel of real life, for its consistency of narrative momentum, for its descriptive power, for its dramatic use of dialogue to define social context, capture character psychology and trace the development of a relationship, for its convincing demonstration that resolution of conflict and reconciliation of differences are feasible through mutual experience and regard and last though not least, for its eminently civilized handling of the last degree of intimacy between a man and a woman, our choice for the 2003 Gratiaen Prize for creative writing in English is, unquestionably, 'The Road From Elephant Pass' by Nihal de Silva."
This book was followed by 'The Far Spent Day' based on political corruption. A young man of again Sinhala origin is pulled into the injustices of society, but he attempts to fight back when all forces attempt to destroy him.
'The Ginirella Conspiracy', his third novel is again an intriguing story about the Politicization and ragging in Sri Lankan Universities.
Throughout these three books his love for birds, flora and fauna are very evident.
His Death
On May 29, 2006, Dr. Nihal De Silva came to his tragic death."Seven people were killed on Saturday as three powerful land mines blasted while a group of tourists were visiting the National Park in a double-cab.....The victims were identified as Darel Perera, Nihal de Silva, Nanadana Abeysuriya, Endista Abeysuriya, Chandi Asirwadan, Anula Asirwadan and Anura Dissanayake." BBC 29.05.06