Siri Gunasinghe
Encyclopedia
Siri Gunasinghe is a sanskritist, art historian, premier Sinhalese
poet
, novelist, literary critic and film maker.
of Sri Lanka. He was educated at Mahinda College
, Galle
and University of Ceylon
.
Later Siri Gunasinghe became a University lecturer and taught at the University of Peradeniya
, Sri Lanka
and at the University of Victoria
, British Columbia
, Canada
where he was a professor in the Department of History in Art. Siri Gunasinghe has been living in Canada since 1970.
His most outstanding achievements are: 1) the introduction of free verse
into Sinhalese poetry with the publication of the collection of poems "Mas Lea Nati Ata" ("Bleached Bones") in 1956; this publication was a major revolutionary force in the literary community at the time 2) the introduction of stream of consciousness narrative style in his award winning novel "Hevanelle" ("The Shadow") in 1960 and 3) The writing and directing of the film "Sath Samudura
" ("The Seven Seas") which won eight Sarasavi awards
including best picture and best director. Gunasinghe is one of the most important advocates of the use of spoken language
instead of the literary language
in Sinhalese literature (see Diglossia
).
He also designed costumes (e.g. for Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra
's play Manamē). He is also considered a pioneer book cover
designer in Sri Lanka and has hosted several radio
programmes.
He now resides in Victoria BC Canada.
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, novelist, literary critic and film maker.
Early life & Career
Siri Gunasinghe was born in Kegalle DistrictKegalle District
Kegalle is a district in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its area is 1,663 km². It was a former Dissavani of Sri Lanka. Has a population of 785,524 according to census 2001.-Physical Information:...
of Sri Lanka. He was educated at Mahinda College
Mahinda College
Mahinda College is a Buddhist boys' school in Galle, Sri Lanka. It is a national school, which provides primary and secondary education. The school was established on March 1, 1892 by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott...
, Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
and 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...
.
Later Siri Gunasinghe became a University lecturer and taught at the 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...
, 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...
and at the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where he was a professor in the Department of History in Art. Siri Gunasinghe has been living in Canada since 1970.
His most outstanding achievements are: 1) the introduction of free verse
Free verse
Free verse is a form of poetry that refrains from consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern.Poets have explained that free verse, despite its freedom, is not free. Free Verse displays some elements of form...
into Sinhalese poetry with the publication of the collection of poems "Mas Lea Nati Ata" ("Bleached Bones") in 1956; this publication was a major revolutionary force in the literary community at the time 2) the introduction of stream of consciousness narrative style in his award winning novel "Hevanelle" ("The Shadow") in 1960 and 3) The writing and directing of the film "Sath Samudura
Sath Samudura
Sath Samudura is a landmark Sri Lankan film directed by professor Siri Gunasinghe and released in 1967. This film was critically acclaimed and is considered a major work in Sri Lankan cinema....
" ("The Seven Seas") which won eight Sarasavi awards
Sarasaviya Awards
Sarasaviya Awards are the most prestigious awards presented to distinguished individuals involved with the Sinhala cinema, each year by the Sarasaviya weekly newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited , Sri Lanka in recognition of the contributions made by them to...
including best picture and best director. Gunasinghe is one of the most important advocates of the use of spoken language
Spoken language
Spoken language is a form of human communication in which words derived from a large vocabulary together with a diverse variety of names are uttered through or with the mouth. All words are made up from a limited set of vowels and consonants. The spoken words they make are stringed into...
instead of the literary language
Literary language
A literary language is a register of a language that is used in literary writing. This may also include liturgical writing. The difference between literary and non-literary forms is more marked in some languages than in others...
in Sinhalese literature (see Diglossia
Diglossia
In linguistics, diglossia refers to a situation in which two dialects or languages are used by a single language community. In addition to the community's everyday or vernacular language variety , a second, highly codified variety is used in certain situations such as literature, formal...
).
He also designed costumes (e.g. for Prof. 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...
's play Manamē). He is also considered a pioneer book cover
Book cover
A book cover is any protective covering used to bind together the pages of a book. Beyond the familiar distinction between hardcovers and paperbacks, there are further alternatives and additions, such as dust jackets, ring-binding, and older forms such as the nineteenth-century "paper-boards" and...
designer in Sri Lanka and has hosted several radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
programmes.
He now resides in Victoria BC Canada.
Sinhala
- Abinikmana ("The Renunciation of worldly Life")
- Cirantana sampradāya hā pragatiya ("Tradition and Innovation"; non-fiction work)
- Hevanälla ("The Shadow")
- Mandārama ("Rainy Sky")
- Mas lē näti äṭa ("Bones without Flesh and Blood")
- Ratu käkuḷa ("The red Bud")
- Satsamudra ("The seven Seas")
Other languages
- Masks of Ceylon
- Buddhist Paintings from Sri Lanka (Kandy Period)
- La Technique de la Peinture Indienne
External links
- A multifaceted scholar - Tribute from Prof. Sunanda Mahendra