Denagama Siriwardena

Denagama Siriwardena is a Sri Lankan writer and journalist.

Early life Siriwardena was born on 19 February 1945, Wepathira in the town of Hakmana in Southern Sri Lanka. His father was Don Nikulas Jinadasa and mother was Karunawathi Hettiarachchi. Denagama Siriwardena started his school career at Pananwela government school. He studied up to year eight there and moved to Hakmana Methodist college. Siriwardena worked for a time as a Bill clerk at a co-operative shop. After that, he started teaching in a non-governmental school at Pottewela and became a teacher in 1964.

From 1967-68 he studied at the Teachers' Training college - Balapitiya.

As a teacher in his life career he taught in 23 schools in 23 years. Ampara, Colombo, Matara, Hambantota, Galle were some of the districts where he worked. This helped him to gain more experiences about various life styles which exist on the earth. Most of the people he met were poor people. They had a daily struggle. It was to find food for their children. So from these experiences Mr. Siriwardena became sensitive to the heart beats of poor people.

In 1975 Mr. Siriwardena married Kusum Kodithuwakku. They moved to Hambantota that year.

Literary career

Mr. Siriwardena had written many Poems, Short Stories and Articles for Sinhalese News Papers. In 1976 he published his first book. It was Ane Mage Nadu Asanu, a collection of poetry. 1976 also saw the birth of the Siriwardenas first daughter. They named her Deepani Siriwardena. In 1979 their son Prabath Siriwardena was born. In 1980 he participated in the famous July Strike as a school teacher. He was a district Union leader of Ceylon Teachers' Union. Siriwardena lost his teaching job as a result of the strike.

After being unemployed he started selling paddy in Sunday fairs with his younger brother Chithrananda. There his students helped him a lot. Mr. Siriwardena had to undergo so many hardships as a merchant. Later all his experiences as a merchant came out as a youth novel. It was Gurupadhuru and it won the State Youth Literature award in 1995.

In 1982 he got his job back and also became a feature writer for Divaina Sunday newspaper. He wrote many novels and feature articles for Divaina. "Ekthara Police Niladariyekuge Kathawak" and "Ayoma" became very famous among them.

In 1985 the Siriwardena family moved to Matara, from Hambantota. There they settled down in Uyanawatta(1 km far from Matara town).

In 1987 he resigned from his job, teaching, and in 1988 Mr. Siriwardena joined Vidusara science magazine as a Sub-editor. Later he became the deputy editor of Vathmana magazine.

In 1994 Mr. Siriwardena won the IBBY award for his youth novel Mithuro.

In 1995 he resigned from both Vathmana and Vidusara. Then joined Lake House as the deputy editor of Mahaweli Diyawara.

After that, he became the deputy editor of Silumina newspaper. Since then he is working there up to now.

In 1998 Mr.Siriwardena won his second State Youth Literature award. It was for his fifth youth novel, Punchi Gopalla.

Mr. Siriwardena has written two collections of poetry, two short stories, six novels, six youth novels, four biographies, two children's stories and more than hundred "Bosath Katha"s.

In 2012, a felicitation ceremony was organized by the Sinhala-Tamil Writers' Association to honor Siriwardena and two other writers.

In 2025, Mr. Siriwardena launched his autobiography, "Denagama Watha". The autobiography, written in Sinhala, is published by Sarasavi. Its 650-plus pages document Siriwardena's life and contain photographs of his work and family as well as details about his numerous publications.

Publications

A comprehensive list of publications of Denagama Siriwardena.

Poetries

Ane Mage Naduwa Asanu - 1976 Dehati Dadhu - 1990

Short Stories

Emathi Muhuna - 1987 Werala Saha Thawath Katha - 1997

Novels

Ayoma - 1988 Edirille - 1991 Ekthara Police Niladariyekuwge Kathawak - 1994 Makara Kata - 1996 Mithuro - 1992 Guru Padhuru - 1994 Katharaka Pipunu Mala Dekak - 1996 Punchi Gopalla - 1997 Ganga Langa Liyadda - 1997 Heen Putha - 2002 Wehi Walawa - 2005 Apith Kirata Adhana Daruwan Amme - 2005 Apata Ape Ath - 2007 Duppath Daruwange Mithura - 2009

Biography

Ekthara Damarikayekuge Kathawak(Ukkuwa) - 1989 Ugaye Minisa(Professor Senaka Bibile) - 1992 Ahinsawe Ulpatha(E.W Adikaram) - 1996 Kodhagoda Nahimiyo - 1998 Podu Janathawage Vidyanchaya(Professor Osman Jayarathne) - 2003 Pivithuru Rathu Kusuma (Eliyan Nanayakkaara) - 2004 Guna Nana Deken Uthu Puthumaya Etha Garu (Sirisumana Godage) - 2007 Kudathihi Siritha (Anadapiya Kudathihi) - 2007 D.A. Rajapakshe samakalinayange Mathaka Satahan - 2007 Ape Loku Hamuduruwo - 2014 Elipaththa - 2015

Children Books

Deepanige Upan Dinaya - 1994 Samelge Aluth Lokaya - 1997 Wasathge Dawasak - 2005 Ethihasayata Eku Lamai - 2005

Educational

Nirmana Sahithya sadhaha athwelak - 2005 Puwathpath Visheshanga Rachanaya - 2007

Buddhist Literature

Dalen Mideema (Bhawana Athdakeem) - 2003 Yali Ipadeemak Mata Natha - 2005 Budhun Samaga Giya Gmanak - 2006 Dabadiwa Wandanakaruwange Athpotha - 2007 Seda Paharin Ethera Weemi - 2011 Nuba Sarana Siyothaku Se - 2011 Pulun Rodak Se - 2011 Hima Watena Seetha Ra - 2013 Podi Hamuduruwange Bhawana Satahan

Other

Rathu Kenas Mala Denagama Watha (autobiography) - 2025

Translations in other languages

Books translated into other languages

Mithuro [ Translated into English as 'Friends' ] - 1992