Ediriweera Sarachchandra

Veditantirige Ediriweera Ranjitha Sarachchandra (born Veditantirige Eustace Reginold de Silva; 3 June 1914 – 16 August 1996), popularly known as Ediriweera Sarachchandra , was a Sri Lankan playwright, novelist, poet, literary critic, essayist and social commentator. Considered as the premier playwright in Sri Lanka, Sarachchandra produced several critically acclaimed theatre plays in a career spanning more than four decades. He also served as a senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya for many years and as Sri Lankan Ambassador to France from 1974 to 1977.

Personal life Sarachchandra was born on 3 June 1914 in Dodanduwa, Rathgama, Galle, Sri Lanka. He completed his early education at Richmond College in Galle, St. John's College Panadura, S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and St. Aloysius' College in Galle.

In 1939 Sarachchandra married Aileen Beleth. He later married Lalitha Swarna Perera, a producer of children's drama. Sarachchandra was the father of five children: Nanaditha, Sunethra, Kisagothami, Yashodhara and Ransi. His daughter Sunethra is also a popular actress in cinema, television and theatre who entered acting with her father's stage play Kapuwa Kapothii. Her performance in Ves Muhunu made her the best actress. Since then, she has received several state awards.

Teaching career Sarachchandra started his career as a teacher at St. Peter's College in Colombo 4. He then joined the publishing company Lake House in an administrative position. In 1933, he gained admission to Ceylon University College where he studied Pali, Sanskrit and Sinhala for the first degree, graduating in 1936 with first-class honors. Following his parents’ insistence, he sat for the Ceylon Civil Service examination and achieved first place in the country.

He subsequently travelled to Shantiniketan to study Indian philosophy and music. Sarachchandra returned to Sri Lanka in 1940 and resumed his teaching career at S. Thomas' College in Mt. Lavinia.

Sarachchandra’s concept of drama underwent a major transformation in the early 1950s. In 1952, he produced the semi-natural, semi-stylized play Pabawathi, marking his first step toward creating a distinctly local drama tradition. This was the first time his work incorporated Pothe Gura and songs.

He later studied in Eastern countries, including India and Japan. Upon returning, he produced his first fully stylized play, Maname, in 1956, which received widespread acclaim. Maname is generally regarded as the first true Sinhala drama, marking the transition from traditional Nadagam or folk drama to a modern theatrical format.

In 1982, the University of Jaffna and the University of Peradeniya conferred Sarachchandra the degree of Doctor of Literature. The same year, he was made an Emeritus Professor at the University of Peradeniya. In 1983, the State of Kerala in South India honored him with the Kumaran Asan World Prize. In 1988, he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Literature.

Stage plays Bahina Kalawa Bhavakaḍaturāwa Elowa gihin Melowa Āwā Kada Walalu Kirimuttiya Gange Giya Lomahansa Mahasara Maname Mudalalige Peraliya Pabāvatī Prematho Jayathi Soko Raththaran Sinhabāhu Wessantara

Author works Novels Geethulata Hina (1959) Walmath Wee Hasarak Nudutimi (1962) Malawunge Awrudhuda (1965) Loku Putha Nohoth Bandulage Purawurthaya (1971) Heta Echchara Kaluwara Ne (1975) Wilasiniyakage Premaya (1988) Curfew and a Full Moon (1978) With the Begging Bowl (1986) Foam Upon the Stream (1987)

Short stories Redi nathi imesh(1971) Kalayage Awemen (1969) Maya Roopaya (1974) Roopa Sundari (1984) Midiya, Gruhaniya ha Upasikawa (1993) Of a Queen and a Courtesan (1970) The Death of a Friend (1981)

Research, Literary Theory and Criticism Sahithya Vidyawa (1949) Sinhala Nawakatha Ithihasaya ha Wicharaya (1951) Kalpana Lokaya (1958) Natya Gaweshana (1967) Wes Muhunuda Sebe Muhunuda? (1971) Modern Sinhalese Fiction (1943) The Sinhalese Novel (1950) The Folk Drama of Ceylon (1952) Buddhist Psychology of Perception (1958)

Other Ape Withthi (1942) Asampurna Charika Satahan (1967) Dharmishta Samajaya (1982) Pin Ethi Sarasawi Waramak Denne (1985)