Lalitha Withanachchi

Lalitha Karalliadde Withanachchi, also spelt Lalitha Witanachchi, was a Sri Lankan educator, journalist and writer. She worked as a journalist at Daily News for 12 years. She was the joint winner of the inaugural edition of the Gratiaen Prize.

Biography Lalitha was born to a family background of Kandyan descent in January 1927 at Bandarawela, Uva Province. She began her primary education at Hillwood College in Kandy. Her husband Douglas Witanachchi served as a District Land Officer in Anuradhapura. She resigned from the Lake House Group of Newspapers in December 1995. She wrote and published several books including Customs and Rituals of Sinhala Buddhists, Little Bamboo, The Paddy Bird and The Wind Blows over the Hills. She was also adjudged the joint winner of the prestigious Gratiaen Award in 1993, along with Carl Muller.

She also received the Esmond Wickramasinghe Award for Journalism in English for her article titled "My Days at Anuradhapura Central College". She was conferred with the prestigious Kala Bhoosana Award in recognition of her contributions to the arts and English literature. In 1993, she received the Uva Erudites Award during a special event organized by the then Governor of Uva Province to honor persons born in the Uva Province who had achieved significant achievements in their respective fields.

Death She died on 26 September 2021 at the age of 94.