Sunanda Mahendra

Sunanda Mahendra De Mel (; born 28 January 1938), popularly known as Sunanda Mahendra, is an author, and poet.

Personal life Mahendra was born on 28 January 1938 in Piliyandala.

Career Mahendra started to write news columns which were published in daily and weekly papers. He published the drama book Vineetha Hema becoming the first to publish a drama associated book in Sri Lanka. He published his maiden novel Hewaneli Eda Minissu which won State Literary Award for the best novel in 1964. In 1965, he translated Henrik Ibsen’s play Heddar Gabler as Geheniyak to Sinhala. During this period, he became a program producer in Radio Ceylon. Then he became a professional broadcaster on the BBC World Service, based in London, where he also read for his doctorate. He is the pioneer to bring BBC Sandeshaya to Sri Lankan listeners. In 1965, a monologue called Pitastharayo was produced which was originally a radio drama. His next stage play was Sayuren Aa Landa in 1967 starred by Malini Fonseka. Many poems from the collection are now translated into English. He has won the State Literary Award for the best original play script (1993), the best research work (2002) and twice for the best Sinhala novels in 1964 and 2002. His outstanding contribution to his field of expertise, mass communication, earned him a UNESCO Copernicus award for Social Sciences in 1983. The play Socrates won eight awards including best state drama award in 1991.

1964 "Hevaneli eda minissu" best Sinhala Novel State Literary Award. 1990 Most outstanding Citizen Award. Lions International. 1992 "Socrates" best playscript State Literary Award 1993 "Socrates" eight awards State Drama Festival 2001 "Janakiyaman potha" best research State Literary Award 2002 "Niruwath Devivaru" best Sinhala Novel State Literary Award 2003 "Puranokthi Sangrahaya" merit State Literary Award 2004 "Chaya Pranthaya" best Sinhala Novel Godage Literary Award 2006 "Ogha Tharanaya" Best poetry collection State Literary Festival 2010 Professor Gunapala Malalasekara Memorial Award for life-time achievement of Buddhist literary contribution. 2008 Suta Kavi Buddhist Literary Award for Poetry