15 Facts About Malinda Seneviratne

Malinda Channa Pieris Seneviratne was born on September 23,1965 and is a Sri Lankan poet, critic, journalist, translator, political commentator, and activist.

Malinda Seneviratne dabbled in several extra curricular activities, with chess and scouting being his main interests.

Malinda Seneviratne captained the school chess team in 1983 and under his leadership Royal won the National Championship in 1983.

Malinda Seneviratne entered Peradeniya in 1985 and read for a bachelor's degree in sociology.

Malinda Seneviratne got a scholarship to Harvard University in December 1988.

Malinda Seneviratne then resumed his higher studies, when upon a friend's advice he applied and was selected to the University of California's School of Urban and Regional Planning in 1994.

Malinda Seneviratne completed the coursework requirement, but his thesis had not met with the favor of his committee, which held that he could obtain a terminal masters with minor revisions, but if he wanted to pursue doctoral studies major revisions would be necessary.

Towards 1987, one year before the UNP-JVP bheeshanaya commenced, Malinda Seneviratne began supporting Vijaya Kumaratunga and his newly formed United Socialist Alliance, and though he would later disengage from Vijaya's political beliefs, he felt at the time that he was the only person who could reckon with both sides of the political divide.

The meeting was disturbed by the police who, on a tipoff, arrested 15 members including Rathana Thera, Champika, and Malinda Seneviratne and held them for three weeks.

Malinda Seneviratne supported them and ended up eventually as the party candidate in Jaffna.

The SU received more votes than the JVP and the Nava Sama Samaja Peramuna and Malinda Seneviratne received just seven preferential votes.

Malinda Seneviratne joined The Sunday Island immediately after the election and thereafter was not associated with any political party.

Malinda Seneviratne was profoundly influenced by Neruda, Garcia Marquez, and Eduardo Galeano, as well as his childhood encounters with Western literature, music, and elocution.

Malinda Seneviratne submitted his poetry, in manuscript form, for the Gratiaen Award on six occasions between 2007 and 2013.

Malinda Seneviratne has written extensively on artists, including directors, painters, sculptors, musicians, and writers.