11 Facts About Siri Gunasinghe

Siri Gunasinghe was a Sri Lankan academic, poet, Sanskritist, art historian, author and filmmaker.

Siri Gunasinghe played a crucial role in honing the creativity of free Sinhala poetry.

Siri Gunasinghe was born Ruwanwella in Kegalle District of Sri Lanka.

Siri Gunasinghe was educated at Mahinda College, Galle and University of Ceylon.

Later Siri Gunasinghe became a university lecturer and taught at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada where he was a Professor in the Department of History in Art.

Siri Gunasinghe subsequently travelled to Paris where he continued his studies and wrote La technique de la peinture indienne d'apres les textes du Silpa.

Siri Gunasinghe died on 25 May 2017 at the age of 92.

Siri Gunasinghe published 'Hewenella' in 1960, which is considered to be the first Sinhala novel to be written according to the rules of consciousness narrative style.

Siri Gunasinghe wrote his poems on themes that were very different from the themes such as Mee Haraka and Rathu Kekula.

Siri Gunasinghe wrote the research article titled as "Sinhala Contributions to the Buddha Statue" which drew attention to the gradually waning murals of most temples.

Siri Gunasinghe is considered a pioneer book cover designer in Sri Lanka and has hosted several radio programs.