“Sinuwara Waruna” was held on Saturday the 26th May 2012 at the function centre of the Blacktown library, Sydney, Australia amongst a full house of invitees and well wishers, launching three Sinhala books to the wide Sinhala community in New South Wales. They were penned in Sydney, Australia by the renowned Sinhala author Henry Delson Kumarapperuma.
They were, a novel with a background story of an innocent contemporary rural village in Sri Lanka for the adolescent titled “Sudu Sanda Ras”, a novel for the youth aged beyond the adolescence discussing different phases in entering adulthood titled “Nihanda Kalpana” and a transliteration of the historic Sanskrit literary compilation “Puncha Thanthra” by Vishnu Sharman in to light Sinhala poetic vocabulary titled “Wana Raja Dahana” enabling the common Sinhala reader to enjoy the poetry and absorb the essence of its contents with ease.
Henry is the first author to launch in 1995 a Sinhala book of poetry in Australia under the title of “Samanala Doothaya”. That could be considered the last Sandesha Kavya of the stream of Sinhala literature of such poetry. Samanala Doothaya portrays a butterfly that took wings from New South Wales of Australia flying over to the South of Sri Lanka. Henry had meticulously expressed the journey of the butterfly from down-under in beautiful poetry paying pin point interest to the minute detail. He depicted the history, geography, the nature and also the reflexes in behaviours in the societies including the contemporary politics in his creation. He was the co-editor of the Sinhalese poetic impressions of Australia published by the Sinhala Cultural Forum of New South Wales under the title of “Dakunukuru Div-Kawu”. Henry won the hearts of young Sinhala readers by his novel “Gam Saraniya” produced in 2010 presenting a subtle analysis of the changes in society in relation to advancing generations.
Born in Matara, Henry entered the University of Colombo from Sri Sariputhra Vidyalaya of Pamburana. He graduated in Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Philosophy together at the University. His first appointment in 1973 was to the Education Department. Then he joined the Social Service Department and served as a Superintendent of the City Homes for The Aged in Colombo Municipality until his migration to Australia in 1989 with the family. After a brief service in Australia, today he enjoys his retirement with his wife Nilanthi and the four sons & daughters in law and their children. It appears that his frequent visits to his hometown Matara from Australia produce him ample charge to his writing capacity to give birth to new creations.
During the launch a few versatile orations was delivered by prominent intellectuals of Sinhala language and literature in New South Wales, such as Dr Piyasoma Medis, Dr Don Wickama, Mr Asela Jayanath de Mel and Mr Maithree Panagoda. They analysed the comprehensive nature of the author’s presentations and admired the strength of his determination and the passion for having produced three books of substance & quality simultaneously. The author in return mentioned that his humble attempt was aimed at developing, promoting and upholding the respect, the awareness and the proper use of the Sinhala language and the literature.
The function was concluded having presented awards to all those who cooperated in producing the three books in unparalleled quality. It was followed by a brief fellowship of refreshments.
The well attended function showcased the passion, the respect and the thirst for the Sinhala language and literature within the expat Sri Lankan community in New South Wales, although they had chosen to live and hail their families far away from the motherland.
The technical aspects of the event were co-sponsored by Dream Creations, Nuga Designs and Merge Tech Australia. All three of those institutions are prominent players of the advertising field in Australia.
We bring you a collection of photo with capture moments from this event.
-by Lal Dassanayake –
