W. A. Silva
Sri Lanka · Senthil Kumar · 30 Jun 2020
<p><strong>W. A. Silva</strong> (16 January 1890 – 3 May 1957) was a best-selling author of Sinhala literature. Wellawattearachchige Abraham Silva was born in Wellawatte, Colombo.<sup class="reference"></sup> After receiving a formal Sinhala education, he wrote his first novel, “Siriyalatha”, at the age of 16.</p>
<p>After studying Sanskrit and Sinhala under Pelane Sri Vajiragnana Thero and reading world literature in his spare time while working as a clerk, Silva wrote Lakshmi, his second novel, in 1922.<sup class="reference"></sup> He continued to write popular novels and short story collections. Several of his novels include <em>Kalae Handa</em> (the first Sinhala novel to be made a movie) and <em>Hingana Kolla</em>, which was also made into a movie.</p>
<p>Silva edited the <em>Siri Sara</em> (1919–1923) and <em>Nuwana</em> (1940–1946) magazines, as well as a weekly newspaper, <em>Lanka Samaya</em> (1933) After his death, High Street in Wellawatte was renamed W. A. Silva Mawatha in his honour.</p>
<p>After studying Sanskrit and Sinhala under Pelane Sri Vajiragnana Thero and reading world literature in his spare time while working as a clerk, Silva wrote Lakshmi, his second novel, in 1922.<sup class="reference"></sup> He continued to write popular novels and short story collections. Several of his novels include <em>Kalae Handa</em> (the first Sinhala novel to be made a movie) and <em>Hingana Kolla</em>, which was also made into a movie.</p>
<p>Silva edited the <em>Siri Sara</em> (1919–1923) and <em>Nuwana</em> (1940–1946) magazines, as well as a weekly newspaper, <em>Lanka Samaya</em> (1933) After his death, High Street in Wellawatte was renamed W. A. Silva Mawatha in his honour.</p>