Emeritus Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, recipient of the Vishwa Prasadini, Vidyodaya Vibhushana, Sahitya Kala Shiromani, Thamilmani and Thamilmamani honorary titles, has been awarded the title “Sahithyadarathna” at the 2021 State Literary Awards Ceremony for his invaluable contribution to Sinhala literature.
Emeritus Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne graduated with honors from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 1971 with a first class honors degree. Prof. Ariyaratne joined the University of Sri Jayewardenepura as a Lecturer in 1985. About 5 years later, he got promoted as an Assistant Professor and became a professor in 1994, then reached the zenith of his university life by being promoted as a Senior Professor in 2000 and retired in 2015 as a Senior Professor of the University. He was the youngest Professor in the university system at the time.
Emeritus Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, who entered the field of literature in 1961 with a collection of short stories called ‘Ahinsakayo’, has written nearly a hundred books. Those works belong to various fields such as academic, design, research, editing and translation. Among them are State Literary Award winning ‘Baila Kapiringngna Vimarshanaya’, ‘Gramophone Yugaya’, ‘Yerma (with Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra) ,’Makaranda’,’ Visithuruya Re Ahasa’,’Manawasinghe Geetha Nibandhana’. He also won the Buddhist Literary Award for his first Sinhala prose poem ‘Sulu Kaligudawatha’ and ‘Ahi Pillamak Athara’.
Prof. Ariyaratne was also awarded the State Music Award in 1999 for his services to the field of music and the annual ‘Kamban’ Award by the Sri Lankan Tamil Scholars to one Sinhalese for his contribution to Tamil culture in 2012. He has directed 25 films and has won awards from the President, University and Swarna Sangha for directing, screenwriting, songwriting and production.
The Vice Chancellor and the USJ congratulates Emeritus Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne on receiving the newly conferred honorary title ‘Sahityayaratne’ and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura wishes him all the best for all his future endeavors.
