Madawala Rathnayake

Kala Keerthi Rathnayake Arachchilage Sirisena Rathnayake (5 February 1929 – 7 January 1997), popularly as Madawala S. Rathnayake, was an award-winning Sri Lankan journalist, lyricist, poet, and novelist. Considered one of the iconic and prolific lyricists ever produced in the country, he held various positions in journalism and broadcasting fields such as, music controller of Radio, Head of News and Entertainment Department of Sri Lanka Radio, Sinhala Consultant of Beijing Radio in China and Head of Audio Visual Department of Sarvodaya Institute in a career spanned more than five decades.

The total number of works written by Rathnayake was nearly 30: among them are 10 novels, 9 collections of short stories, 3 books of poetry, 2 books of songs, an academic book, an epilogue and 2 translations.

Personal life
Rathnayake was born on 5 February 1929 in Madawala village, Alawwa, Dambadeniya, Udu Kaha South Korale, Kurunegala. His father was Ratnayake Arachchilage Dingiri Appuhami and mother was Rathambalage Hamine. Rathnayake had one sister: Ukku Amma and one brother: Dingiri Appuhami. He started primary education at Alawwa Humbuluwa mixed school in 1935 and passed the junior examination in 1942. Then, he attended Kegalu Buddhist mixed English school (currently known as Kegalu Vidyalaya) for further education and passed the Senior Certificate Examination in 1945. Later in 1949, he attended St. Sylvester's College for higher studies in English medium. At the age of 16, he dated to Nanda Iranganie, where he wrote his first poetry inspired by the affair.

He was married to his longtime partner Lillian Somalatha from 1963. The couple had three sons: Thushara, Sulochana, Punnaka, and one daughter Nipunika. Lillian is a Honors graduate of the University of Ceylon who wrote the 1960s novel "Bauddha Shishthacharaya". Elder son Thushara is a violinist who graduated from Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya and currently works as a lecturer at the University of the Visual & Performing Arts. Second son Sulochana is a veterinarian.

Career
Since little age, he used to read poetry in newspapers and sent his own poetry to the poetry magazines. He edited the art magazine "Sigiri" at Kegalu Vidyalaya. In 1946, he wrote and published a poetry book titled Pem Amaa based on a love story in H.D. Sugathapala's Nawa Maga magazine. He often wrote poems for the "Kavi Maduwa" and Lama Pitiya radio programs as well. At the same time, he also wrote short stories. In 1949, his romantic short story titled Atheethaya was published in the magazine “Ruwana” published by T. B. Peramunethilaka.

After school life, Rathnayake joined the clerical service of the Election Department in Kegalle. In 1950, he joined with Lake House and worked as a reporter for "Lankadeepa" newspaper in Polgolla area. In that year, he wrote the short story Peethara Mama and won the second place in the international short story competition organized by "Lankadeepa" newspaper. During this tenure, he befriends with W. D. Amaradeva. However, in 1952, he resigned from "Lankadeepa" and joined the editorial board of "Dinamina" paper. But in 1953, he joined again with "Lankadeepa" editorial board. In 1954, he moved to Radio Ceylon as a thesis editor. In the same year, he translated the popular novel Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam written by Omar Khayyam, and the poem was published in 1954 with the title Lihini Pothak by Gunasena Company.

In 1955, he became a lyricist, where Rathnayake wrote his first lyrics: "Navaka Malita Sītha Suḷanga" for Amaradeva for a special Avurudu program about Amaradeva. Since then, Rathanayake wrote many popular songs of Amaradeva, which include: "Kale Gahaka Mal Pipila", "Ranvan Karal Saleyi", "Bambareku Avayi Nirita Digeya", "Mindada Heesara" and "Swarna Vimaneta". In the same year, he made the radio program Jana Gaayana which was dedicated to the advancement of Sinhala folk music. In 1956, he translated popular adventure novel by Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe in to Sinhala and published to Maharagama Saman Publishers. In 1957, he released short stories book Budhu Hinawa and first novel Akkara Paha. The novel became very popular and won the Don Pedric Award as the best novel of 1960. Later in 1970, the novel was made into a live action film with the same name, directed by Lester James Peries.

As a lyricist, he composed songs for many films including Patachara and Getawarayo. In 1965, he won the Sarasaviya Award for the best lyrics for the film Getawarayo for the song "Heena Hathak Meda". In 1964, he presented the radio program "Yauwana Samajaya". In 1982, Rathnayake worked as the head of the entertainment department of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and retired from it in 1985. Then, he worked as a consultant for the Sinhala section of Beijing Radio in China during the period from 1985 to 1987. Apart from Sarasaviya, he won Kalakeerthi President Award, Geethi Nibandha Samsada Award, Unda Abhinandana Radio Award, Rajya Sahithya Award, Kalalaya Award, Arthasad Award, Radio President Award and Vishwa Prasadini Award as well.

Death
Rathnayake died on 7 January 1997 at the age of 67 due to a cancer.

Novels

 * Akkayi Maayi
 * Alutha Genaa Manamaali
 * Ambalan Paaḷuvo
 * Davas Gevi Giya Mese
 * Handa Paaya Kanda Kapaa
 * Nilmalvila
 * Paanen Anduraṭa
 * Panhidaka Gemi Suwanda
 * Sitha Nethi Bambalova

Short stories

 * Atheethaya
 * Budu Hinava (1957)
 * Kudappa
 * Mal Men Kadupul
 * Nomala Mal
 * Pahana Nivva Katin Pimbala
 * Peethara Mama
 * Suwanda Pirunu Atheethayak
 * Thavalamkarayo
 * Upanda Sita Karapu Pau
 * Vaehi Valakulu

Translations

 * Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (1954)
 * Robinson Crusoe (1956)

Poetry

 * Heena Hathak
 * Maara Yuddhaya
 * Pem Ama

Notable lyrics

 * Ranwan Karal Saele
 * Nil Mahanel Mal Pipuna
 * Mindada Heesara Wadi
 * Heena Hathak Meda
 * Swarna Vimaneta Eha Lokayen
 * Thanha Asha Olagu Kare Laa
 * Bambareku Awayi
 * Saede Kaluwara
 * Kaele Gahaka Mal Pipila
 * Baloli Baloli
 * Nodamunu Rala Therape
 * Sansare Biya Duk Gini