P. G. Punchihewa

Dr. Pannadasa Gardiye Punchihewa, C.C.S (b. Mirissa, Sri Lanka, 1 November 1935) is a Sri Lankan author and an international civil servant.

Early life
Pannadasa Gardiye Punchihewa was born in 1935 in the southern village of Mirissa in Sri Lanka.

Education
After being selected at the fifth standard scholarship examination he got admitted to the Central College, Telijjawila and passed his Senior School Certificate Examination in first division. He then joined Ananda College, Colombo and gained admission to the University of Ceylon in 1955. He passed out with a bachelor's degree with a second class (upper division), taught for a short while at Ananda College and the University. In 1960 he joined the Ceylon Civil Service. He also has a Diploma on Rural Social Development from the University of Reading UK and has obtained his Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Sri Jayawardena pura, Sri Lanka.

Civil Service
Ceylon Civil Service

He commenced his public service as a cadet at the Galle Kachcheri and his first appointment was as an Assistant Controller of General Treasury. His subsequent appointments were as Government Agent of Moneragala District, Puttlam District, Kalutara District, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Plantation Industries, and Secretary of Ministry of Coconut Industries. He also held the posts of Chairman Coconut Cultivation Board and Chairman Coconut Development Authority.

International Civil Service

In 1985 he was elected to the post of Executive Director, Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (A.P.C.C), an Intergovernmental Organization based in Jakarta. He was re-elected three times and continued in that position until 2000.

After retiring from APCC and returning to Sri Lanka he served as a consultant to the UNDP (Colombo) and Government of Sri Lanka.

Publications
He has more than thirty publications to his credit published in English and Sinhalese which include research works, fiction, memoirs, translations and children’s books. Among the children’s books is his Mahi Pancha series consisting of six books about a little fly. He won the State Literary Award by the Government of Sri Lanka twice, for the best translation (2008) and the best children’s book (2002).

Children’s Books: Illustrations are by Sybil Wettasingha
 * 1) (State Literary Award 2002)
 * 2) Mahi Pancha series: A series of children’s stories around a mischievous, inquisitive and intelligent little fly whom the author named Mahi Pancha. To date has five books in English and  five in Sinhalese with each having three or four stories. The other titles include Mahi Pancha and his friends, Mahi Pancha and the fireflies, Mahi Pancha and Ali Pancha, Mahi Pancha becomes king, Mahi Panchai Mahi Panchiyi and Mahi Rajata tagi boga.
 * 1) Mahi Pancha series: A series of children’s stories around a mischievous, inquisitive and intelligent little fly whom the author named Mahi Pancha. To date has five books in English and  five in Sinhalese with each having three or four stories. The other titles include Mahi Pancha and his friends, Mahi Pancha and the fireflies, Mahi Pancha and Ali Pancha, Mahi Pancha becomes king, Mahi Panchai Mahi Panchiyi and Mahi Rajata tagi boga.

Translations: Fiction: Research:
 * 1) Ganabol Polowa by PG Punchihewa into English Published by Stamford Lake Publications 2008
 * 1) Ganabol Polowa by PG Punchihewa into English Published by Stamford Lake Publications 2008
 * 1) Ganabol Polowa by PG Punchihewa into English Published by Stamford Lake Publications 2008
 * 1) Ganabol Polowa by PG Punchihewa into English Published by Stamford Lake Publications 2008

Memoirs:

Family
He is married to Anoma Punchihewa (née de Silva ) and they have two children.