Sugathapala de Silva

Sugathapala De Silva (4 August 1928 – 28 October 2002) was a Sri Lankan dramatist and novelist.

Early life
Sugathapala De Silva was born on 4 August 1928 Midigama (weligama, Matara), to the son of a small trader. He grew up among Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim traders. His childhood experiences later influenced him to write the novels Ikbithi Siyalloma Sathutin Jeevathvuha and Esewenam Minisune Me Asaw. He studied at Jinaraja Boys' College, Gampola. He worked as a salesman at a bookstall at Wellawatte.

1970
De Silva worked for long time at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation as a producer, and in the late 1960s was in charge of the weekly radio play, and the weekly short story programs on the station, which were the first "stamping grounds" of writers and dramatists who are today well known in their own right.

He married Sheela De Silva (KA Seelavathy) on 10 April 1970. Four children. The eldest son was Dimuthu Prasada Galappatti. The second daughter. She is Vanamali Kaushalya Galappatti. The third child is Sudesh Prabuddha Galappatti. The youngest son is Harindra Pragathi Galappathi.

De Silva was bed-ridden from 1997, and died in hospital on 28 October 2002.

Awards

 * 1962 'Bodin karayo' best script and play National drama festival in Sri Lanka
 * 1971 best literary prize 'Ikbithi Siyalloma Sathutin Jeevathvuha'.
 * 1987 'Marat sad' best Translation and play National drama festival in Sri Lanka

Scholarships
British government scholarship for study drama.