"Working on a poem is one of the great privileges."
In the realm of literature, Sri Lankan poets glisten like shining diamonds.
Their words and thoughts are captivating and inspire millions of readers.
The work of these poets includes modernism, minimalism and identity.
These relatable and interesting themes have led these writers to carve a niche for themselves in this fascinating field.
DESIblitz is proud to present an in-depth list of some of these great poets.
Let’s dive into seven talented Sri Lankan poets that you must explore.
Jean Arasanayagam
Born Jean Lynette Christine, this poet is a beacon of gripping literature.
She was the youngest of three children and she went on to receive a Master of Arts in Linguistics from the University of Strathclyde.
Jean’s poetry encompasses themes of heritage and identity.
This was strengthened by her marriage to a Tamilian from Jaffna, a minority group in Sri Lanka.
Katrina M Powell says Jean’s work “uniquely links identity, documentation and alienation”.
Writing for The Wire, Susan Haris said:
“Jean Arasanayagam created narrative spaces that actively embraced history and its recurring crises.
“As a beacon of hope, she documented with visceral intensities the national through a poetic persona that was staunchly against any narrow partisanship.”
In 2017 – two years before her death – Jean was awarded the Sahityaratna by the Sri Lankan government for contributing to poetry.
The same year, she won the Gratiaen Prize, an annual literary award for the best work of literary writing in English by a resident of Sri Lanka.
This was for her poetry collection The Life of the Poet.
Gajaman Nona
Gajaman Nona’s birth name is Donna Isabella Koraneliya.
Her talent earned her the honorary name of Gajaman Nona.
Gajaman’s knack for exquisite poetry came when she could not find her water pot and based on that experience, she wrote a Sinhala poem.
After the tragic death of her first husband, Gajaman remarried.
However, her second spouse also died soon afterwards.
Gajaman had to write poems praising rich people to make ends meet.
Among her well-known works is Denipitiye NugaRuka Wenuma, which praises the banyan tree in Denipitiye.
Gajaman’s poetry also intertwines humour with social themes.
Some of it is laden with sarcasm and harsh reality, while some other work is powerful and thought-provoking.
After Gajaman Nona died in 1814, a statue of her was erected in Ambalantota.
Raipiyel Tennakoon
It is hard to believe that as a child, Raipiyel Tennakoon harboured the intention of becoming a driver.
However, the path of education led him to poetry.
In 1939, Raipiyel wrote the poetry collection entitled Wawuluwa, which contains 557 poems.
Along with this, Raipiyel has written poems including Kukulu Hewilla, De Vinaya and Muluthena Andaraya.
He has also penned Gamayanaya which has 5,302 verses.
In Sunday Observer, Dr Viraj Dharmasri noted Raipiyel’s uplifting of writing:
“It is unquestionable that he rendered a yeoman service for the uplift of Sinhala writing.
“His oeuvre consists of a long list of books on Sinhala grammar and poetry.
“His poetic prowess is quite evident in his magnum opus Wawuluwa.
“He has authored 19 books of poetry.”
Vicumpriya Perera
The versatility of Vicumpriya Perera knows no bounds. He is a poet, mathematician, lyricist and music producer.
Vicumpriya has published three books of Sinhala poetry.
These are Mekunu Satahan (2001), Paa Satahan (2013) and Mawbime Suwandha (2023).
His collections are insightful and unique, and leave readers with a thirst for more.
After graduating from St Anthony’s College, Wattala and Ananda College in Maradana, Vicumpriya achieved a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colombo.
A resident of Ohio, USA, he started working as a mathematics professor at Kent State University in 1998.
He has also written over 200 songs and produced over 10 Sinhala albums.
However, his forte arguably lies in his tremendous poetry.
Gunadasa Amarasekara
Gunadasa Amarasekara is one of the most prominent Sri Lankan poets out there.
He is a graduate of the University of Ceylon.
Gunadasa Amarasekara is also one of the co-founders of the Peradeniya School of literary traditions of modern Sri Lankan literature.
He has a poetic career spanning decades. His first work is Bhaavageeta (1952).
His other poems include Uyanaka Hinda Litu Kavi (1957), Gurulu Watha (1972), and Asak Da Kava (2003).
Gunadasa reflected on the process of writing:
“For a serious writer, writing is not an end, but a means to an end, it is a living process.
“He has to come to terms with what he perceives, writing is but a by-product of the process.”
Malinda Seneviratne spoke about meeting Gunadasa, whose mind was still evolving:
“His mind, however, is clearly still at work.
“I found him to be equipped with up-to-date knowledge and deep understanding of both the current debates in academic circles as well as a comprehensive understanding of both local and international political currents.”
For a poet to succeed, they always have to be inquisitive and hard-working. Gunadasa epitomises that.
Anne Ranasighe
Born in 1925, Anne Ranasighe is regarded as one of the most influential Sri Lankan poets to write in English.
Her first published poetry collection is And The Sun That Sucks The Earth To Dry.
She is also known for Plead Mercy and At What Dark Point.
Anne is the author of 12 books that have been translated into languages in seven countries.
For her contributions to her illustrious career, Anne was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Anne detailed her thoughts about poetry:
“To write poetry there must be an experience so intensely felt as to exclude all other forms of writing: love or anger, fear or remembrance, and above all the perception of great beauty create a moment that wakens, or demands, a poem.
“There is then a period of gestation, a distillation of the experience, and out of this grows the first words of the poem.
“Working on a poem is one of the great privileges of life, and I find it incredible that there are poets who believe a first draft is also a final draft, and must not be touched.
“That the first inspiration is holy.”
Vivimarie VanderPoorten
Vivimarie VanderPoorten hit the jackpot of adulation with her debut book of poems.
It is titled Nothing Prepares You, for which Vivimarie won the 2007 Gratiaen Prize.
She intertwines feminism with minimalism in her second collection titled Stitch Your Eyelids Shut.
This was followed by a third collection called Borrowed Dust.
Delving into her writing journey, Vivimarie said:
“I originally started writing to make sense of the crazy things that were happening to me. It became a sort of celebration.
“I have never been shy to talk about things. My desire there was to get people to accept things.
“[Divorce] is not a crime, this is not a bad word. It happens to many people, in fact, it happened to me – so what?
“It brings out the activist in me. I am always trying to translate my pain and my depression.”
“But I don’t want to play this tragic heroine.”
Dr SinhaRaja Tammita-Delgoda, Chairman of the Panel of Gratiaen Judges, said:
“A gentle, reflective minimalism which touches the soul, Vivimarie VanderPoorten’s poetry is like a shadow passing across your face.”
Sri Lankan poets have innate abilities to convey their feelings in an entertaining and educative manner.
Their groundbreaking themes, skilful imagery and unabashed vocalism make them forces to reckon with in poetry.
They are essential voices who cannot be silenced.
So, why not try and embrace their world yourself?
Prepare to be enlightened like never before by these Sri Lankan poets.
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