Amara Hewamadduma

Amara Hewamadduma, also Amara Hēvāmadduma, (5 September 1939 – 27 June 2013) was a Sri Lankan government agent, literary figure and historian.[1]

Amara Hewamadduma, with his wife Sandapali, 2007

Biography

Hewamadduma was born the tenth of twelve children[2] on 5 September 1939 in Matara, Sri Lanka. He attended Rahula College in Matara and the University of Peradeniya.[1] He was then a lecturer at an academy for boys, Sri Lanka Vidyalaya, Maradana and the associated school for girls, Chandralekha Mawatha, Borella, where he met his wife. He joined the army and was made full lieutenant in 1964.[2]

In 1965, he became the Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, having joined the Sri Lanka Administrative Service.[2] In 1977, he became the Government Agent of Anuradhapura and three years later became Chairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Board.[1][3] He was secretary to several ministries, including Cultural Affairs[1][4] and Socio-Cultural Integration.[5] Until his retirement in 1999,[2] he was secretary to the Ministry of Social Welfare.[3]

He authored dozens of books on history, agriculture, and Buddhist culture[3] and contributed columns to newspapers besides taking part in TV and radio programs.[1]

He lived with his wife, Sandapali Sandanayaka, with whom they had a son and two daughters, in Vijayaba Mawatha, Kalubowila. Adjoining their house was a three-story library building.[2]

Publications

By 2007, he had published more than 50 books,[2] including:

  • Hewamadduma, Amara. Mātara kaviya, 1990.[6]
  • Hewamadduma, Amara. Miyuguṇa hā Ruhuṇa[6]
  • Hewamadduma, Amara (ed.), Dhammapada, Pali-Sinhala-Tamil-English Version. Colombo, 1994.[7]
  • Hewamadduma, Amara; Wijeranthna, W.G.; Ariyadasa, Edwin; Kailasanathan, Rajalakshmi; Wajirasena, Wissvanath; Kanagamurthi, Sinnaiah; Edmund, K.B.A.; Jayasuriya, Edmund. Dhammapada. Sri Lanka: National Integration Program Unit, 2002.[8]
  • Hewamadduma, Amara. Sinhalaye Sinhaya, a biography of Cabinet Minister R.G. Senanayake, 2011[9]
  • Hewamadduma, Amara. Aloko Udapadi, Sarasavi Publisher, 2013. ISBN 955-671-912-1 (Sinhalese)
  • Hewamadduma, Amara. Amara Samara - 6 , Sarasavi Publisher, 2011. (Sinhalese)[10]
  • Hewamadduma, Amara. Amara Samara - 7 , Sarasavi Publisher, 2011. ISBN 955-671-363-8 (Sinhalese)[10]
  • Hewamadduma, Amara. Amara Samara - 8 , Sarasavi Publisher, 2011. ISBN 955-6714-43-X (Sinhalese)[10]
  • Hewamadduma, Amara. Amara Samara - 9 , Sarasavi Publisher, 2013. ISBN 955-671-900-8 (Sinhalese)[11]
  • Hewamadduma, Amara. Amara Samara - 10 , Sarasavi Publisher, 2013. ISBN 955-671-901-6 (Sinhalese)[11]

References
  1. "Amara Hewamadduma passes away". The Island. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  2. Lakmal Welabada (4 February 2007). "Taming of an intellectual". Sunday Observer. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  3. "Amara Hewamadduma bids farewell". Independent Television Network News (ITN). 30 June 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  4. Guṇasiri Jayavardhana (1994). The Two Worlds of Sinnadorai. Cultural Department.
  5. Ananda W. P. Gurugé (1993). Aśoka, the Righteous: A Definitive Biography. Central Cultural Fund, The Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Information. p. xvi. ISBN 978-955-9226-00-0.
  6. "Hēvāmadduma, Amara". VIAF. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  7. Russell Webb; Bhikkhu Nyanatusita (1 December 2011). An Analysis of the Pali Canon and a Reference Table of Pali Literature. Buddhist Publication Society. p. 51. ISBN 978-955-24-0376-7.
  8. Nalaka Hewamadduma (January 2013). Art of Well-Being: A Remarkable Way to Overcome Stress and Become More Effective at Work and at Home. Balboa Press. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-4525-6646-7.
  9. "R. G. Senanayake: A true patriot". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 12 September 2011. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
  10. "Ethgale Senehasa". The Sunday Observer. 28 August 2011. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
  11. "Book Launch on Aug. 29". The Sunday Observer. 26 August 2013. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
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