Two academics from the University of Kelaniya were awarded at the 65^th State Literary Awards 2022 which was held at the BMICH on 28^th October 2022.

Senior Professor Kamani Jayasekara, of the Department of Western Classical Culture and Christian Culture, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya was awarded the “Sahithyarathna” lifetime award (English medium). She is a proud product of the University of Kelaniya and has written and published numerous books, in both Sinhala and English media. Among them are 9 Children’s books, 15 subject-related books in Sinhala and 5 in English 40 scholarly articles, 38 reviews, 5 English short-story collections 12 English poetry collections, and more. She also has been awarded the State Literary Award for the best collection of English short stories in 2004, 5 Godage National Literary Awards, and the Godage lifetime award in 2018.

Also, Emeritus Professor Chandrasiri Palliyaguru, who is also a former professor of the Department of Sinhala, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, was awarded the “Sahithyarathna” lifetime award (Sinhala medium) for his extraordinary service towards the Sinhala Literature of Sri Lanka. He is a researcher, designer, administrator, ethnographer, and critic who has received many awards for his work. He has written over 50 books including short stories, translations, novels, poetry anthologies, critical works, and related research works.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of president Ranil Wickremesinghe and the participation of Vidura Wickramanayaka, the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. It was organized by the State Literary Advisory Council, the Sri Lanka Arts Council, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.