“Gedara Wata Sithiyama”

A Collection Of Short Stories

By Liyanage Amarakeerthi

The eight short stories in “Gedara Wata Sithiyama” (f.or jgd is;shu) the latest collection of short stories to be published by Prof. Liyanage Amarakeerthi who is not only the leading short story writer today but also a novelist and translator has moved the Sinhala short Story to a new height. This is no doubt the carrying forward of his contribution to the development of Sinhala Literature and a continuation of his great works such as “mama den nidami” (uu oeka ksoñ) in 1999 which won the award for the best short story collection for the year at the State Literature festival. His novels “Kurulu Hadawatha” (l=re¿ yoj;) and “Ahambakaraka” (wyïnldrl) was recognized as the best novels for the years 2014 and 2015 at the “Swarna Pusthaka” (iaj¾K mqia;l) literary festivals. The above achievements of Liyanage Amarakeerthi is mentioned as I deeply feel that the collection of short stories “Gedara Wata Sithiyama” (f.or jgd is;shu) has to be judged in the light of the high standards set by him in his literary work during the past few years.

Out of the eight short stories “Pem Kathawaka Atharameda” (fmï l;djl w;rueo) is a short story that will remain in the memory of a reader for a long time. It is one of the best short stories that has come out of our short story writers in recent times. This is based on a simple theme but it gives rise to a deep mental exercise. The reader is kept on alert till the end of the story. It is a piece of creative art that reminds of the works of a creative artists like Gunadasa Amarasekara, Siri Gunasinghe, Mahagama Sekara or Ediriweera Sarathchandra. On reading this short story my mind was taken back to that era of the greats of our literary landscape. That itself was a new experience as themes over and over again of defeatist characters has surfaced in many of our literary works of modern writers. I think all those who are interested in modern short story in Sri Lanka should read this collection. Every short story in this collection takes on the trials of true life in real society. In fact realism is what emerges from the themes in this collection.

It is no doubt a new experience for our readers and a little thinking or rather mental exercise on real Sri Lankan society will make the reading a new experience in life. I would say this is a collection of short stories every young aspiring short story writer should read not once but a few times to grasp what a creative work it is. The short story in the collection titled “Gedara Wata Sithiyama” and “Agadaya Haraha thuni del” (wd.doh yryd ;=kS oe,a) relates the problems of two societies one rural and the other just struggling to move out of that background.

For the development of Sinhala short stories it is necessary to begin a dialogue on short stories that are published by writers of today. It is unfortunate that we do not come across workshops / seminars or critical comments of work of art of today as the happened in the past when the Peradeniya schools of literature dominated.

I hope this short piece of mine will stimulate a dialogue.

Lal Wijenayake