Senior Journalist, author and teledrama and film script writer Somaweera Senanayake passed away at a private hospital in Colombo, yesterday. He was 74.
Senanayake was the scriptwriter of over 30 teledramas, including popular teledramas Doo Daruwo, Asal Vesiyo, Palingu Menike, Sitha Niwana Katha, Yashorawaya and Charitha Thunak. He was also the scriptwriter of the movies Ammawarune and Mihidum Sihina.
Yashorawaya was one of the many books authored by Senanayake. Other notable works of fiction by him include Mawakage Geethaya, Baladevage Lokaya, Irahanda Payana Loke and Ambu Samiyo. Senanayake was the first ever Sri Lankan to be awarded a Master of Arts for a novel.
Born in Udugama, Gampaha in 1944, Senanayake obtained an Arts degree from Vidyodaya University. Senanayake then began his career as a journalist at Lake House and contributed to its many publications, including Silumina and Sarasaviya.
He had also written cartoon stories to Sathuta, the first cartoon paper in the country. He succeeded Edwin Ariyadasa as the editor of the periodical, Navayugaya and held the position until his retirement.
Issuing a condolence message, Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe said Somaweera Senanayake was a senior literati who had left permanent memories in the field of literary arts.
“While writing cartoon stories for Sathuta, he gave a facelift to the traditional art. His first teledrama script which was based on his own novel, Yashorawaya, can be considered the first instance where the tele adaptation of a novel was successful,” he said.
The remains of Somaweera Senanayake lie at No. 43, Ambillawatta Road, Boralasgamuwa. The funeral will be held at 6.00 p.m. on June 11, at the Godigamuwa Cemetery, Maharagama.