Launch of poetry books Amarasekera in Retrospect

Gunadasa Amarasekera will turn eighty this year. He is the foremost literary figure of our times. He has devoted the last sixty years or so to enrich our literature with a number of works - novels, short-stories, collections of poems and works on literary criticism.

With these works he has ushered in a new era, creating a new literary sensibility and promoting a new vision. Besides being our foremost novelist he has over the last two decades emerged as an influential thinker who has in no uncertain terms contributed to the ideological and political debate in our country in recent times. He is the author of the concept of 'Jathika Chinthanaya' which provided the theoretical foundation for the emerging nationalist forces. His concept of a Jathika Chinthanaya - the concept of a civilizational consciousness - appeared long before Samuel Huntington came out with his 'civilizational concept' in his famous work Clash of Civilizations.

An enthusiastic group of scholars and academics with the collaboration of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs declared November 2008 to November 2009 as "Amarasekera Retrospect Year". Under this, it was decided to conduct a series of seminars islandwide to draw the attention of the public to the contribution made by this national figure. The first of these seminars was held at the BMICH last year. It was devoted to a discussion of his short stories. The next seminar is to be held at the University of Peradeniya with the collaboration of the Sinhala Society & Arts Council of the university and is to be devoted to a discussion on his poetry. Visidunu Publishers have brought out his entire collection of poetry running into six volumes - Bhava Geetha, Uyanaka Hinda Liyu Kavi, Amal Biso, Gurulu Watha, Avarjana and Asak Da Kava. In the field of poetry his main achievement was to unearth our poetic tradition going back into centuries, which was being ignored by those going after Western models.

The keynote address at this function will be delivered by Prof. P. B. Meegaskumbura followed by an evaluation of Amarasekera's contribution by eminent poet Parakrama Kodituwakku. Gunadasa Amarasekera himself will reflect on the experiences that have gone into his poetic creations. The event will be chaired by Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Prof. Anura Wickramasinghe.

This function will be held on Wednesday, April 1, at 4 p.m., at the Arts Theatre of the University of Peradeniya.