Kailayar Sellanainar Sivakumaran (also known as K. S. Sivakumaran; (October 1, 1936 - September 15, 2022) is a Sri Lankan Tamil writer, art and literary critic, Journalist and radio and TV personality. He writes and broadcasts both in Tamil and English.
Early life.
Sivakumaran was born in Singalavadi, Puliyantheevu, Batticaloa City in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.
He had his early education at Aanaipanthy Boys’ School and St. Mary's Practicing School, St. Michael's College (then managed by North American Jesuits) and Government College all in, Batticaloa from 1947 to 1953. The family migrated to Colombo in October 1953. In Colombo; he studied up to the University Entrance Class (known as HSC) at the Colombo Hindu College (Bambalapitiya and Ratmalana) and at St. Joseph's College, Darley Road. He continued his education as an external student and graduated in English, Tamil and Western Classical Culture from the University of Peradeniya.
Career.
His working career includes as a journalist, broadcaster, Information Assistant (USIS), Copy Writer, English Teacher and a freelance literary and film critic.
Sivakumaran began his career as a journalist in 1960 working for a trade journal, "Industry", now defunct.
From 1961 to 1969 he was a translator of Tamil for the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC). In 1966, he was selected as a relief announcer in Tamil for the Commercial Service of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation SLBC (then known as Radio Ceylon) and news reader in Tamil and English. In April 1969 he joined the SLBC in a permanent capacity as a Tamil translator in the News Division. He was later appointed as an Assistant Editor and subsequently held the post of Duty Editor of the Tamil News Division of the SLBC. He served in this capacity until October 1979. Afterwards he joined the United States Information Service, now known as United States Information Agency (USIA), Colombo handling work in English as an assistant to the Information Officer.
As a writer both in English and Tamil media, he has published more than 30 books in Tamil and two books in English.
He has worked as a Journalist in "The Island" and "Daily News" - English language daily newspapers published from Colombo. He had worked as a senior journalist for "Virakesari: and Navamani" in the Tamil language.
Awards and felicitations.
He had received many awards that include Best English Columnist for the year 2007 awarded by the Press Institute and College of Journalism. He is a visiting lecturer in academic institutions. He has travelled to many countries attending meetings, seminars etc. both as guest and participant.
He was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the sixth edition of the Jaffna International Cinema Festival in December 2020.
List of books (available titles).
The following are in Tamil language
Death.
K. S. Sivakumaran died on Thursday, 15 September 2022 in Colombo.
References.
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