K. G. Somasiri Lankatillake
Author, Illustrator and Artist
Lyndarum Drive, Epping, VIC 3076
Academic Background:
Certificate in Development Planning, 1982, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University College, London
Certificate of Attendance in the Urban Data Management (HABITAT) Workshop, 1981, Perarignar Anna University of Technology, Madras, India
Master of Science in Town & Country Planning, 1978, University of Sri Lanka (Katubedda Campus), Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Geography, 1967, Vidyodaya University of Ceylon, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka (Present Sri Jayawardanapura University)
Career Background:
| POST | ORGANIZATION | FROM | TO |
| Deputy Director General (Planning & Management Coordination) | Urban Development Authority of Sri Lanka | 05.04.94 | 28.01.02 |
| Additional Director (Planning) | Do | 05.12.91 | 05.04.94 |
| Deputy Director (Development Planning) | Do | 15.09.83 | 05.12.91 |
| Acting Director (Special Projects) | Do | 01.01.83 | 15.09.83 |
| Assistant Director (Special Projects) | Do | 01.04.81 | 01.01.83 |
| Town Planner | Do | 01.09.79 | 01.04.81 |
| Development Officer | Ministry of Finance & Planning of Sri Lanka | 03.11.77 | 31.08.79 |
| Development Officer | Ministry of Planning & Economic Affairs of Sri Lanka | 01.07.72 | 03.11.77 |
| Graduate Trainee | Ministry of Planning & Economic Affairs of Sri Lanka | 06.07.71 | 30.06.72 |
In 2005 I moved to Melbourne, Australia and started my writing career writing songs and poems to the Nashville International Song and Lyrics Competition, the International Library of Poetry, and International Society of Poets, Maryland. Then I continued on writing books for children in English and Sinhalese languages and turn it to the Sole Trader small business ETALES PUBLISHING AUSTRALIA.
Social Background:
I was born in 1942 in Denipitiya, a remote village in Sri Lanka. The place where I was born is called Uswatta in Eluwavila, which means “the lake full of white lotus”. The entire village was covered in paddy fields, vegetable cultivation and coconut estates. The river ‘Polwathu Oya’ flows bordering the village. There were also two irrigation canals built by the villagers. It also had small forests and hills. It was my and my childhood friends’ heaven. Therefore I had the opportunity to experience stories that other children in this world do not. I started school at the age of five. I received my primary education at the village school then named as ‘Polwathumodera Sri Sanga Bodhi School’. I completed my J.S.C. and G.E.C (O Levels) at that school. Then I went to the ‘Sri Sumangala Maha Vidyalaya’ in Weligama for higher education (A Levels). I successfully passed the University Entrance Examination at that school and entered the ‘Vidyodaya University of Ceylon’ in Nugegoda from where I graduated with an Honours Degree in Geography and a Master of Science in Town and Country Planning from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. I also gained a Certificate in Development Planning from the University College London under a scholarship awarded to me by the UNDP.
Specialities:
Poetry, Songs/Lyrics, Folk and Devil Songs and Dance, Rural Culture and Arts, Village Re-awakening, Environmental Planning and Conservation, Sacred Area Planning, Development and Protection, Urban Planning and Redevelopment, History, Archaeology
Journal Editor – “Natya Parshad” (“Drama Society”) of Vidyodaya University of Ceylon 1965. I Helped the Drama Society to produce the Drama “Sakkaya Dhitthi” (“The Foolish Vision”).
In 1960 produced dramas for villagers of the titles “Das Noladdo” (“Blind People”) and “Mathanga Pandith” (Pandith Mathanga”) based on the Thathagatha’s teaching that “No one is a Brahmin or a slave by birth but by deed” of the ‘Vasala Suthra’. In 1956 organized the ‘Manel (blue lotus) Young Farmers Society’ Eluwavila, for farmers and held its position of the Deputy President.
Awards:
- Award of the POET SCHOLOR EDITOR’S CHOICE and the POET SCHOLER EDITOR’S CHOICE Medal 2006 awarded to me by The International Library of Poetry, 1 Poetry Plaza, Owings Mills MD 21117.
- Award awarded to me for the Fifteen Years Excellence Service for the Urban Development Authority of Sri Lanka.
- Award awarded to me by the Siddhartha Nagar Municipality in Nepal for the formulation and presentation of the Town Development Plan for that Municipality in 1995 under the ESCAP/CITYNET planning assistance program of the UNDP.
Memberships:
A member of The Small Business Institute of Australia, Reading Australia, The Digital Marketing Institute, The Small Business First, a Creative Arts Practitioners of Whittlesea (CAPOW) network of local artists and The Metro Tunnel Artists Pool of Victoria
Photographs:
The Poet Scholar Editor’s Choice Award
The Poet Scholar Editor’s Choice Medal
Opening of the Awarding Ceremony of the Fifteen Years Excellence Service for the Urban Development Authority of Sri Lanka
The Award awarded to me for the Fifteen Years Excellence Service for the Urban Development Authority of Sri Lanka
The presentation of the Siddhartha Nagar Town Development Plan to the Municipality staff
The Award awarded to me for the presentation of the Siddhartha Nagar Town Development Plan to the Municipality staff
This is my artwork ‘Dance Whales Dance’ displayed in the ‘Move it, move it!’ Art exhibition held at the Franklin Street in the city of Melbourne in 2022 by the Metro Tunnel Creative Program and won an award.
‘Dance Whales Dance’
This is my artwork which was displayed at the Seasonal Art Exhibition held from 29th November to 19th December 2018 at the Great Hall of the Whittlesea City Council in Victoria featuring over 150 works of local artists. Further it has also been published in the publication named “Seasonal” and published by the Whittlesea City Council for this particular public event to promote the artworks of the local visual artists.©
The Registrar
