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:

1. 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.
2. Award awarded to me for the Fifteen Years Excellence Service for the Urban Development Authority of Sri Lanka.
3. 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