W. A. Silva

Infobox Person
name = W.A.Silva


caption = W.A.Silva
birth_date = birth date|1890|1|16|mf=y
birth_place = Wellawatte, Sri Lanka
death_date = death date and age|1957|5|3|1890|1|16|mf=y
death_place = Wellawatte, Sri Lanka

W. A. Silva (January 16, 1890 – May 3, 1957) was a best selling author of Sinhala literature. Wellawattearachchige Abraham Silva was born in Wellawatte, Colombo.Fact|date=February 2007 After receiving a formal Sinhala education, he wrote his first novel, "Siriyalatha", at the age of 17.Fact|date=February 2007

After studying Sanskrit and Sinhala under Pelane Sri Vajiragnana Thero and reading world literature in his spare time while working as a clerk, Silva wrote Lakshmi, his second novel, in 1922.Fact|date=February 2007 He continued to write popular novels and short story collections. Several of his novels include "Kalae Handa" (the first Sinhala novel to be made a movie) and "Hingana Kolla", which was also made into a movie.

Silva edited the "Siri Sara" (1919-1923) and "Nuwana" (1940-1946) magazines, as well as a weekly newspaper, "Lanka Samaya" (1933).Fact|date=February 2007 After his death, High Street in Wellawatte was renamed W. A. Silva Mawatha in his honour.Fact|date=February 2007

Publications

*"Siriyalatha" (1907)
*"Lakshmi" (1922)
*"Hingana Kolla" (1923)
*"Pasal Guruvari" (1924)
*"Deiyanne Rate" (1926)
*"Kele Handha" (1933)
*"Daivayogaya" (1936)
*"Sunethra" (1936)
*"Vijaba Kollaya" (1938)
*"Radala Piliruwe"
*"Handa pane"
*"Julihatha"
*"Ridihavadiya"
*"Lensuva"
*"Sakviti Raja"
*"Amurtha Hasthaya"
*"Dalakumar"
*"Arabian Nights" (translation)
*"Maya Yogaya" (Play)
*"Ramayanaya" (translation)