Today on our Amazing Kids we are featuring a talented child author, Dilnuka Silva, who first started writing by composing his grandfather’s biography. Let’s have a little talk with Dilnuka, about his writing and his creative inspirations.
Q:Can you tell me more about yourself?
A: I’m A.S. Dilnuka Silva. I live in Pannipitiya. I am a student of Maharagama Central College and I study in the 10th grade. My father is Ranil Premjith and my mother is Nadeera Nishani. I am the only child in my family.
Q:How did you learn to read and write?
A: Since childhood, I have loved reading books and writing essays and poems. When I was three years old, I started reading books that my mother gave me. Now I have a collection of books that I received since then. Currently, there are about 1,050 books.
Q:Can you tell us about your first book and how you came up with the idea to write it?
A: My grandmother was like a shadow in my life. She always told me stories about my grandfather, and I listened to them very eagerly. He was an excellent editor, and author who had done great research for newspaper journalism in this country. Today’s younger generation do not know about my grandfather. So, I wrote about my grandfather’s service to journalism in Sri Lanka. That’s how I got the idea to write my first book about my grandfather.
Nodutu Mutta (An unseen grandfather), is the name of the first book I wrote. It is a biography of my grandfather.
On September 13, 2024 the first copy of my book was presented to my grandmother at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Prof. J.B. Dissanayake was the chief guest.
Q:Can you tell our readers about your grandfather?
A: My grandfather was Srilal Hikkaduwa Liyanage. He was a great Editor and a writer in Sri Lanka. He was a former Editor of the Lake House publications, Silumina and Dinamina and also Founding Editor of Mihira, Tharuni and Nawayugaya newspapers.
Q:Tell us about the people who helped to publish this book?
A: My parents, especially my grandmother gave me great guidance to write this book. Although my grandmother passed away three months ago, I am sure that I will always receive her blessings.
Also many people including veteran journalists, Thilakaratne Kuruwita Bandara, Percy Jayamanne, Karunarathne Amarasinghe and Rasaduna Editor and Inoka Samarawickrama encouraged me to write this book.
The principal of my school, the teachers as well as my friends helped me a lot. Finally, I would like to thank everyone who helped me.
Q:Tell me about your library?
A: Yes, I have a library. I named it Srilal Hikkaduwa Liyanage Memorial Library. There are about 1,200 books in it. Also I have preserved my grandfather’s articles and old newspapers.
Q:What are your favourite books to read?
A: I like Thilakrathna Kuruwita Bandara’s Rasa Dhotha and Karunarathna Amarasinghe’s Hithaka Mathaka.
Q:What are your hobbies?
A: I like reading newspapers and books as well as listening to old songs.
Q:What kind of books do you like to read the most?
A: I like to read books related to biographies, literature, history and Buddhism.
Q:What do you have to say to your readers who would also like become writers one day?
A: Always read, write and educate yourself. It increases your knowledge. No matter how many obstacles come, face them successfully and go towards your desired goals.
Q: What are your future hopes?
A: I hope to continue with literature. Also following in the footsteps of my grandfather, I would also like to become the Editor of a newspaper one day.
On behalf of Observer Kids Chronicle, we wish our young author Dilnuka to successfully reach his goals of becoming a famous author and Editor.
Pix: Dushmantha Mayadunne
