Nihal De Silva
{{Short description|Sri Lankan novelist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox writer|name = Nihal De Silva|image = |nationality = Sri Lankan|subject = War|birth_date = |genre = Fiction|notableworks = The Road from Elephant Pass (novel),
The Far Spent Day,
The Ginirella Conspiracy|death_date = 28 May 2006|citizenship = Sri Lanka|occupation = |awards = {{awd|Gratiaen Prize|(2003)}}|death_place = Willpattu National Park|alma_mater = University of Peradeniya (Kandy)}}Nihal De Silva (19?? – 28 May 2006) was a Sri Lankan novelist. He won the Gratiaen Prize for his novel The Road From Elephant Pass{{cite web|url=http://www.gratiaen.com/thegratiaenprize1993-07.html |title=The Gratiaen Prize 1993–2007 |accessdate=13 June 2010 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080714162535/http://www.gratiaen.com/thegratiaenprize1993-07.html |archivedate=14 July 2008 |website=gratiaen.com}} which was later made into a film. He also published The Far Spent Day and The Ginirella Conspiracy.Jayawardena, Elmo.{{cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ptm/books/nihal.htm |title=In Memoriam – Nihal de Silva |accessdate=22 September 2008 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827170612/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ptm/books/nihal.htm |archivedate=27 August 2006 |publisher=Channel NewsAsia}}
Early life
De Silva was educated at St. Joseph's College, Colombo and attended the University of Ceylon (now University of Peradeniya, Kandy). Later he went into building his own water-purifying business supplying bottled mineral water. He lived in Colombo with his wife Shirlene and his two children, Shanik and Shamal.
De Silva was known for his interests in birds, evident in The Road from Elephant Pass and The Ginirella Conspiracy.Dwight, Richard (27 May 2008){{cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/05/27/spo06.asp |title=Josephian golf to honour Nihal de Silva |accessdate=13 November 2010 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018004749/http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/05/27/spo06.asp |archivedate=18 October 2012 }} . dailynews.lk
Work
He became famous at age 63 with the novel The Road From Elephant Pass,{{Cite book |last=De Silva |first=Nihal |title=The Road from Elephant Pass |date=2003 |publisher=Vijitha Yapa Publications |isbn=978-955-8095-38-6 |location=Colombo}} published in 2003. The story revolves around a Tamil woman who had been a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and a Sinhalese man who is an army officer. Thought to be natural and initial enemies, the pair are able to overlook their political differences to overcome the hostilities between them and get safely to Colombo, protecting an explosive secret. This book sold over three thousand copies in its initial printing, making the publisher, Vijitha Yapa, reprint twice more.
This book was followed by The Far Spent Day {{Cite book |last=De Silva |first=Nihal |title=The Far Spent Day |publisher=Vijitha Yapa Publications |isbn=978-955-8095-74-4 |location=Colombo}} based on political corruption. A young man, again of Sinhala origin, is pulled into the injustices of society but he attempts to fight back when all forces attempt to destroy him.
The Ginirella Conspiracy,{{Cite book |last=De Silva |first=Nihal |title=The Ginirälla Conspiracy |publisher=Vijitha Yapa Publications |year=2005 |isbn=978-955-1266-02-8 |location=Colombo |trans-title=Ginirälla (Flame of fire) Conspiracy}} his third novel, is about the politicization in Sri Lankan universities.
Death
On 28 May 2006, Nihal De Silva was killed by a land mine explosion at the Wilpattu National Park.[http://nittewa.blogspot.com/2006/05/nihal-de-silva-among-eight-killed-in.html Nihal De Silva Among Eight Killed In Wilpattu]. Nittewa.blogspot.com. Retrieved on 14 July 2013.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2006/05/060529_wilpattu_ltte.shtml BBCSinhala.com]. Bbc.co.uk (29 May 2006). Retrieved on 2013-07-14.
References
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Category:English-language writers from Sri Lanka
Category:Alumni of the University of Ceylon (Peradeniya)