J. B. Disanayake


Deshamanya Prof. Jayaratna Banda Disanayake is an emeritus professor and one of the leading authorities of the Sinhala language. He was former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand.

Academia

Dissanayake received his primary education at Dharmaraja College, Kandy and secondary education at Ananda College. He graduated from the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya campus in 1961. He later received a Fulbright scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley, to read for a master's degree in linguistics and obtained a PhD from the University of Colombo.
With a long teaching career of over 45 years as a lecturer of the University of Colombo, he is the author of numerous books on linguistics, culture and history. Prior to his retirement Dissanayake served in the capacity of the Head of the Department of Sinhala at the university.

Publications

  • Lanka, the land of kings by J. B. Disanayake
  • Mānava bhāṣā pravēśaya by J. B. Disanayake
  • Paintings of Kelani Vihara by J. B. Disanayake
  • Kălaṇi Vihāre situvaṃ by J. B. Disanayake
  • Uḍaraṭa Sinhalaya by J. B. Disanayake
  • Understanding the Sinhalese by J. B. Disanayake
  • Siyalanga rū sobā by J. B. Disanayake
  • Banda vaṭā pada raṭā by J. B. Disanayake
  • Gamaka suvanda siv siya gavu ăsēya by J. B. Disanayake
  • Siṃhala bhāṣāvē nava muhuṇuvara by J. B. Disanayake
  • Samakālīna Siṃhala lēkhana vyākaraṇaya by J. B. Disanayake
  • The monk and the peasant by J. B. Disanayake
  • Water in culture by J. B. Disanayake
  • Siṃhala budu samaya by J. B. Disanayake
  • Studies in Sinhala literacy by J. B. Disanayake
  • Nūtana Siṃhala lēkhana vyākaraṇaya by J. B. Disanayake
  • Siṃhala vehera vihāra by J. B. Disanayake
  • Mihintale, cradle of Sinhala Buddhist civilization by J. B. Disanayake
  • Say it in Sinhala by J. B. Disanayake
  • Aspects of Sinhala folklore by J. B. Disanayake