Punyakante Wijenaike

Punyakante Wijenaike was a Sri Lankan writer. In 1977, she was described as "one of the most underestimated fiction writers currently at work in the English language."

Work

Wijenaike wrote primarily in English, including fiction, short stories and anthologies. Her first collection of short stories, The Third Woman, was published in 1963. She later published four more collections of short stories and six novels, with more than 100 stories published in newspapers, journals and anthologies in Sri Lanka and abroad; had her works were broadcast in Sri Lanka and on the BBC.
Although she spent most of her life in Colombo, she initially used rural villages as her theme, only later turning to urban themes. Her writings highlight "the tyranny of community or a group towards its weaker members." Her 1998 novel, An Enemy Within, uncovers "the mask that tend to hide the reality of present times."
Her novel Giraya was adapted into a teledrama by Independent Television Network of Sri Lanka.

Awards and recognition

Women of Achievement Award, 1985
Kala Suri Class 1, conferred by the Government of Sri Lanka, 1988
1994 Gratiaen Prize for her novel Amulet
1996, joint winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Competition for Radio

Ten of her works are held by the U.S. Library of Congress.

Books

Novels

1998: An Enemy Within, uncovers
2011: GirayaAmuletThe Waiting Earth
2010: When Guns Fall SilentThe Rebel
2009: That deep silenceTo Follow the SunUnbinding: A Story of Rebirth and Other StoriesAnoma
1972: ''The Betel Wine''

Short stories

2004: Missing in Action;Sunset Years
1963: ''The Third Women''

Personal life

She is the daughter of Justin Kotelawala, a businessman and senator of Colombo and his wife Millicent da Silva. Her brother is Deshamanya Lalith Kotelawala. She spent most of her life in Colombo, where she published all her works.