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Premini Amerasinghe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 24, 1933 |
| Died | February 18, 2026 (aged 92) |
| Education | Ladies' College, Colombo |
| Alma mater | University of Ceylon (MBBS, 1958) |
| Occupations | Radiologist, novelist, poet |
| Spouse | Dr. Mark Amerasinghe |
| Parent(s) | Dr. Hilary Gunawardane (father) Beatrice Gunawardane (mother) |
| Awards | State Literary Award (2022) Sahitya Ratna Lifetime Award (2022) |
Dr. Premini Amerasinghe (24 June 1933 – 18 February 2026) was an eminent Sri Lankan Consultant Radiologist, medical educator, and an award-winning novelist and poet.[1] Over a multi-decade medical career, she was a foundational figure in expanding Sri Lanka's radiological infrastructure, notably introducing modern ultrasound technology to the University of Peradeniya Medical School.[2] Following her retirement, she transitioned into a prominent voice in Sri Lankan English literature, receiving the highest national literary distinctions, including the Sahitya Ratna Lifetime Award.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Premini Gunawardane was born on 24 June 1933 in Colombo, British Ceylon. She hailed from a prominent medical family; her father, Dr. Hilary Gunawardane, was a senior physician and cardiologist at the General Hospital Colombo, and her mother was Beatrice Gunawardane.[1]
She received her secondary education at Ladies' College, Colombo. She pursued medical studies at the University of Ceylon, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 1958, earning a distinction in Medicine.[1] During her time in medical school, she met her future husband, Mark Amerasinghe.
Medical career and infrastructure impact
[edit]Amerasinghe initially trained in radiology under the guidance of early Sri Lankan pioneers Dr. A.W. Athukorale and Dr. S.N.B. Talwatte. In 1969, she was awarded a scholarship under the Colombo Plan, allowing her to travel to the United Kingdom for specialized postgraduate training in chest and cardiac radiology.[1]
Upon returning to Sri Lanka, she served as a Consultant Radiologist at the Kandy General Hospital. She later joined the faculty of medicine at the Peradeniya Medical School, serving as a consultant radiologist and senior educator at the Teaching Hospital Peradeniya.[2]
During her tenure at Peradeniya, Amerasinghe was responsible for significantly expanding the physical and technical scope of the radiology department. She successfully secured additional space to house advanced angiographic equipment, extending imaging facilities to complement pioneering vascular surgery. Crucially, Amerasinghe is credited with introducing ultrasonography (ultrasound imaging) to the Peradeniya medical complex, fundamentally upgrading the diagnostic capabilities available to patients and students in the region.[2] She retired from active practice after mentoring generations of Sri Lankan doctors, though she continued contributing medical poems to local medical journals.[1]
Literary career
[edit]Following her retirement from medical practice, Amerasinghe embarked on a highly successful career as a creative writer, publishing poetry, short stories, and historical fiction novels. Her work often explored the distinct social landscapes, historical complexities, and colonial class structures of Kandy and Peradeniya.
Her debut novel, Tangled Threads (2010), garnered critical acclaim and was recognized within national literary circles, including the Gratiaen Prize archives.[4] Her subsequent novel, The Search, achieved international attention when it was nominated for the prestigious global Dublin Literary Award.[5]
Her historical novel, Footprints (2021), brought to life the cobbled streets and political intrigues of 18th-century Ceylon during the transition from Dutch to British occupation. Footprints won the award for Best Independent English Novel at the 65th State Literary Awards Ceremony in 2022.[3] In recognition of her lifelong contributions to Sri Lankan English letters, she was honored by the state with the prestigious "Sahitya Ratna" Lifetime Award.[3]
Personal life
[edit]She was married to Dr. Mark Amerasinghe, a distinguished Sri Lankan orthopaedic surgeon and theatre practitioner. The couple had four daughters: Amila, Krishni, Ishika, and Manju.[6]
Dr. Amerasinghe died in Colombo on 18 February 2026 at the age of 92.[6]
Bibliography
[edit]| Category | Title | ISBN | Published Year | Publisher | Printed By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novels | The Search | 978-955-809-579-9 | 2003 | Vijitha Yapa Publications, Colombo | Vijitha Yapa Publications,Colombo |
| Sopie's Story | 978-955-656-023-7 | 2004 | Sooriya Publishers,Colombo | Athula Jayakory Printers,Colombo | |
| Tangled Threads | 978-955-671-192-9 | 2010 | Sarasavi Publishers,Colombo | Sarasavi Publishers,Colombo | |
| The Golden Deer | 978-955-413-560-4 | 2014 | Dr. Premini Amerasinghe | M D Gunasena & Company Printers PVT LTD,Colombo | |
| Footprints | 978-624-5831-00-5 | 2021 | Bay Owl Press,Colombo | Samayawardena Printers,Colombo | |
| Poetry and Anthologies | Kaleidoscope | 955-8425-69-9 | 2002 | Sooriya Publishers,Colombo | Samayawardena Printers,Colombo |
| The Top Step | 955-20-6603-4 | 2004 | Godage International Publishers,Colombo | Godage Printers,Colombo | |
| A Tapestry Of Verse | 978-955-31-1417-4 | 2019 | Sarasavi Publishers,Colombo | Sarasavi Publishers,Colombo | |
| Bush Strokes | 978-955-31-2997-0 | 2023 | Sarasavi Publishers,Colombo | Sarasavi Publishers,Colombo |
Other Contributions
[edit]- Channels 2026 (Volume 32)- English Writers Collective Of Sri Lanka - Poetry (Suddenly Poem)[7]
Awards and honors
[edit]- 2019 - State Literary Award for Best Collection of Poetry of the year ( for A Tapestry Of Verse)[8]
- 2021 – State Literary Award for Best Independent English Novel For The Year (for Footprints)[3]
- 2025 – Sahitya Ratna Lifetime Award for for Outstanding Contribution For The Advancement Of English Literature[3]
- Nominated – Dublin Literary Award (for The Search)[5]
- Shortlisted/Archived – Gratiaen Prize recognition (for Tangled Threads)[4]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 "Appreciations: Dr. Premini Amerasinghe". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 22 February 2026. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- 1 2 3 "History of the Department of Radiology". Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Writers honoured at 65th State Literary Awards Ceremony .The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 30 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- 1 2 "Gratiaen Prize Winners & Short Listed Writers 1993-2018". The Gratiaen Trust. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- 1 2 "Author Profile: Premini Amerasinghe". Dublin Literary Award. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Obituaries: Dr. Premini Amerasinghe". Funerals.lk. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ "EWC announces winners of writing competition, launches Channels 2026". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
- ↑ "State Literary Awards 2020 announced ahead of ceremony". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
External links
[edit]Category:1933 births Category:2026 deaths Category:Sri Lankan physicians Category:Women radiologists Category:Sri Lankan novelists Category:Sri Lankan women writers Category:People educated at Ladies' College, Colombo Category:Alumni of the University of Ceylon