Kumaratunga Munidasa

Kumaratunga Munidasa (Sinhala: කුමාරතුංග මුනිදාස; 25 July 1887 – 2 March 1944) was a pioneer Sri Lankan (Sinhalese) linguist, grammarian, commentator, and writer. He founded the Hela Havula movement, which sought to remove Sanskrit influences from the Sinhala language. Considered one of Sri Lanka's most historically significant scholars, he is remembered for his profound knowledge of the Sinhala language and its literary works.
Early life.
The 11th of 12 siblings, Kumarathunga Munidasa was born on July 25, 1887, in Idigasaara, [Dickwella], [Matara District|Matara], Sri Lanka. His mother was Palavinnage Dona Gimara Muthukumarana (or Dona Baba Nona Muthukumarana) and his father was Abious (or Abiyes) Kumaranatunga. His father, a physician who practiced [indigenous medicine], kept [Pali] and [Sanskrit] manuscripts on [Ayurveda] medicine, [Astrology], and [Buddhism].
Education.
Munidasa originally attended Wewurukannala Pirivena to learn Pali and Sanskrit in order to become a Buddhist monk, but his family disapproved. He then switched to the government teacher's college in Colombo, graduating in 1907 after two years of training.
Career.
Teaching career.
His first appointment was as a government teacher in the Bilingual School of Bomiriya. He was later promoted to the position of principal of the Kadugannawa Bilingual School. After 11 years, he was promoted again to the position of inspector of schools. He remained in that role for four years.
Literary/Scholarly Career.
His first book, "Nikaya Sangraha Vivaranaya," was an analysis for a Scripture on the Buddhist Monastic Orders.
Munidasa was a member of the Sinhala Maha Sabha of the Swabhasha movement, which started as a protest against the English-educated elites.
Hela Havula.
Munidasa spoke of language, nation, and the country as a "Triple Gem," linking these entities to the Buddhist concept of refuge. To pursue these sources of refuge, he founded the Hela Havula, which consisted of people who shared his views on Sinhala language and literary interest. Members of the group often engaged in debates and discussion of recommended literature. It was the starting point for many Sri Lankan scholars and artists and the organiz
Journalism.
Munidasa revived the "Lakminipahana" newspaper and started the "Subasa" and "Helio" magazines to teach and promote the correct use of Sinhala.
Family.
In 1921, Munidasa married Lilly Laviniya.
Death.
Kumarathunga Munidasa died on July 10, 1944, at the age of 65.
Novels.
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