Haiku in Sri Lanka

When mentioning about haiku in Sri Lanka It is necessary to pay due respect to those poets and intellectuals who pioneered introducing Japanese haiku to Sri Lanka. Veteran poet Ariyawansa Ranaweera published ‘විසිරි මිණි’ (scattered gems) in 1989 and ‘මිණි පැමිණි’ (Arrival of gems) in 2000. In 2002 Prof. Ariya Rajakaruna published translated collection of Japanese

Haiku poetry

In 2013, Veteran poet Nandana Weerasinghe published ‘Disi Adisi’ (seen and not seen) a collection of American Haiku poetry translated into Sinhala. Wasantha Priyankara Nivunhella’s ‘Muthu Athara’ (among the pearls) provided a analysis of haiku poetry and short poetry while Aparekke Sudhamma thero’s ‘Keti Kavi Lakuna’( The sign of short verses) is a theoretical and comparative analysis of Asian short poetry.

Sri Lanka Haiku Society

A Haiku poetry society is a group of people who truly love the environment, the animals, the trees, the vines, the streams, and their homeland. The culmination of this flow of affection is humanity. Those are a group of people who don't consider race, religion, caste, or color, enjoy each other's haiku poems, taking trips to enjoy the environment, holding haiku poetry contests, and sharing the joys and sorrows. This haiku ship has been rescued from the storms and sailed forward in the great ocean of poetry by the sensei (teacher) managing everything. He is said to have affirmed the position of the poets and affirmed their commitment to the upliftment of the group and marked his single-minded determination and self-strength to pursue the path of haiku on a spiritual plane.

Likewise, sharing the same interests an attempt was pioneered by Veteran Sinhala poet Palitha Senarathna to create Sri Lankan Haiku Association. By founding Sri Lanka Haiku Poetry Association he aims to introduce the quality of Japanese haiku poetry together with modern inclinations to the Sri Lankan poetry community.

“Somewhere in the world, if a standard work of art is born, its effect influences the whole world. It’s like, the falling of the reflection of the lunar disk in the lake water. If we are aiming for a superior society in that mission touching the inspiration of world sacred literature and art is absolutely important”
(Palitha Senarathna)

In addition to that poet Palitha Senarathna who has published several short verse haiku style books has formed haiku-studying circles and researched haiku together with interested groups online. Ancient Japanese haiku and modern haiku are discussed In these weekly classes, so many poetic aspects are taken into account. , History of poetry in Sri Lanka, Haiku and Zen Buddhism, Sigiri graffiti and Haiku around the world. An opportunity is given to the members to Review a favorite haiku from abroad and to talk about their own haiku poem too. Students’ poems are discussed. There are Sinhala and English language classes too to improve the knowledge regarding literature.

Mrs. Subhasini Jayathilaka residing in Australia coordinates with international haiku circles and contributes wholeheartedly. Winning of an honorable mention in 76th Basho memorial haiku competition by Dr. Lanka Siriwadana was a happy event.

Sri Lankan haiku - An anthology of haiku poetry

This book is the first Anthology of Sri Lankan Haiku poetry that consists of more than 150 haiku poems with an English translation Those novice poets and poetesses who contributed to this collective effort have been greatly influenced by the works of Matsuo Basho, Koboshiya Issa, Yosa Buson, Shiki and other great Japanese poets. Haiku is not restricted to a set of syllables or the mere presence of seasonal changes, but it is created by maneuvering of themes. This is the divine feature of Haiku.

The launch of ‘Sri Lankan haiku’ an anthology of haiku poetry - - was held on 19 Nov 2022 at Martin Wickramasinghe memorial museum at Koggala Sri Lanka. Koggala Martin Wickramasinghe Museum Complex, the ancestral home of the renowned Sri Lankan Writer and Poet Martin Wickramasinghe where he lived with his family. Many haiku Poets from all studying circles participated and graced the event, led by the chairman of Sri Lanka Haiku Association Palitha Senarathna while the guest speaker A writer and critic Ven. Ethipola Mangala Thero addressed the audience.

Dr. Radhika De Silva, Mrs. Mallika Marasingha together with Dr. Lanka Siriwardana Volunteered making this anthology and Mrs. Sanju Samarasinghe Mr. N.W.P.Lal, and all others worked tirelessly to make this event a success.

Prepared by Dr.Lanka Siriwardana