Veteran sports journalist and writer Nishman Ranasinghe added two further works to Sri Lanka’s sports literature sphere, with the launch of his latest poetry collection Úre Dapu Hure Kavi, and the sports-based young adult novel Wedilla in Colombo recently.

The event was held at the auditorium of the National Institute of Sports Science. Ranasinghe, commenced his journalism career at the now-defunct Rawaya Newspaper edited by late renowned journalist Victor Ivon.

He has used his dramatic and artistic talents as a sports journalist to bring the world of sport into literature, and has previously created a milestone with his book Sports Kavi, considered as Sri Lanka’s first poetry collection centered on sport.

His newest collection, Ure Dapu Hure Kavi, is his second work of sports poetry, while Wedilla, becomes his third young adult novel and is built around the world of sport.

Ranasinghe’s literary work has already received recognition. Sports Kavi won the SILK Award for the Best Sports-Related Book of 2020, while his young adult novel Teta was recognised as the Best Recommended Young Adult Novel at the 2023 Godage Manuscript Competition.

Ure Dapu Hure Kavi was dedicated to ex-President of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) Rizly Illyas, while Wedilla was dedicated to former Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) President Rohan de Silva.

The National Institute of Sports Science Director Sajith Jayalal said Ure Dapu Hure Kavi, which examines via poetry people connected to sport in various ways, is a creation that could be appreciated from a literary perspective while also offering invaluable general knowledge.

Award-winning poet and young adult novelist Lahiru Kithalagama described Wedilla as a young adult novel representing the increasingly prominent “problem novel” subgenre, in keeping with current global trends in young adult literature. Both books have been printed by Sayura Publications.