One hundredth Ariesen Ahubudu Commemoration

The one hundredth birth anniversary of Kalasuri Ariesen Ahubudu, a great poet (Maha Kavi), outstanding lyricist, and eminent scholar and linguist  of the country falls on March 18, 2021. 

The Ariesen Ahubudu Foundation  organised a series of events to mark the anniversary. 
The first event is an island wide Ariesen Ahubudu Centenary Birth Anniversary Open Prose Competition. The winners of the competition will receive valuable prizes and certificates.
Hela Derana Vaga, a research work by Kalasuri Ariesen Ahubudu on Sri Lankan history and his children’s story book Rawana Hinawa reprinted by Sarasari Polishers, Nugegoda have also been published.
An Ariesen Ahubudu Felicitation Volume containing contributions from outstanding scholars in the country has also been published to mark this event. 

The presentation of Ariesen Ahubudu’s radio opera Mangala Kinkini as a 2D Animation Programme with the creative contributions of eminent personalities Athula Ransirilal, Specialist Dr Ruwan Ekanayake, and Pradeep Nandana will be a special feature of the centenary Birth Anniversary Commemorations. 
“He was born on 18 March 1920 in Mudiyallagahawatta in Malalaga, Koggala, Sri Lanka. 
Ahubudu was the second of the three children of the family of Devundara Devamanimendra Heronis De Silva and Wathugedara Laisohami. The child was named as Ariyasena Arsuboda by parents, which he later converted to fairly pure Sinhala name Arisen Ahubudu. He married Sanda Ahubudu on 8 August 1953 and they have one daughter Sanda Samathi Ahubudu. 

"In 1937, at the age of 17, he first involved as a teacher in Piyadigama Saripuththa College, Ahangama. Kumaratunga Munidasa gave an honorary to him as “Subas Pathin Kiwithi”, due to excellent poetry he possessed"

In 1937, at the age of 17, he first involved as a teacher in Piyadigama Saripuththa College, Ahangama. Kumaratunga Munidasa gave an honorary to him as “Subas Pathin Kiwithi”, due to excellent poetry he possessed. 
Ahubudu served 42 years as a teacher, beginning his career at Holy Trinity College in Nuwara Eliya, then he moved to Mahinda College, Galle and later to Maha Bodhi College, Maradana.[3] His longest stint came even later at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia 29 years from 1952 until 1979 where he was among those recruited by warden R. S. de Saram and who together with Sandadas Coperehewa and G.L. Jinadasa supported by D. S. Jayasekera he was a leader in the post independence renaissance in teaching of the Sinhala language and literary activities. He taught at Kibiya Government College, Katugastota Deegala College, Buddhist School, Wellatota also. 

While on teaching, in 1947 he published a magazine called Ediya (means “power”) for children. the motto of that magazine was “Ediya produced for improving powers of children”. He strongly believed that Sinhalese people were originated from King Ravana, and not from King Vijaya. 

Prior to his death Arisen Ahubudu was the last surviving prominent member of Hela Havula as well as the last surviving prominent Sri Lankan lyricist. 

Some of the popular songs that he lyrics are Kate Kiri Suwanda, Rena Gira Rena Ambe, Pruthugeese Kaaraya, Punsada Eliyay, Sudata Sude Walakulai, Rejina Mamai Ape Rajje, and Ko Hathuro, Lanka Lanka Pembara Lanka, Dakuna Nagenahira, Mal Gomu Gumu. 
1946, he entered to the drama script writing and wrote very famous dramas at that time, such as Wanaraja Kumariya, Hela hethiriya, Sakwithi Ravana, and Lokanthaya saha geta. 
Ahubudu died on 26 May 2011.”