By Ravini Perera
Through the centuries, literature has created a common platform to bring authors and fans of various countries and cultures together. Many world-renowned novelists and poets pen their poetry, novels, short stories, biographies, and other compositions in their native tongue, which can be recognised as a limitation in the process of literature reaching foreign readers.
This is where translators come in, performing a vital task to connect these authors and their fans, old and new, with a common language. Author and translator Anna Rusconi has stated: “Words travel worlds. Translators do the driving.” However, not many translators have been successful in their journey in delivering the original ideas and thoughts of the authors in their translated books.
Numerous novelists, poets, and scholars of our island nation have translated the work of many foreign writers into our native tongue, broadening our literary outlook and allowing us to connect with the work of global literary greats. These translations include works of French, Russian, British, American, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Australian writers. We spoke to a few of these individuals who have made an immense contribution to literature in Sri Lanka about their experiences and success stories.
Translations for the monolinguals
One such translator is award-winning novelist and translator Kumara Siriwardana, who, subsequent to leaving Ananda College Colombo, pursued a career in journalism. With the guidance of his superiors, he excelled as a journalist, contributing his written work to various newspapers over the years.
The first six translations by Siriwardana were published in the year 2002 which included a number of books of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series and a collection of his short stories. During his illustrious career as a writer, he has published approximately 200 translations.
Jasvinder Sanghera’s Shame as Kon Kala Doni, Jean Sasson’s Love in a Torn Land: Joanna of Kurdistan as Joanna, Dan Brown’s The Da 
Vinci Code as Da Vinci Kethaya and Amish Tripathi’s Shiva Trilogy as Shiva Thrithwaya are some of the other books he has had the opportunity to translate. Siriwardana has received numerous awards, including the State Literary Award, the Godage National Literary Award, and the Buddhist Literary Award, for these translations.
When inquired about the beginning of his career as a writer and translator, Siriwardana shared that “the experience I have gathered as a journalist and editor has assisted me immensely in translating these books”.
It is customary for the publisher to be granted rights to an original written work. Thereafter, the publishers undertake the responsibility of assigning the particular book to a novelist willing to translate it. “Although I receive such invitations, I personally select the books I would like to translate. Hence, my selections are done following a thorough study of the original,” added Siriwardana.
Explaining the issues translations entail, Siriwardana stated: “To understand the depth of the water, one must test it himself. It is easy to criticise translated work but not many people realise the difficulty of the process. Direct translations are not a suitable means to deliver the true meaning of the original, as that is the easiest way to misinterpret ideas. Words, languages, times, and people, among many other aspects, are subject to constant changes. Therefore, translators must adapt and work accordingly. Though simple errors are found, most translated books have reached success because of the dedication and meticulousness of the author.”
Creativity is the cornerstone in translations
Veteran writer, translator, and journalist Anula de Silva, who has won numerous awards for her contributions to literature including the Kalabushana and the State Literary Awards, developed an interest in literature from her younger days. Having published her first novel during her university years, she was quick to attract the attention of many fans and well-known personalities for her creativity.
The New Year of Pearl S. Buck and The Thorn Birds of Colleen Mccullough were among the first books translated by de Silva as Nawa Wasara and Katu Kurulu Handa, respectively. In 1992, following a request, she translated Betty Mahmoody’s creation Not Without My Daughter as Deviyange Adaviya. The Morning Gift of Eva Ibbotson as Himidiri Thaagga, and Some Inner Fury of Kamala Markandaya into Adaraneeya Viyaruwa were also among her translations. Likewise, she has translated more than 50 books into Sinhala during her nearly six-decade-long career.
“The confidence I gathered through my experience as a novelist and the education I had received in English and Sinhala from school and university is what motivated me to try my hand at translations,” said de Silva. 
However, in order for a translator to interpret the ideas of the original author, one must develop a good understanding and sense of creativity. Furthermore, one must take all measures possible to refrain from changing the meaning of the original book. “This task can be achieved by treating the translation as one of your own creations,” added de Silva.
Books of de Silva have reached a significant number of readers in many countries and the popularity of these books have led to repetitive editions being printed even to date.
Bestselling and Nobel Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck has been de Silva’s constant inspiration. Buck’s views on women and their strength, highlighted in her work, have been translated to Sinhala by de Silva. Moreover, de Silva’s advocacy of the perseverance of women has been acknowledged by several awards, including the Dayawati Modi Stree Shakti Samman.
Emphasising the importance of reading books in general, she stated: “This pandemic has encouraged people to read more, which is important. Parents should train their children to read from their early years. It can yield lifelong benefits.”
Globalisation is powered by translations
Revolutionary poet, author, critic, and social activist Kala Suri Parakrama Kodithuwakku views translations to be a significant aspect of his career that spans over five decades.
The main aim of these translations was to bring awareness to the locals of the various musical and poetry-related pieces created in foreign countries, especially in the western world. “We must understand the true beauty that has been embedded in these creations. It is only then that our industry can grow. We must connect with the western culture as much as we connect with countries like India,” said Kodithuwakku.
His first translations were published in the year of 1979 as Pibidena Paya and Indu Saha Lanka where he introduced Tamil and Indian poetry to Sinhalese audiences. The focus placed on the tea and rubber estate workers in the former book earned it much popularity in society.
The book Rathu Rosa Nil Rosa, published in 2014, contained 200 of the best mix of Asian and western poems. The work of Russian poet Anna Akhmatova, America’s Elizabeth Bishop and Sylvia Plath, Kamala Das of India, and many others were translated to Sinhala in this book.
Rosa Mal Rathu Eliya, published in 2018, contains songs that have taken the world by storm. Masterpieces of artists such as Elvis Presley, Madonna, Micheal Jackson, Elton John, and Lionel Richie have been analysed well in this book.
Yansi Kaawya Nadee was the second book published in 2018, comprising of Chinese modern poetry from the times of the dynasties to the present day of China. The criticism of Mawo Sethun by the present generations have also been highlighted here.
The most recent translation by Kodithuwakku is Amathithumaage Pinthuraya, including 10 of the best short stories of many great writers including Kamala Das and Khushwant Singh.
Kodithuwakku has been presented with many local and international recognitions including the State Award for best translation, Jaya Shankar Award, and several others for these translations and his immeasurable contribution to literature.
The dictatorial ideology of the 18th Century labelled translators to be traitors. Hence, one was trained to believe that poetry cannot be translated without losing its meaning. However, towards the beginning of the 20th Century, this school of thought collapsed.
Translations are a cultural affair. The work of great personalities from all corners of the world were communicated to readers as a result of the work of translators. “One must step away from traditions in the art of translations. Hence translators are considered to be co-creators of the masterpiece and not slaves of the original creation, affording them a degree of flexibility and freedom. However, translators must not misuse this freedom,” he stated.
A society of serious literary readers
Prof. Liyanage Amarakeerthi is a contemporary Sri Lankan writer, lecturer, and scholar who has translated numerous books, biographies, plays, and academic material during his career.
Married to Tolstoy by Cynthia Asquith as Maha Purushayekuta Birindawak, Martha Nussbaum’s Not for Profit: Why Democracy needs the Humanities as Kalawa Kumakatada, Kalawa Saha Minisa, a translation of Irwin Edman’s Arts and the Man, Mario Vargas Llosa’s Letters to a Young Novelist as Taruna Navakathakaruvekuta, and the Sinhala translation of Rala Nagana Minissu from the American Play Inherit the Wind, are some of the work translated by Prof. Liyanage.
The tendency of writers to translate non-fiction or academic books is minimal. “The main reason behind the selection of my books that I translated was to enrich the scholarly dialogue on the subject of arts and humanities in the country. Most of the short stories and novels I translated were referred to in my classes of comparative literature. Moreover, the shortage of teaching material also prompted me to translate some of these books myself,” he stated.
Subjects such as social sciences, natural sciences, and language change regularly. Hence it is vital to either gather new knowledge through published translations or to be fluent in foreign languages so as to read originals.
When inquired about how one may select a good book, he explained that the skills and experience of the writers and their reputations as translators are the fundamental characteristics focused on by local book lovers when selecting books by particular authors.
The national-level investment on translating foreign language literature to Sinhala or English has not proved to be of a satisfactory position. “In the international market, manuscripts of translations of books from languages such as French, German, Spanish, and Latin to English by highly paid professional translators undergo several rounds of editing prior to being sent to major publishing houses for printing and publishing. Sadly, this is not what is followed in Sri Lanka,” he added.
Translations are carried out with the intention of bringing the written works to the monolingual. Some of the most popular books read by many were not originally written in English but translated to English later on. However, it has been advised to read the original publications if one is fluent in the language of the original book. This will provide an opportunity to the reader to understand the author’s ideas and stories as interpreted by the writer themselves.
