Mahagama Sekara was a legendary poet of the 20th century in Sri Lanka. He was born on 7th April 1929, in Radawana, Colombo, Sri Lanka. He was the only child of Maha Gamage Jhon Appuhami (father) and Ranawaka Arachchige Rosalin (mother). Mahagama Sekara was also known as a great Sri Lankan novelist, translator, artist, playwright, lyricist, filmmaker, philosopher and teacher. He is considered as one of the most significant figures in the Sinhalese poetry.
Initially, he entered the Government school in Radawana in 1934. In 1948 he then entered the Government College of Fine Arts. Finally, in 1950 he entered the Teacher Training School in Nittabuwa and left it in 1952 as a Sinhalese trained teacher. In 1981, The University of Sri Jayawardenapura awarded him the Degree, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Mahagama Sekara was well known as a poet of the modern Sinhala literary tradition. His writing occasionally shows a Buddhist influence, and blends the themes like humanity and the reality of life. He was also influenced by French free verses, English, and Japanese Haiku.Mahagama Sekara passed away on the 14th of January 1976, and it is still considered as a tragic loss to the Sri Lankan poetry and literary. He was 46 years old when he died from sudden cardiac arrest.
