Popular Sinhala scholar, teacher and playwright Kalasuri Arisen Ahubudu passed away this morning at the age of 91.
The late Ahubudu who was born in 1920 was named Ariyasena Ashuboda by his parents but later changed it to the Hela format due to his association with the Hela Havula movement. He was a writer, orator, scholar, playwright, teacher, Sinhala lyricist and poet.
He had his early education at the Kataluwa government school and joined the Nittambuwa Teacher Training College. It was after his close association with Hela Havula stalwarts Cumaratunga Munidasa and Vellala Jayamaha in the thirties and forties that he sharpened his language skills. The name change to Arisen Ahubudu was also the result of this association.
Ahubudu served 42 years as a teacher. Having first taught at Holy Trinity College in Nuwara Eliya, he moved to Mahinda College, Galle and later to Maha Bodhi College, Maradana. His longest stint came even later at S. Thomas' College from 1952 until 1979 where he is remembered for his significant contribution.
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