- 3rd June 1914

- Ratgama, Dodanduwa, Sri Lanka.

- Charles Francis de Silva. Post Master.

- Lydia Pinto Moragoda, School Teacher.

- Vedithanthirige Eustace Reginold de Silva

- Vedithanthirige Ediriweera Ranjitha Sarachchandra

- Eldest son with two younger sisters

- Richmond College, Galle
- St. Aloysius College, Galle
- St. John's College, Panadura
- St. Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia

- Science subjects in addition to English, Latin, Greek.

- London Matriculation


- 1933, gained admission to the University College, Colombo and offered Pali, Sanskrit and Sinhala
for the first degree and passed out in 1936 with a first class and sat for the Ceylon Civil Service
examination (because of his parents insistance) and came first in the island.

- Taught at St. Peter's college, Colombo for a short period and in 1939 joined Lake House.

- In 1939 married Miss Ailean Beleth.



- Proceeded to Shanthiniketan with wife to study Music and Indian philosophy.

- Returned to Sri Lanka and taught at St. Thomas College Mt. Lavinia, obtained a Master's Degree
from the University of London (Eastern Philosophy)

- Sub Editor, Sinhala Etymological Dictionary.

- Appointment as a lecturer in Pali, University of Ceylon.

- Obtained a Master's degree in Western Philosophy from the University of London as an
internal student.

- Conforment of the Ph.D by the University of London, for the research work titled "The Buddhist
Psychology of Perception and the Theory of Bawanga".

- Appointment to the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya.
- Publication of the famous research treaty titled; "The Sinhalese Folk Play".

- Won the Rockfellor Fellowship and travelled widely in India, China, Japan and USA doing
research in drama.

- Production of epoch making "MANAME".

- Publication of his first Novel "Malagiya Atto".
- Won the Sri Lanka Sahithya Mandala Award for 'Malagiya Atto'.

- In Japan studying Japanese "NOH" and "KABUKI" along with Japanese language and literature.

- Production of "SINHABAHU".

- Inaugural Sarachchandra Drama Festival held at Havelock Town theatre.

- Second Marriage with Lalitha Swarna Perera.

- Represented Sri Lanka as official delegate and guest at the International P.E.N. Congress
held in New York - USA.

- Served as a visiting professor in Buddhist Philosophy and Asian culture at the Universities of
Denison, Rochester in USA.

- Held the Chairmanship of the Ceylon Civil Rights movement formed in 1972
- Participated at the International conference on Japanese studies on the invitation of the
Institution for Culture in Japan.
- Academic tour of several German Universities in Kiel, Humbourg, Gottingen and Heidelbourg
- Appointment as the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Colombo.
- Appointment as a member of the Directorial Board of the State Film corparation and Adviser
to the Government for cultural affairs.
- First Sri Lankan to be appointed by the Special Committee of the Swedish Acadamy to nominate
writers to the selection committee for Noble Prize in Literature 1974.

- Tour of U.S.S.R

- Appointment as the Ambassador for Sri Lanka in France, accredited to the Vatican and
Switzerland and permanent delegate to the UNESCO

- Research Professor at the East - West Center, University of Hawaii - USA

- Honorary D. Litt. from the University of Jaffna.
- Honorary D. Litt. from the University of Peradeniya in addition to the Professer Emeritus.

- Won the Kumaran Asan World Prize for Literature from the state of Kerala, India.
- Spent few weeks at the 'Dhvanyaloka' in Mysore, India on the invitation of Prof. C. D. Narasinghaiah.

- Participated as a special invitee at the Literary Conference held in India under the patronage of
'All India Sahitya Acadamy'

- Appointment as a Reseach Director of the 'Sarvodaya Movement'

- Participated in Singapore Writers' Week.
- Won the 'RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD' from the Republic of Philippines.
- Performance of "MANAME" in London at the "Mermaid" and 'Commonwelth Theatre.'

- Honorary D. Litt. from the University of Sri Jayawardenapura.

- Invitaion from the State of Kerala in India as chief guest for the Kumaran Asian Award Ceremony.

- Performance of 'SINHABAHU' at the Asian Arts Festival in Singapore.
- Appointment as Chancellor, University of Peradeniya.

- Tour of Cambodia.
- Appointment as Consultant to the 'Lake House'.

- Awarded the Japanese Decoration 'THE SACRED TREASURE; SILVER and GOLD STAR'.

- 1996 August 16, the death of Prof. Sarachchandra. The cremation was held at the
Colombo University premises.