Janaki Sooriyarachchi is a young, versatile author-illustrator in Sri Lanka, who started writing early, in her childhood. She wrote her first book, a ballad, when she was 8 years old and her first book was published at the age of 14. Since then, she has authored over 135 storybooks for children.
The author herself has, also done the illustrations, computer graphics, as well as the music and lyrics for her children’s songbooks.
Though a qualified banker by profession employed at Sampath Bank, she is involved in diverse fields of interest.
The ancestral home in the beautiful village of Puhulwella, where she spent her childhood with her maternal grandparents, was the favorite place for Janaki Sooriyarachchi.
The house on top of a hill bounded by a huge garden edged by a paddy field on one side, and a rubber estate on another side, with the view of “Puhul Ella” the waterfall that gave it’s name to the village, and the stream flowing beside the paddy field, was a Fairyland to her.
Being the only girl in the family, she felt lonely most of the time. Playing with her two brothers in their games such as climbing trees, playing cricket or sword fighting, didn’t fascinate her. Therefore she wandered around the garden looking for bees, butterflies and things which fascinated her, some times sneaking behind them like a little butterfly and some times exploring and observing them like a little scientist.
Whenever she felt lonely, she sat on the stone steps in the rear side of the house gazing at the paddy fields and the waterfall. Ever since she could utter, she had whispered lyrics of songs, and ever since she could walk she drew on the wall and got scolded, most of the time. Nobody guessed that the little scribbler could have been a promising artist. No one guessed that among her whisperings there could be present the seeds of future writing that would win awards someday.
Being a child who didn’t talk much, but observed a lot, she created her own stories, songs, in her own rhythm, and murmured to herself and sometimes to the birds and butterflies, in the garden. In the night, she gazed at the night sky wondering about the stars and moon, hoping to become an astronomer one day.
She picked up things very fast. Seeing her showing interest in her father’s and grandfathers books and newspapers in her own language, her grandmother, who was a teacher, thought of giving her lessons on alphabet even before she was barely 1 ½ years old.
She was not only skilled in fine art but also was clever in her schoolwork. Her parents were very happy and proud of her versatility but were worried about her passion in art and literature. Therefore her mother and father did not encourage her to study art, fearing that her endless enthusiasm might ruin her academic success.
However, commencing her path in literature she came up with her 1st storybook at a very young age, without having the slightest idea about becoming an author.
Growing up, she entered Visakha Vidyalaya, passing her Grade 5 scholarship examination with high marks and kept on her writing and drawing. But not many knew about her talent, as she never talked about it.
Soon after the Advanced Level she joined Sampath Bank and completed the Professional Banking Examinations within a short period.
Her passion for exploring various fields, inspired her to study various subjects including psychology, architecture, history, classical music and dancing, music composing, poetry (Sinhala Kavi), computer, web designing, wood carving, sculpture, landscaping, palmistry.
Much earlier in life, her grandmother inspired her to learn the household arts, such as Cookery, Flow Beauty culture, Dress making and Embroidery, Dress Designing, Pottery and Fabric Painting, Costume Jewellery designing etc.
She did her professional studies in many fields and earned, Diploma in Psychology, Diploma in Landscaping and garden management, Diploma in Draughtsman ship & Building construction, Diploma in Beauty culture and Bridal Dressing, Diploma in Desk Top Publishing, AIB – Sri Lanka (Associate ship in Banking), CIMA Stage 1, CIM Stage 1,
Dancing
She is a Visharad in Bharatha Natyam. (Bhathkande Sangith Vidyapith- Luknow)
She held her Arangethram, classical performance in Tower Hall Theatre, Sri Lanka.
Music
She is also an undergraduate of Bhathkande Sangith Vidyapith- Luknow, following Visharad Examination in Hindusthani Music.
Lyrics Writing
Art
She is an Artist, skilled in many styles. Line Drawing & Painting, Cartoons, Wood Carving, Sculpture, Oil on Canvass are her favourites.
Her main areas of specialization are Cartoons, Abstract Art, Modern Art, and Medieval Age Style. The sizes of paintings vary from 6’x4’ to 2’x1’ or 1’x16.
An Exhibition of Oil on Canvas, was held at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo,
from 16th-18th March 2001.
She also owns a publishing company named “Tikiri Publishers”, specialized in children’s storybooks.
