Samanmalie launches Hapana Hawa with Mahadana Mithaniya

Veteran author Samanmalie Padmakumara flanked by Mahadanamuththa (Anju Hettiarachchi of Ananda College, Colombo) and Mahadana Miththaniya (Vihangi Rajapakse of Salcombe Preparatory School, Southgate London).

Uthpalawanna Kannangara as Mahadana Miththaniya

Veteran writer Samanmalie Padmakumara launched a seven-book volume for children at a function held at the BMICH on Friday.

Samanmalie, who has already proved her class writing many books for children as well as for adults, has come out with a new concept in releasing seven new children's books in one box volume - for the first time in Sri Lanka.

The story series, titled Hapana Hawa and based on a rabbit and its family, could be read as a series or as seven individual books. She has also given a fresh lease of life to the age-old Mahadanamutta story with a new version on his wife - 'Mahadana Mithaniya'. The day's program included an entertaining session on Mahadana Mithaniya and her five friends and how she got her husband out of mud - Muththa Maden Gotada Gaththa.

Samanmalie is in the belief that Mahadanamuththa had been a wise person who was a respected village leader.

 

Mahadanamuththa and his followers struck in mud and seeking assistance of Mahadana Miththaniya

Samanmalie explaining Hapana Hawa Pix: Susantha Wijegunasekara