Deshabandu Sirisumana Godage, founder of Godage International Publishers, has passed away at the age of 90.
Born in May 1936 in Palatuwa, Matara District, of the Southern Province, he was the sixth in a family of 09 siblings.
He received his education at Palatuwa Gunarathana Maha Vidyalaya before relocating to the Kalutara area at around the age of 15 due to financial hardships faced by his family.
After initially working as a bookbinder and later losing his job, he began a joint business venture in 1957 from a small rented shop.
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During this period, he collected books from Vidyodaya Pirivena in Maligakanda, located near his shop, and engaged in bookbinding.
Through his association with the Chief Incumbent of Maligakanda Vidyodaya Pirivena and Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero, he developed a close connection with Buddhism.
As his business expanded, he recruited an additional 03 employees and diversified into bookbinding, sales, and supplying books to libraries.
In 1970, Godage relocated his business to Maradana, where the Godage Bookshop continues to operate to date.
With the growing demand for books, he later ventured into publishing, beginning with a children’s book and eventually producing works by numerous authors.
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Godage is widely regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s leading publishers.
Godage International Publishers has earned a distinguished place in the history of State literary awards, having secured accolades continuously for 38 years.
At the 2022 State Literary Awards, the institution won 05 awards and is recognised as a prominent publishing house producing works in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.