Every sunrise is a new beginning
Meet Malliha
Malliha Sinniah writes for the pure joy of stringing words together to express the beauty of nature and human emotions to inspire her readers.
She is a Sri Lankan
Australian author whose work beautifully bridges the cultural narratives of her
dual heritage. Drawing from the rich tapestry of Sri Lankan traditions, her
writing delves into themes from belonging and identity, to self-liberation and
equality.
For decades Malliha
cherished and guarded her mother’s notebook of handwritten poems, with the
dream of sharing them with the world. In 2018, she brought this dream to life
by translating her mother’s poetry into English, publishing a bilingual
anthology in Sydney.
Malliha is now
delighted to share some of her updated translations on this site to inspire
readers and budding writers who wish to explore the aesthetics of human
emotions and experiences through poetry and prose. Her work illustrates how
life experiences from over half a century ago continue to resonate to the core
of human spirit, transcending time and connecting past with future.
Malliha draws her passion for writing from her late mother Kamalabooshanie Thirunavukkarasu, a scholar in Tamil, English, and Sanskrit, and a gifted poet.
Touched by the magic of nature and the breathtaking rural surrounds in their hometown Batticaloa, Kamalabooshanie crafted poetry weaving in her personal experiences, often drawing inspiration from her spiritual roots.
This moving collection of her poems vividly brings to life the social challenges of her era, aiming to inspire change for a more just world.
Through her verses, she boldly highlights the injustices of her time—child labour, the helpless state of abused women, vulnerable widows, and ignored beggars—issues that still prevail in Sri Lanka and across many societies today.
