{{Short description|Sri Lankan writer and civil servant}} {{more footnotes needed|date=January 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English |date=April 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = Tissa Devendra | image = | imagesize = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date text|1929}} | birth_place = Colombo, Sri Lanka | death_date = {{death date and given age|2023|06|22|94|df=y}} | death_place = | alma_mater = Nalanda College, Colombo<br>Dharmaraja College<bt>Ananda College, Colombo <br>University of Ceylon<br>University of Cambridge | website = }}
Deshamanya '''Tissa Devendra'''<ref>{{cite news|title=National Honours – 2017|newspaper=The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|language=English|publisher=The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|date=21 March 2017|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/National-Honours--125878.html|access-date=21 March 2017}}</ref> (1929 – 22 June 2023) was a Sri Lankan writer and civil servant.
Books published:
• Memoirs of a Penpusher: Kachcheries and Commissions
• Quest for Shangri-La: Stories and Diversions
• On Horseshoe Street (2005)
• Tales from the Provinces (1998)
• Princes, Peasants and Clever Beasts (2002)
• More Princes, Peasants and Clever Beasts
• A Fiery Finale
• Sri Lanka: The Emerald Isle (1996)
==Early life and education== Devendra received his education from Dharmaraja College, Nalanda College, Colombo<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jayawardane |first1=Ishara |title=Public Servant - Extraordinary |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2012/10/09/fea02.asp |access-date=19 May 2022 |work=Daily News |publisher=Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited |date=9 October 2012}}</ref> and Ananda College Colombo. He later graduated from University of Ceylon and University of Cambridge.
==Career== {{unreferenced section|date=November 2023}} Devendra's career in the public service started in 1953 as a District Land Officer. Later was General Manager of the River Valleys Development Project in Walawe.
Devendra served 40 years in the public service and was the Government Agent in Matara, Trincomalee and Jaffna. He also held positions as Chairman of the Public Service Commission, and Chairman of the Salaries Commission. First President of the Colombo University Alumni Association. Tissa also served as National Expert for the FAO and United Nations.
==Author== {{unreferenced section|date=November 2023}} Devendra was an author and wrote a number of books, in both Sinhalese and English. His book '''Tales from the Provinces''' was short-listed for the Gratiaen Prize in 1998.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} Devendra was also a reviewer of English films along with the late Regi Siriwardena, Donald Abeysinghe, and Mervyn De Silva.
Devendra scripted a television documentary on George Keyt in 1987. His published books include: * ''The Emerald Island'' * ''Tales from the Provinces'' * ''Princes Peasants and Clever Beasts'' * ''More Princes, Peasants and Clever Beasts'' * ''On Horseshoe Street''
==Death== Tissa Devendra died on 22 June 2023, at the age of 94.<ref>{{cite news |title=Deshamanya Tissa Devendra passes away |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/front_page/Deshamanya-Tissa-Devendra-passes-away/238-261715#google_vignette |access-date=17 November 2023 |publisher=Daily Mirror |date=24 June 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Sources== * [https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2008/12/14/spe06.asp Fabulous out of the mundane] * [http://dailynews.lk/?q=features/reading-its-tissas-business Reading: it's Tissa's business] * [https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2011/04/03/mon06.asp Tissa Devendra - Belletrist] * [http://www.gratiaen.com/judges_details-2013.php Tissa Devendra - Chairperson] * [https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2005/06/12/fea34.html On Horseshoe Street : Window to a bygone era] * [http://archives.dailynews.lk/2011/03/09/art16.asp Recalling a post-colonial past] * [http://www.island.lk/2006/07/26/midweek6.html As I Like It Traversing with Tissa Devendra] * [http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=120812 DR. D.W.DEVENDRA – THE OLDEST NALANDIAN REMEMBERS]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Devendra, Tissa}} Category:1929 births Category:2023 deaths Category:Sri Lankan Buddhists Category:Alumni of Nalanda College, Colombo Category:Sinhalese people Category:Sri Lankan civil servants Category:Deshamanya Category:Alumni of Dharmaraja College Category:People from Colombo