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This page was compiled following requests from many readers who were interested in Sinhala language textbooks. The material contained here were obtained from different sources like library catalogues and bibliograpies all of which author of this web page has not necessarily read. However, I have attempted to provide a brief comment on some books which I have used. 

I appreciate if readers send me their comments on these materials. Also, If you have any other recommendations for books that are not listed here, please send them to Sinhalapage.


Text books (listed chronologically according to the year of publication):

Say it in Sinhala by J.B. Disanayaka. 1993
Colombo: Lake House Investments Ltd., 319 pp. 
This is a simple guide to speaking Sinhalese; includes brief notes on the flora and fauna, history, and religion of Sri Lanka. 

An Introduction to spoken Sinhala by W.S. Karunatillake. 1992. 
Colombo: M.D. Gunasena & Co. 407 pp. 
One of the "best" and the latest text books!!! (Sinhalese in roman and Sinhalese script)

Spoken Sinhalese for Foreigners by Edwin Ranawake. 1986
Colombo: M.D. Gunasena. 81 pp. 

Colloquial Sinhalese (sound recording) by Gordon H. Fairbanks, W. Gair, and M.W.S. De Silva. 1981. (2nd. Ed). Ithaca, N.Y. : Cornell University, South Asia Program. 
Includes 34 sound cassettes; tapes accompany text "Colloquial Sinhalese" (for more information, see Cornell Study materials)

Sinhalese, An Introductory Course by Christopher Hanby Baillie Reynolds. 1980. London: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. 319 pp. 

Sinhala : Basic Course by Bonnie Graham MacDougall, with Kamini de Abrew. 1979. Washington, D.C. : Foreign Service Institute, Dept. of State. 

Learn yourself Sinhalese : to speak, read and write through. (Book one) by K.P. Fernando. 1976. Colombo: M.D Gunasena. 171 pp.

Colloquial Sinhalese Clause Structures. by James Wells Gair. 1970.  The Hague, Mouton. This is a linguistic analysis and more suitable for those specialising in Sinhala linguistics. 

Sinhalese : The Spoken Idiom by Dayaratne Garusinghe. 1962.  Munchen: Max Hueber Verlag. 

A Comprehensive Grammar of the Sinhalese language by Abraham Mendis Gunasekara. 1891. Colombo : Sri Lanka Sahitya Mandalaya. 516 pp. This is an old grammar book. 


Dictionaries (listed chronologically according to the year of publication):

English-Sinhala Dictionary by Dr. Somapala Jayawardhana. 1998. Colombo: S. Godage & Bros.
With over 45,000 word-entries, which include many common scientific and technical terms, it is the most comprehensive dictionary of its kind to date.

Tamil-Sinhala Dictionary demala-simhala sabda kosaya. Tamil cinkala akarati. 1994. Sponsered by Embassy of Sweden (SIDA). Chief Editor K N D Peiris. Kotte: Participatory Development  Forum. Adress: PDF, 51 Thalawatugoda road, Mirihana-Kotte, Sri Lanka. 

A Sinhalese-English Dictionary by T. Moscrop and B.A. Mendis. 1987.
(2nd ed). Delhi : Sri Satguru Publications. 276 pp. 
Studies on Sri Lanka series ; no. 10. 1st ed. published in Kollupitiya in 1899. Based on A Sinhalese-English dictionary 

Prayogika Simhala sabdakosaya (Practical Sinhala dictionary) by Hariscandra Vijayatunga. 1982-1984.  Colombo : Ministry of Cultural Affairs. 

Sinhala English Dictionary . by Benjamin Clough. 1982.
New Delhi : Asian Educational Services.

English-Sinhalese Dictionary by G.P. Malalasekera. 1967.
Colombo: M.D. Gunasena. First published 1948.

Sri Sumangala Sabdakosa: A Sinhalese-Sinhalese Dictionary by Welivitiya Sorata. 1956-1963. Colombo: P. Abhayawickrama.


Peter Kaehler from Germany kindly provided a list of books written in German: 


1) Grundwortschatz Singhalesisch / Deutsch
    Author : Jayawardena - Moser, Premalatha
    Publisher : Otto Harrasowitz in the city of Wiesbaden
    Price : 68,00 German Mark

2) Aufbauwortschatz Singhalesisch / Deutsch
    Author : Jayawardena - Moser, Premalatha
    Publisher : Otto Harrasowitz in the city of Wiesbaden
    Price : 78,00 German Mark

3) Einführung in die singhalesische Sprache
    Author : Klaus Matzel
    Publisher : Otto Harrasowitz in the city of Wiesbaden
    Editor : Südasien - Institut der Universität Heidelberg
    Price : 68,00 German Mark

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