Piyadasa Kandambi’s fourth translation unveils Joseph Conrad’s ‘The Secret Agent’

Saturday, 23 August 2025 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The first copy of the book was presented to Indira Samarasinghe, PC, the first woman to serve as Principal of the Sri Lanka Law College

Piyadasa Kandambi

Piyadasa Kandambi, a veteran lawyer and translator, has released his Sinhala translation of Joseph Conrad’s ‘The Secret Agent’ titled ‘Charapurusha Kathawak’ (A Spy Story).

The book was launched at a special event, held at the Water’s Edge Hotel premises in Battramulla, drawing the attention of literary figures and intellectuals and coinciding with Kandambi’s 90th birthday.

First published in 1907, ‘The Secret Agent’ is one of Conrad’s most renowned works. The novel’s plot is set in London during the late Victorian era, weaving a complex narrative around political intrigue, anarchistic movements, and family relationships. Through this work, Conrad deeply analyses social and political issues that remain relevant today. Kandambi’s translation successfully brings these profound ideas closer to Sinhala reader.

This is the fourth book that Kandambi has translated into Sinhala. He has translated three other novels by well-known authors: ‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen, as ‘Abimana saha Agathiya’, and Graham Greene’s ‘Monsignor Quixote’ and ‘The Human Factor’ as ‘Sanwada Charika’ and ‘Minis Lakuna’, respectively. Through these translations, he could offer an unmatched reading experience of some of the finest works in international literature to Sinhala readers.

Kandambi is an eminent lawyer by profession and has served not only the Sri Lanka’s legal field but also internationally. He has held the positions of the Chief Legal Draftsman in the Republic of Seychelles and Translator at the Sri Lankan Parliament. His diverse experience and linguistic skills have been a greatly manifested by his translation work.

The translation of Joseph Conrad’s ‘The Secret Agent’ which marks another milestone in Piyadasa Kandambi’s literary career, will open doors for Sinhala readers to engage in a critical reading of political, social, and family relationships in the society of London in 1880s.