Piyadasa Kandambi’s Fourth Translation unveils Joseph Conrad’s ‘The Secret Agent’

Copies of ‘The Secret Agent’ titled ‘Charapurusha Kathawak’ (A Spy Story).

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, drawing the attention of literary figures and intellectuals and coinciding with Kandambi’s 90^thbirthday.

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 analyzes social and political issues that remain relevant today. Piyadasa Kandambi’s translation successfully brings these profound ideas closer to the 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 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.