Siriththiran

Siriththiran is a Tamil-language magazine from Sri Lanka with roots in Colombo and a long association with Jaffna. It began publication in Colombo in 1963 under the direction of C. Sivanganasundaram, who served as its founder and first editor. Sivanganasundaram was also known among Tamil literary readers as Siriththiran Sunthar and began his professional career as a cartoonist. His editorial and artistic background shaped the magazine's identity, which combined literary material with visual humour and cartoon work. The publication initially operated from Colombo, where its early issues were printed by Suthanthiran Printers on Bandaranayake Street. In 1970, printing moved to Kumaran Printers on St. Benedict Street. The following year, the magazine shifted its base to Jaffna, an important centre of Tamil cultural and literary activity in Sri Lanka. Printing in Jaffna first took place at Sri Lanka Printers at 67 Brown Street and moved in 1974 to Navalar Street. The move established Jaffna as the magazine's principal home for much of its subsequent history. Siriththiran was issued as a monthly publication and carried a broad range of Tamil-language content. Its material included stories, short stories, novels, and cartoons, giving it a position between a literary magazine and a popular illustrated periodical. Over its historical run, the publication released 318 volumes, a record that reflects its durability despite repeated interruptions and difficult operating conditions. Publication was interrupted in 1987 during the war involving the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Indian Peace Keeping Force. The magazine resumed in Jaffna during the 1990s and continued until 1995. These interruptions form an important part of the publication's history because its production was closely tied to the political and security conditions affecting northern Sri Lanka. In 2020, Suresh Kanapathi acquired the right to publish Siriththiran as part of an effort to revive and preserve historical material, in connection with his interest in museum-related projects. The magazine was relaunched in January 2021. Publication stopped again in 2022 amid the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the departure of management in Jaffna. It resumed in January 2023 as an electronic magazine. The publishing organization has stated that it intends to continue with both electronic and printed formats. The Centre for Creativity and Innovation, a nonprofit organization based in Jaffna, is identified as the current publisher. Siriththiran is therefore best understood as a cultural and literary publication brand whose significance rests on its long contribution to Tamil print culture, its archive of fiction and cartoons, and its repeated attempts at revival.

Siriththiran began publishing in Colombo in 1963 as a monthly Tamil magazine founded and initially edited by C. Sivanganasundaram. Sivanganasundaram, also known among Tamil literary readers as Siriththiran Sunthar, had started his career as a cartoonist. That background was reflected in the publication's combination of literary writing and visual material. The magazine's early production was handled in Colombo by Suthanthiran Printers on Bandaranayake Street. Printing moved to Kumaran Printers on St. Benedict Street in 1970. In 1971, the publication moved to Jaffna, where it was printed at Sri Lanka Printers at 67 Brown Street. The printing address changed again in 1974, when production moved to Navalar Street. Jaffna subsequently became central to the magazine's identity and operations. Siriththiran published stories, short stories, novels, and cartoons. Its scope made it both a literary periodical and a popular illustrated magazine serving Tamil readers in Sri Lanka. The publication ultimately issued 318 volumes. Its continuity, however, was affected by Sri Lanka's political and security environment. It stopped publishing during the 1987 war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Indian Peace Keeping Force. Publication resumed in Jaffna during the 1990s and continued until 1995. A later revival began when Suresh Kanapathi acquired the right to publish the magazine in 2020. The acquisition was associated with an effort to bring back a historically significant publication and with Kanapathi's interest in museum-related projects. Siriththiran was relaunched in January 2021. The revival was not uninterrupted: publication stopped again in 2022 amid the COVID-19 period and the departure of management in Jaffna. In January 2023, the magazine resumed as an electronic publication. The organization managing it has indicated that it intends to maintain both electronic and printed editions. The Centre for Creativity and Innovation, a nonprofit organization based in Jaffna, is identified as the publisher. Siriththiran's current form therefore extends an older print tradition into digital publishing while retaining the title's association with Tamil fiction, literary culture, and cartoons.

1. 2023Digital publication resumed

   The magazine resumed in January as an e-magazine, with plans stated for both digital and print publication.

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2. 2022Publication halted again

   Publication stopped amid the COVID-19 period and the departure of management in Jaffna.

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3. 2021Magazine relaunched

   Siriththiran was relaunched in Jaffna in January.

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4. 2020Publishing rights acquired for revival

   Suresh Kanapathi acquired the right to publish Siriththiran as part of an effort to revive the historical magazine.

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5. 1990Publication resumed during the 1990s

   Siriththiran restarted publication in Jaffna during the 1990s and continued until 1995.

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6. 1987Publication interrupted by war

   The magazine stopped publishing during the war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Indian Peace Keeping Force.

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7. 1974Printing moved to Navalar Street

   Printing operations in Jaffna moved to Navalar Street.

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8. 1971Publication shifted to Jaffna

   Siriththiran moved from Colombo to Jaffna and began printing at Sri Lanka Printers on Brown Street.

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9. 1970Printing moved to Kumaran Printers

   The magazine's printing moved from Suthanthiran Printers to Kumaran Printers on St. Benedict Street in Colombo.

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10. 1963Magazine founded in Colombo

    Siriththiran began publication in Colombo as a monthly Tamil magazine, founded and first edited by C. Sivanganasundaram.

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A Tamil literary and illustrated magazine rooted in Sri Lankan Tamil cultural life, combining fiction, short stories, novels, and cartoons with a long-running print heritage and a later digital revival.

• Siriththiran monthly magazinePrint magazine1963

  The core Siriththiran product was a monthly Tamil magazine published in Sri Lanka. It carried stories, short stories, novels, and cartoons, combining literary writing with illustrated and popular cultural material. The magazine was first produced in Colombo and later became closely associated with Jaffna. Across its historical run it released 318 volumes.

• Siriththiran e-MagazineDigital magazine2023

  The electronic edition represents the post-2022 continuation of the publication. It resumed in January 2023 after another interruption and enables the title to continue outside its earlier print-only production model. The management has stated an intention to maintain both electronic and printed forms.

• 2023Resumption as an electronic magazineStrategy

  Publication stopped again in 2022 during the COVID-19 period and after management in Jaffna left.

  What changed. Siriththiran resumed in January 2023 as an e-magazine, while management stated that printed and electronic formats would continue.

  Aftermath. The title returned to circulation in digital form, with a stated intention to preserve a print edition as well.

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• 2020Revival through acquisition of publishing rightsStrategy

  Siriththiran had a long publishing history but had previously experienced interruptions, including a stoppage after 1987 and the end of a later run in 1995. Suresh Kanapathi sought to bring the historical title back into circulation.

  What changed. Kanapathi acquired the right to publish the magazine, linking the revival to his interest in museum-related and historical projects.

  Aftermath. The acquisition led to the magazine's relaunch in January 2021.

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• 2023Publication resumed as an e-magazine

  After publication was halted again in 2022, Siriththiran resumed in January 2023 in electronic form, with an intention to continue in both digital and print formats.

  Product launchOther
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• 2021Siriththiran was relaunched in print

  Suresh Kanapathi relaunched the historic Tamil magazine in Jaffna in January 2021 after acquiring the right to publish it in 2020.

  Product launchOther
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1. Siriththiran