Senani Ponnamperuma Author, Cultural Historian, and Digital Innovator

Senani Ponnamperuma is an author and content creator dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. With a distinguished career as a senior technology executive in Australia, he bridges ancient history and modern storytelling through meticulously researched publications and award-winning digital platforms. His work includes the award-winning website TrishansOz, preserved by the National Library of Australia, and historical publications held in major international libraries.

Literary Career: Key Publications

Following a successful corporate career, he transitioned to writing, focusing primarily on the ancient history of Sri Lanka. His books are recognized for their rigorous research and engaging storytelling, with several titles held in prestigious collections including the Library of Congress, British Library, Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, and other renowned libraries. Additionally, his books have received favourable critical reviews in newspapers and magazines. His publications include:
• The Story of Sigiriya: A comprehensive account of the 5th-century rock fortress of Sigiriya and its builder King Kashyapa, lauded for its crisp narrative and detailed photography.
• The Story of Anuradhapura: A vividly illustrated history of the ancient capital city, chronicling the rise and fall of the Anuradhapura Kingdom from 377 BC.
• Sigiriya: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, Betrayal and Tragedy: Most recently, he authored a historical novel centred on the courtly intrigues of King Kashyapa, blending archival research with evocative storytelling.
• Zu-Zu Wants Some Shoes: A playful, rhyming picture book about a tree snake named Zu-Zu who wants to wear shoes.

Technology and Digital Media

Before becoming an author, he was a notable figure in the Australian IT sector, with a number of industry “firsts” to his name.
• Retail Innovation: He served as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Payless Super Markets (including Permewan Wright and Sims Supermarkets), a significant player in the grocery market, overseeing the development of critical systems such as electronic ordering, Just-In-Time inventory management, and barcode scanning technology. He then worked as a consultant for Coles Myer and Officeworks, implementing cutting-edge in-store technologies. Later, he served as the CIO of Spotlight Stores, where he initiated major IT transformations.
• "Trishan's Oz": In 1997, he created the award-winning website Trishan's Oz, which documents Australian wildlife, culture and geography. The site has attracted over 100 million visitors and was selected by the National Library of Australia for long-term preservation in its PANDORA archive as a publication of national significance.

Personal Background

• Heritage: Senani belongs to the distinguished Ponnamperuma family. He is the son of renowned soil scientist Dr. Felix (FN) Ponnamperuma and the nephew of the world-renowned exobiologist Professor Cyril Ponnamperuma.
• Education: Senani attended St Aloysius' College and St Benedict's College in Sri Lanka, before attending Brent School in the Philippines. He later moved to the United States and earned a degree in Information Technology and Business Administration from the University of Oregon.