I first met Sivakumaran in the field of literature when he did expertly review my English book, 'The Pearly Island &. Other Poems' in Colombo, in 1974. At that time he was working in regular contact with Drs. K. Kailasapathy and K. Sivathamby and Daily News Editor Mervyn de Silva (who himself wrote a review of that book in his columns later).

From that time I have watched the work and progress of Siva. It appeared to me that he seemed overpowered by the academic 'stature' that Kailas and Sivathamby were wielding at that time. May be, that was one reason, he was outwardly modest to make high claims for his writings. That was one of Siva's noble and uplifting qualities. I believe Mervyn readily published that review of my poetry book that Siva wrote at that time.

Thus I support Pathivukal editor Giritharan Navaratnam, in his long and thorough research article he has published above, on the quality of the many reviews and critical commentaries that the late Mr. K.S. Sivakumaran wrote over the past several decades internationally. Any university, in my opinion would have seriously considered him for a PhD, had he submitted his works for an academic award. Even now, it is not too late for some interested university to award a posthumous DLitt in order to honour him. -- Prof. Kopan Mahadeva, 16.9.2022.