Poetry has been an important part of Sri Lankan literature ever since the introduction of Buddhism. In fact it holds a very important part in the genre of Buddhist poetry. As in the Sri Lankan literature, the largest part of Sri Lankan poetry is also written in Sinhala language. However, a considerable part of it consists of the three other main languages; Pāli, English, and Tamil.
Some of the prominent Sri Lankan Sinhala Poets:
- Arisen Ahubudu
- Buddhadasa Galappatty
- D.A. Kumarasingha
- Elapatha Mudali
- Eric Illayapparachchi
- Gajaman Nona
- Gunadasa Amarasekara
- Lal Hegoda
- Mahagama Sekara
- Fr. Marcelline Jayakody
- Meemana Prematilaka
- Monica Ruwanpathirana
- Kumaratunga Munidasa
- Rathna Sri Wijesinghe
- Regi Siriwardena
- S. Mahinda Thero
- Sagara Palansooriya
- Siri Gunasinghe
- Sirilal Kodikara
- Vice Admiral Somathilaka Dissanayake
- Sunil Ariyaratne
- Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thero
- Veththawe Thero
- Wilson Hagoda
- Wimalaratne Kumaragama
Some of the prominent Sri Lankan English Poets:
- Anne Ranasinghe
- Lucy English
Some of the prominent Sri Lankan Tamil Poets:
- Eelattu Poothanthevanar
- M.A.Nuhman
- Meary James Thurairajah Tambimuttu
- Memen Kavi
- Pottuvil Asmin