Sivakumaran was born in Singalavadi, Puliyantheevu, Batticaloa City in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.

He continued his education as an external student and graduated in English, Tamil and Western Classical Culture from the University of Peradeniya.

[1] His working career includes as a journalist, broadcaster, Information Assistant (USIS), Copy Writer, English Teacher and a freelance literary and film critic.

Sivakumaran began his career as a journalist in 1960 working for a trade journal, Industry, now defunct.

In April 1969 he joined the SLBC in a permanent capacity as a Tamil translator in the News Division.