[2] Candappa studied at St. Joseph's Catholic College, where his creative talent was recognised by the influential teacher J. P. de Fonseka.
[3] He subsequently studied architecture, getting work with the local architect S. Shanmuganathan on the strength of his portfolio of drawings.
During World War II his family moved to Eheliyagoda, where he worked as a freelance artist and illustrator, soon becoming a prolific designer of advertisements.
[3] He quickly developed contacts with the British administration, and was asked to design a crest for the Royal Air Force.
In 1946, needing a steady job after his marriage, he joined Lake House, the home of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon, where he worked for twelve years.
He quickly built up the business, which he later bought, running it as an independent advertising agency under the name Grant McCann Erickson.