How Lanka’s National anthem was amended due to superstition-By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Source:Dailymirror The insensitive, superstitious action affected the poet who lamented that his head has been cut off……committed suicide on April 5, 1962. The charge was that the notations in Namo Namo Matha were unlucky and the cause of the country’s ills and misfortunes. Sri Lanka is presently experiencing a tremendous economic crisis. Several knowledgeable persons describe the current period as the worst-ever phase in the Island nation’s 75-year post-Independence history. Many acts of omission and commission are being faulted for this calamity. Mercifully none have blamed Sri Lanka’s national anthem as the cause so far. At least not yet. ...
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LEGENDARY VOCALIST DHARMADASA WALPOLA A DOYEN IN PLAYBACK SINGING IN SINHALA FILMS TO BE REMINISED ON HIS 39th DEATH ANNIVERSARY – by Sunil Thenabadu Dharmadasa Walpola was born on 27 November 1927 in Deiyannawea,Kandy ,this future play-back singer displayed his innate talents of musical virtuosity with inherited music affiliations too from his childhood. His father Charles Appuhamy a dress maker by profession tailored costumes to the Tower Hall artistes who also learnt his art from him though not much interested in studies. His mother was Karunawathie a housewife. Young Dharmadasa for a period had made masks for the Sri Lankan Army to contribute to the family expenses. His father’s close association with artistes had paved way for him to know the leading artistes on stage.Before he sang in a Sinhalese film in year 1952 there was a public poll to elect the ‘most popular vocalist” initiated by cinema newspaper titled ‘cinemawa’ of ...
Nov 16, 2022
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, Sunil Thenabadu
Tagged Ananda Samarakoon, CT Fernando, most popular vocalist, PLA Somapala, RA Chandrasena, Sri Lankan male playback singer, Sunil Santha, WD Amaradewa.
LEGENDARY VOCALIST DHARMADASA WALPOLA A DOYEN IN PLAYBACK SINGING IN SINHALA FILMS STILL AT ZENITH OF FAME – by Sunil Thenabadu Dharmadasa Walpola was born on 27 November 1927 in Deiyannawea,Kandy ,this future play-back singer displayed his innate talents of musical virtuosity with inherited music affiliations too from his childhood. His father Charles Appuhamy a dress maker by profession tailored costumes to the Tower Hall artistes who also learnt his art from him though not much interested in studies. His mother was Karunawathie a housewife.Young Dharmadasa for a period had made masks for the Sri Lankan Army to contribute to the family expenses. His father’s close association with artistes had paved way for him to know the leading artistes on stage.Before he sang in a Sinhalese film in year 1952 there was a public poll to elect the ‘most popular vocalist” initiated by cinema newspaper titled ‘cinemawa’ of Robert Jayawardena. ...
Oct 13, 2022
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, Sunil Thenabadu
Tagged Ananda Samarakoon, Latha Walpola, Singer, Sinhala films, Sri Lankan male playback singer, Sunil Santha
In retrospect – Music and Dance in my life-By Dr Nihal D Amerasekera Source:Island Music and dance charts my life from its early days. The very first song I was taught to sing, as a skinny kid of six, was the national anthem for Ceylon. It was for the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations on February 4, 1948. I sang it with a group of children at school. Then I was far too young to appreciate the meaning of the poignant lyrics and the nuances of the appealing melody. The true significance of the event was lost in the visual revelry and jubilation. Just like the memorable Day, this brilliant composition by Ananda Samarakoon will be remembered and treasured forever. My generation were fortunate to have spent our childhood in the immediate aftermath of independence. We were now out of the shackles of colonial rule. One hundred and thirty three years ...
Sep 20, 2022
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles
Tagged Ananda Samarakoon, Englebert Humperdink, Victor Ratnayake
Lady in red: Mysterious painting hidden behind a prominent Lankan’s portrait Source:Island ECONOMYNEXT – At 9 a.m. on December 11, 2021, at the National Art Gallery of Sri Lanka, a portrait of Ananda Samarakoon, who famously composed the national anthem, was lifted off its frame to reveal a perfectly preserved painting of an enigmatic woman dressed in a red saree. Who she was, why she was painted and why she was eventually covered up, remains a mystery. The painting, unearthed during a conservation project of 239 art pieces, is attributed to Mudaliyar Amarasekara, a towering and pioneering figure in Sri Lanka’s art scene. The project was headed by Tharani Gamage, Director at the Department of Cultural Affairs, Hiranthi Fernando, Curator at the National Art Gallery, and an Art Restoration and Exhibition Committee comprised of eminent artists and scholars in the country. Jennifer Myers, an easel painting conservation expert from the ...
Jan 26, 2022
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles
Tagged Ananda Samarakoon, Mithrananda Dharmasiri, Professor Jagath Weerasinghe, Tharani Gamage
Indian High Commission recalls giant footprint left behind by Tagore in the entire region Source:Island Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay and other officials of the High Commission offered floral tributes to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in Colombo on his 160th birth anniversary on May 7. The High Commissioner noted that Gurudev Tagore was an incredible amalgamation of talents. ...
