VICTOR RATHNAYAKA STAGED HIS FINAL LOVABLE MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA “SA†AMID CHEERING OF THE GATHERING AT ‘NELUM POKUNAâ€ÂÂÂART AND PERFORMING THEATRE.
Posted on July 20th, 2012
Claude Fernanado,Brampton,Canada
Victor RathnayakaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ the greatestƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ single song show came to the conclusion at the Nelum pokunaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Art ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theatre recently. The chief gust was His Excellency ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ PresidentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mahinda RajapakshaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who is also an admirer of Victor and his songs . For sure It was an inexplicable momentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ overjoyed viewers flocked to share their artistic ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ emotionalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ feelings with ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ tear welling eyesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with VictorƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for endingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ his most popular musical extravaganzaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which has been performing long decadesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by indelibly ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ impressing ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and sticking ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ minds ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and hearts of music ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ enthuastic fans in Sri Lanka as well as ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ abroad.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ was born July 20th 1973.ItƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s grand 1000 performance was celebrated atƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the BMICH on Sept.22 1984.
Dear Victor, I still remember ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the good old days ,I was atƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ school age then. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ used to go to the Negombo town hall on uncountable occasions ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to viewƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and enjoy ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ whenever it was performed umpteen times ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ atƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the same hall. Never missed a single opportunity to engage as a keen loverƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ also never forgot to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-infiltrateƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to the front seat by entering from ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the side doors of famous Negombo town hallƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as usual ,reason was ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ most of the time ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ my entering ticket was allowed to sit at the middle rows ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ or balcony.
Needless to sayƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ there were many charactersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ behindƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the great success of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ .Among them were Chinthana Jayasena who suggested ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ as most suitable name for his ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ show.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Premakirthi De Alwis(adaraye ulpatha woo amma,thani tharuwe) KDK Darmawardana,(neela bigu kala) Bandara.wijethunga,(sangawa ganu mana obe ruwa) Sunil Ariyarathna,(api okkoma rajawaru,hitha mithuru sulanga) Kularathna Ariyawansa,(sina dolak wan)etc .by writing attractive songs for Victor toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sing in ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ musical entertainment
ItƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ been still echoingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ how Ealliean De Soysa who played his harmonium for VictorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s song ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”podi kumara hamiyeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚while Wijerathna Ranathunga ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ playing his thabla .MK Rocksami gave a fantastic powerƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ playingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Violin and saxophone. Diamond Perera who performed nice tunes from his acoustic guitar ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ specially for the song ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-daiywa yogakin nowedoƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Rohan Weerasinghe was on the strings ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sitar. D.D Danny blew his flute for VictorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s various songs .
No debate, Victor RathnayakaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ would be elevated as the king of the kingdom of the Sinhala music afterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ present king maestro Amaradewa, according to the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ point of view of ProfessorƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Carlo Fonseka
We loveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and admire your mesmerizing voice and soothing songs .Long live Victor !
July 20th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
CLAUDE !!! Carlo was my class-mate at St. Joseph’s College. I remember Carlo was also a fan of Sunil Shantha. During intervals, he used to entertain us by singing Sunil Shanthas songs, KOKILAYANGE, etc, while Late Clive Fernando and Sri Kantha De Silva used to give a beat on the desks. If anybody did not see Carlo singing, they would have thought it was Sunil Shantha. The VOICES were identical. I have a photograph of Carlo and a few of us along the Beira, near the Masters Room. So much for beautiful memories. I will enlarge the Photo and send Carlo a copy.
We had a class-mate named Victor Rathnayake, but I cannot say whether it is him. I do not know.
July 20th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
Could somebody please post the video clip of this great show at Nelum Pokuna by Victor Ratnayaka? THANKS!
July 21st, 2012 at 11:01 am
Thanks for Susantha Wijesinghe and Nihal Fernanado,
Professor Carlo Fonseka is an artistic minded well respected physician in the country.He has written popular songs for Rohana Werrasinghe and Nanda Malini(“ratharan duwe ape ratharan duwe”) and Edward Jayakody(“padartayata pana kawa”)Yes he is a Joshapian(St.Joesph college) but obtained his primary education at Maris Stella College Negombo.
Professor is loving uncle of late Vijaya Kumarathunga.
Nihal Fernanado,
Hopefulyy video clip of “sa” would be posted on either ITN or Sri Lanka Rupawahini co-operation please do check web sites
No words to articulate about Victor Ratnayaka.He emerged as a singer from radio( Government owned Radio Ceylon/Sri lanka broadcasting co-operation as those days we did not have “mushroom radio channels and TV channels” like today ) His creations are still popular among the listeners .He is not only a singer but also music director.He made nice melodies for Milton Mallawaarachchi(‘sundarthwayen piri),Freddy Silva(“kundmani” song),Edward Jayakody etc.
I remember during Ridgway Thilakarathna era(1970-77) nice and impressive sinhala songs were created by various songsters.Victor became most popular at that time.He sang a song(‘api okkoma rajawaru”)lyric by Professor Sunil Ariyarthana when Sri lanka got full independence on may 22nd from British rule.
July 21st, 2012 at 11:37 am
Ridgway Thilakaratne and my late father were good friends. They were both Civil Servants. The last time I met Ridgway was at Aitken Spence, when he was lobbying to get Tourists into his Batik Shop at Panadure. He was a very simple person.
July 21st, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Yes I agree Ridgway Thilakarathna was the best administrator of SLBC as he did a great task to promote Sinhala music.He too a talented song writer.He penned a nice and still very famous song during that golden era for TM Jayarathna(“oba ha mema athiatha aran”-music composed by HM Jayawardana-) but Ridgway did not want to mention his name as a lyric writer to get a publicity instead made an unknown name “Wimala Peiris” as a song writer. This is a famous true story in the history of SLBC.
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:03 am
Its really a wonderful Person, A singer,& I will never forget Victor in my life. I watched his SA in the Panagoda Cantonement when i was in the Army Signal corps.thats in 70s. I am here in Abudhabi for nearly 27 years & my family’s favourite Singer is Victor. He is blessed with a lovely voice & thanks to all who wrote his songs. LOVELY, Never fading away…. we will die with them in our hearts… we love them. we love you too Dear Victor. May you Live Long!!!
God Bless SRI LANKA!!!
July 23rd, 2012 at 7:55 am
Yes,adeaabey,I totally agree with your notion
Victo Rathnayaka is a master musician and innovative artist who brought to fruition an aspiration to Sinhala music.Victor was one of the most succesful singers that SLBC introduced to the nation and as I mentioned my article his immortal songs are still engraved our hearts and deeply deposited in hearts.His maiden song was”maurasana matha weda hindina kand surinduni oda teda wadana” He created song”sihil sulan welle”when he was travelling by train from Kandy(kadugannawaa) to Colombo. first film he directed music was, “matara achchi” and introduced a new singer Sunil Edirisinghe who sang a wonderful song”sandakada pahanaka katyam opalla” for his soothing music..Victor has created so many nice songs for “sarala gee'(light songs) programme of SLBC.This great artist has nurtured the Sri Lankan music for several decades. He always stands unchallenged.