Claude Fernando,Brampton,Canada

If I mention the name aboutƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Wannakuwatta Mitiwaduge Don Albert Perera of Moratuwa, Most of the readersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  may be getting little confused to know the unfamiliar name they never heard.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  But If I say W.D.Amaradewa, no doubt, from child to adult loudly say in respectfully and proudly articulate, he is the giant, famous talented , master vocalist , great music composerƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of Sri Lanka who has aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  golden voice and soothing and unforgettableƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  creationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  which approached and deposited in the hearts and minds of them as truly Sri lankan sound. The name of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚AmaradewaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ which translates as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Eternal GodƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  given(baptized) by Professor Ediriweera SarathchandraƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  after young Albert returned to Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  successfully completed a vast training at Bathkande Music Institute in Luknow India.

Maestro Amaradewava made a huge and invaluable contribution to the Sinhala music through then Radio Ceylon and created so many unique songs with lateƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mahagamasekra, Sri Chandrarathna Manawasinghe etc. The remarkableƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  programƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  named ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-MaduwanthiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ still considered asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a praiseworthy production of Radio Ceylon which dedicated for AmaradewaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  extraordinaryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  innonavations.

During the period the Hindi and Tamil copied melodies being engulfed the music of Sinhala cinema, Amaradewa had a difficult challenge to make creative songs for films produced at that era .He was entrusted to make music direction for first color film ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-RanmutudoowaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in 1962. those songs he created were still popular among the listeners and he was bestowed as a best music director at the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-sarasaviyaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ film award ceremony. From then he hadƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  manyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  oppurtunities to become the music director for many Sinhala filmsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  such as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-adata wediya hetahondaiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚delowak atharaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚gatawarayaoƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚sarawitaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚gamperaliyaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢saravita

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-sikru tharuwa,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚samaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ladalu,etc.(from these music directions he introduced another renowned vocalistƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  late Narada Dissasekra to the nation)

For the tremendous contribution given for music, Maestro Amaradewa was honored with national and internationalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  awards .

*Ramon Magsaysay award from Philippine in 2001

*Padma Sri award from India

*Order of Art and letters fromƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  France in 2003

*ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚DeshamanyaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ titleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  award from the government of Sri Lanka in 1998

*ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚kala kirthiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ honorary title awardƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  from the GOSL in 1986

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He had created many more songs and music compositions for Sri Lankan cultural society and constructed solid foundation for the same, which could never everƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  be blemished or damaged by any forces by ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-modernizing ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-with ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-hi techƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ musicƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  or singing in ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-flatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ voices.

In my view It is the main responsible and role ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the state run Sri Lanka Broadcasting co-operation(then Radio Ceylon) which became the first house(mahagedara) of Pundit Amaradewa, to safe guard his originalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  invaluable and prestigious creations for future generations. It is very essential task that has to be done at this moment and also would be aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  great birthday gift forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  him.

I conclude this article with emotional birthday wish from the bottom of my heart to patriotic and immortal singer of Sinhala music Pundit W.D Amaradewa.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-You are not getting older Sir, you are getting betterƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚