REMEMBERING GUNADASA KAPUGE

It is nine years since the sudden demise of seasoned vocalist cum musician Gunadasa Kapuge, who mesmerized Sri Lankans for more than three decades.

The veteran singer who was blessed with a unique voice died on April 3, 2003 following an unfortunate accident at the Katunayake Airport on his return to the country from an overseas tour.

Visharada Gunadasa Kapuge was always a down to earth character though he was showered upon with hundreds of local and international awards in recognition of his golden voice that seemed to be irreplaceable.

His evergreen scores like Ninda Nethi Reye, Unmada Sithuwam, Mangmulawi, Oba Pem Karana, Dawasak Pela Nethi Hene, Dethola Nokeede, Sinhala Sindu Kiyana and Duka Hadu Dena Reye are among the hundreds that will linger in the hearts of local music fans forever.

Life was indeed not a bed of roses for the singer who was born in a little village called Thanabaddegama in Elpitiya on August 7, 1945.

Kapuge Master as he was lovingly known in music circles was the second in a family of eight children and his parents were ordinary estate workers.

Like his music, his life also offered him a wide range of rhythm that he handled ably.

Having studied up to grade five at Karandeniya M.V., he later joined Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda. Though he studied Bio-science for the HSC, destiny definitely had other plans in store for him. Having failed in his first attempt in the Science stream, he immediately decided to switch tracks to his favourite subject - music.

Having left Haywood College of music in 1963 armed with a music diploma he later qualified as a Visharada of Music at the prestigious Bathkande Institute in India.

In 1969 he got his first break at the SLBC as an operational assistant in the recording section and was subsequently promoted on merit. Later in 1973 he sang his debut number ‘Desa Nilupul Thema' for an SLBC cultural programme and was later recognized as an A grade singer.

The master musician who has to his credit hundreds of songs and nearly two dozens of cassettes also composed melodies for several films, stage dramas, tele dramas and songs.

- Ramesh Uvais

"Life was indeed not a bed of roses for the singer who was born in a little village"