REMEMBERING VIVIENNE DE SILVA BORALESSA

The second death anniversary of Sri Lanka’s veteran female songstress Vivienne de Silva Boralessa falls tomorrow, April 2. Vivienne de Silva Boralessa who started her singing career at the age of eight, became popular with hit songs like Dura Pena Theni Thala, Nangi Nangi Rupika, Nawathinna Tissa, Sambudu Mangalle, Budu Magula Langama Ewi, Ma Sanghabodhi and others that will linger in our memories for generations to come. She was awarded with several unique awards in recent years especially for her longstanding contributions to the Sri Lankan music field. Vivienne de Silva, born on November 24, 1930, was the only child of G. F. de Silva and D. L. Sahabandu. Her father was the proprietor of a popular bus company (Safety Tours). He was a passionate arts lover. It was this passion in him that motivated his daughter and only child Vivienne who was groomed in the right mould. She was just eight when she first stepped in to the Radio Ceylon which later became the place that brought her fame and fortune. Her father was an ardent lover of dramas too. He organized several dramas and during one of those shows little Vivienne was asked to sing a welcome song too. She sang her first duet with her uncle J. R. Edward who took her to the Radio Ceylon and passed an audition successfully. Among those who helped and motivated her then were Rupasinghe Master, Lionel Edirisinghe and Eddie Master. She also held the record of being the only singer to have sung at the 2500 Sambuddha Jayanthi, 2550 Sambuddha

She was awarded with several unique awards in recent years especially for her longstanding contributions to the Sri Lankan music field.

Jayanthi and the 2600 Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi celebrations. The duet ‘Rella Negenne’ that Vivienne sang with Sunil Santha was also very popular among the masses. Interestingly, Pandit W. D. Amaradewa, C. T. Fernando and Kanthi Wackwella and Percy Jayawardana were among the chorus singers for that song. She had also sung duets with H. R. Jothipala, C. T. Fernando, Sisira Senaratne, Haroon Lantra and Dharmadasa Walpola. Sarath Wimalaweera, Karunaratne Abeysekara, Dharmadasa Dias, Premakeerthi de Alwis, C. Weerasekara, Dayananda Kumarasiri, Wasanthasiri Kusumpala, Rangajeewa Salgado and others penned most of her songs while B. S. Perera, Victor Perera, Premasiri Khemadasa, Sanath Nandasiri, Clarence Wijewardana and Manoj Peiris were among those who created melodies for her. She passed away on April 2, 2017 at the age of 86.