SAUMYAWANTHIYE

JANAKA’S SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATION SHOW

Popular singer Janaka Wickramasinghe who is also the Sri Lanka Singers’ Association (SLASA) Secretary, celebrated his 25th year in the music scene, with a mega musical event titled ‘Saumyawanthiye’ at the Nelum Pokuna Performing Arts Theatre yesterday. The event also coincided with the release of two CDS and also a book titled ‘Gee Lowa Saumyawanthaya’ compiled by Samudra Wettasinghe. Another album titled Hailing from Polonnaruwa, ‘Best of Janaka’ was also Janaka’s very first music released with his popular album ‘Sasala Manawikawi’ hits like Api Katha Nokara was presented to then Imu, Kirulu Muthu Lihi, Nil Polonnaruwa MP Ahasath, Prana Samana, Maithripala Sirisena who Balikawiyan, Dewre graced yesterday’s event Dilena, Numbe Sirikkiyata as the Chief Guest. and others. “I started singing from my childhood and even at my school Thopa Wewa Maha Vidyalaya. This is where I met my wife Dulani. She was my first love and the last too. We married in March 1989. I was chosen as the best singer in the North Central province then. Later, after leaving school I joined a band called Super Friends. Before I was known as a mainstream singer, I sang at musical shows. Meeting the late Gunadasa Kapuge was the biggest turning point in my musical career. It is he who made my singing dream come true. He even went to the extent of offering his singing assignments to me on TV and even tele dramas.

“I started singing from my childhood and even at my school Thopa Wewa Maha Vidyalaya. This is where I met my wife Dulani. She was my first love and my last too. We married in March 1989. I was chosen as the best singer in the North Central province then. Later, after leaving school I joined a band called Super Friends. Before I was known as a mainstream singer, I sang at musical shows”

I joined the SLBC in 1990. Later I sat for my Visharada exam in music. As the current Secretary of the Sri Lanka Singers Association, I together with SLASA President Keerthi Pasqual have lined up a series of welfare benefits to our singers, most of which are now operational,” he said.