DAYAN HONORARY TITLES FOR

I first asked him who the other recipients were. I was excited when told that Mignonne Fernando was also a recipient. She was one of my favourites since my childhood and thought it would be a great chance to meet her

Popular singer and much sought after photographer Dayan Witharana is not only a passionate music and photography lover. He is also passionate lover of arts and artistes. He not captures beautiful pictures through his lens, but also captures the hearts of people through his kind gestures and selfless attitudes. Dayan Witharana was recently bestowed with honorary titles in recognition of his contribution to the arts and the society as a whole.

“For an artiste, recognition is a significant aspect. But when the organizers of this awards ceremony, especially Prasad Galappaththy informed me about it, I first asked him

who the other recipients were. I was excited when he told that Mignonne Fernando was also a recipient. She was one of my favourites since my childhood and thought it would be a great chance to meet her. The title was Manawa Hithawadee Keerthi Sri Veera Puthra Desha Bandu. Among the other recipients were Palitha Silva, Jayasekara Aponso, Dulika Marapana, Maureen Charuni, Menike Attanayake, Miyuri Samarasinghe, Nadeeka Gunasekara, Rex Kodippilly, Ananda Wickremage, Manel Wanaguru, Dhanapala Udawatte, Mignonne Fernando and others – all who have at least been in the field for more than 25 years,” said Dayan who sang his 387th song recently.

“It was a significant song sung by singers representing four communities – Bro. Charles, Ishak Baig, Muttalage and myself,” he said.

“I was excited when the organisers of the ceremony told that Mignonne Fernando was also a recipient”