TUNEFUL TALE OF DAYARATNE PERERA

Pathirage Dayaratne Perera or Dayaratne Perera as we all know him, has made useful contributions to the country’s music sphere as a singer and a musician in a career spanning nearly four decades. Nododa Muwin Hamuwee Denethin, Bingu Bamaa Bamaa, Digu Neth Hasarelle, Eya Mata Seetha Devi Nowe, Mulu Lowama Kathawee, Obata Sitha Adare Karai, Suwanda Salanawa.. are some of the popular songs of Dayaratne Perera who was born on July 13, 1952. Dayaratne who was a passionate music lover since his schooldays, took part in various amateur singing competitions as a youngster and tasted success. Having studied music under B. Victor Perera, he later got an opportunity to be part of the Rupavahini orchestra when Ajith Jayaweera was a programme producer. In 1986 he officially joined the Rupavahini orchestra. In 1986 he did a few originals for SLBC and that paved the way for him to make a mark as a singer. “Later in the 90s I was ranked as an A Grade SLBC singer. At the SLBC I met veteran personalities like KDK Dharmawardana, Mervyn Perera, Daya de Alwis and others who made a huge impact in my singing career. In my singing career I must have sung less than 100 songs, but most of them are remembered even today and are favourites of many especially at outdoor musical shows. Thanks to the motivation by Anton J. Fernando, I did a few cassettes like ‘Nododa Muwin’, ‘Obata Sitha Adarae Karai’ and ‘Diguneth Hasarelle’. My first overseas tour was in Dubai in 1993. Since then I have toured a few countries. In May last year I was invited to sing at the ‘Nesena Gee’ musical concert in Melbourne coordinated by Indrajith Mirihana,” he said. He was bestowed with Kalabooshana title in 2017.