UNFORGETTABLES
AUSTIN MUNASINGHE
The 23rd death anniversary of talented musician Austin Munasinghe falls tomorrow, April 28. Austin Munasinghe who added new meaning to Sinhala music, was largely known for his slant and extra-ordinary aptitude in blending folk music to the stage and also composing a large number of evergreen songs. Among his song creations are alltime hits like Deekiri Deekiri, Rangahala Dan Etha Ada Andure, Suwandai Muwe Mal Pani, Aalaya Wan Manaram Kavikam, Yasa Isuru Pirunu Thena, Tharaha Wanu Epa, Dam Patin La Sanda Besa Yanawa, Ha Ha Lande, Mal Wiyanen Bandi Maha Bedde Un, Punsanda Reta Awidien Hene, Ma Ekkala Amanapawa and several others. He also directed music for several stage plays and the movie ‘Situ Diyaniya’. He directed music for most of the plays produced by veteran dramatist the late Henry Jayasena. Having served as a teacher for more than two decades, he also conducted lectures at the Kelaniya University for over a decade from 1985. Austin Munasinghe passed away on April 28 in 1997. He was the father of well known musician Tharupathy Munasinghe and theatre personality Swethekie Munasinghe who is based in Australia.
DAYA ALWIS
The fifth death anniversary of awardwinning actor, director and scriptwriter Daya Alwis falls today, April 27. Daya Alwis was well known as an actor but his childhood dream was to become a singer. Having armed himself with a degree in music from the Bathkande University in India, he returned to his motherland where he was offered a teaching appointment. But destiny made him an actor. He first wrote the script for the popular ‘Lahiru Dahasak’ tele drama and later scripted more than 100 tele drama projects including those directed by Lester James Peries, Parakrama Niriella, Vijaya Dharmasri, Sudath Rohana, Bertram Nihal and others. When he returned from India armed with the Bathkande music degree he was posted to Tholangamuwa Central College as a music teacher. There he had to also handle drama and theatre. That exposure helped him to associate with Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra, Henry Jayasena and others, paving the way for him to act in several stage plays in the seventies. Among them were Dhawala Bheeshana, Makarakshaya, Mudu Puththu, Senehebara Dolly, Pemathi Jayathi Soko, Rankanda, Modera Mola and others. As a film actor, he first acted in Thilaka Saha Thilaka and later followed it up with noteworthy movies like Viragaya, Karumakkarayo, Mahagedara, Visidela, Siribo Ayya, Madol Duwa, Dadayama, Maldeniye Simion, Pooja, Anthima Reya and others. He passed away on April 27, 2015.
PRIYANTHA FERNANDO
The second death anniversary of popular singer Priyantha Fernando falls on May 1. He was the son of popular yester year singer C. T. Fernando.