DHARMADASA WALPOLA RASIKA SAMAJAYA’ TO FELICITATE DHARMADASA WALPOLA ON HIS 39th DEATH ANNIVERSARY – by Sunil Thenabadu
It is a pity that even many reputed artistes in native Sri Lanka, after their demise had not been felicitated or saluted by our numerous governments having a responsible Cultural Ministry too. Dharmadasa Walpola is one such example having expired at the age of fifty six years on the 25th December 1983.After his demise a group of his ardent fans in Kandy had formed a society named ‘Dharmadasa Walpola Rasika Samajaya” based at number 96B Kotugodella Veediya ,Kandy.This was interestingly more predominantly as Dharmadasa Walpola was a native of Deiyannawea, Kandy. All key members of the fan club organized at intervals many commemorative events for late Dharmadasa Walpola by organizing ‘pinkamas’, almsgivings, blood donation campaigns with the backing of all key members of the Dharmadasa Walpola Rasika Samajaya”.
In year 2013 the members had organized a commemorative death anniversary celebration event in Kandy as a tribute to the versatile playback singer with meritorious deeds as blood donation campaigns ,Sangika danes, launching of a book on the biography of Dharmadasa Walpola, authored by Kapila Kumara Kalinga, a commemorative stamp to coincide with the legends 30th death anniversary. In going further when Mathripala Sirisena was President in year 2018 who was communicated by the members proposing a part of the road to be named in his name in the vicinity of his dwelling as “Dharmadasa Walpola Place”.The process was a bit cumbersome, a senior secretary to the President ,Sanath Weerasuriya had coordinated this issue with the Divisional Secretary,,Kelaniya Pradeshiya Saba, Executive Engineer Gampaha and the Chief Engineer of the Road Development Authority. The extent of the road thus approved was from the beginning of the Hungomahoda junction to Rani Dissanayake Road junction then nearby to his dwelling .
The name board “Dharmadasa Walpola Pedasa” was erected in year 2018 with approval to coincide with his 35th death anniversary on the 25th December 2018 in a solemn ceremony with the participation of some distinguished invitees. Unfortunately, before long some vandals as often which predominantly transpires in native Sri Lanka had devastated the name board bringing to down .Vernon de Silva the honorary secretary of the ‘fan club’ though very upset and hurt,so were the members which did not deter them having kept quiet had ordered for a another new name board “Dharmadasa Walpola Pedesa” planned to be erected again on his 39th death anniversary on the 25th December 2022 at the same location.
The proceeds needed to construct the new board had been met via contributions from the Hony Secretary Vernon de Silva, two ex bankers, two old Trinitians, One old Antonian,Old Vidyarthan and the YMBA Kandy.
Sunil Thenabadu
email sthenabadu@hotmail.com…
whatsapp001444533242
