‘DHARMADASA WALPOLA RASIKA SAMAJAYA’ REERECTS THE ROAD NAMEBOARD DAMAGED BY RUFFIANS – 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 abundant governments having a responsible Cultural Ministry too. Dharmadasa Walpola is one such example having expired at the age of fifty six years on the 25^th 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. Many events and commeroration programs of the fan club were organized at intervals to falicitate 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 death anniversary celebration event in Kandy as a tribute to the versatile playback singer with meritorious deeds as blood donation campaigns ,Sangika danas, launching of a book on the biography of Dharmadasa Walpola, authored by Kapila Kumara Kalinga, a commemorative stamp to coincide with the legends 30^th death anniversary. In going further  when Maithripala 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 former dwelling as “Dharmadasa Walpola Place”.The process was a bit cumbersome, but a senior secretary to the then 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  nearby to his dwelling . 

The name board “Dharmadasa Walpola Pedasa” was erected in year 2018 with approval to coincide with his 35^th death anniversary on the 25^th December 2018 in a solemn ceremony with the participation of a few distinguished invitees. Unfortunately, before long some vandals as often which predominantly transpires in native Sri Lanka had devastated the name board bringing it 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 39^th death anniversary on the 25^th December 2022 at the same location. However the name board was erected only yesterday the 12^th March 2023 in a solemn ceremony with the participation of members of the ‘Dharmadasa Walpola Rasika Samajaya”  travelling down from Kandy.It is unfortunate to state that a representative of a restaurant nearby had protested to the erection though the land belongs to the ‘Pradeshiya Sabha”. 

The proceeds needed to construct the new board had been met via contributions from the Hony Secretary Vernon de Silva, two ex-bankers one a resident in Brisbane, two old Trinitians, One old Antonian,Old Vidyarthan and the YMBA Kandy.  

Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane