Professor Dayarathna Ranathunga an incomparable doyen in Rajadhari music arena for over five decades – By Sunil Thenabadu
Dr.Ranatunga Arachchige Dayarathna Ranatunga popularly known as Dayarathna Ranatunga,was born on 29th October 1940 is a doyen in Sri Lankan music arena is an celebrated singer and a proficient music director and composer of music melodies . One of the most honoured singers of Sri Lanka, Dayarathna is considered as an icon in Ragadhari music in Sri Lanka.The duet ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ it is learnt that was the first song telecast in the ITN in 1979 when the channel was launched.
Dayaratne was born as the youngest child to a family of six siblings in Nawala, Nugegoda. His father, Charles Peter Ranatunga, was a school Principal and his mother, Dona Maslin Kolombage, a typical housewife. He was educated initially at Ananda Sastralaya ,Kotte. Dayarathna reminisced that he used to walk from his dwelling at Pagoda Road to Kotte saving the bus fare. One special house along the way was the house of Ananda Samarakone to which he visited often Through his association Dayaratne had learned a lot about music ,songs with related drawings as a competent teacher. For instance when the song of Ananda Samarakone ‘Ennada Menike Maath Ekka Diyabanta’ was tuned to he used to show a drawing of a river etc.as typical examples. Dayarathna reminisced that Ananda Samarakoon used to take him to the Radio Ceylon when he conducted programs as his assistant. This association Dayarathna adds that it was with his association with Ananda Samarakone that aided him to be in this high position to whom he is highly indebted. His secondary education was at Zahira College Maradana where in addition to excelling in Maths had shone in Volleyball and Wrestling games.He had triumphed in Maths, Physics and Chemistry in class obtaining distinctions topping the results, Dayarathna added that in the maths class they were taught to learn about the ‘Salometer’ an instrument related to sounds. The music teacher had foretold Dayarathna that he would be a proficient musician as he was clever learning the sounds contained in it.
Dayarathna may have had hereditary affiliations to music as his sister Somalatha Ranathunga had been a proficient vocalist while maternal uncle DM Colombage had been the first Sinhala announcer at the then Radio Ceylon.In the good old days only a few families owned Radio sets. His Uncle was given a Radio set by the Radio Ceylon to which Dayarathna used to visit and listen as he wished. Also to hear the radio drama’s Dayarathna was fortunate at his young age. This opportunity had made young Dayarathna to evade mental frustration helping with relaxation of mind.
The couple has two sons: Nanditha Sarada and Pulasthi Indika, and a daughter, Kumudumathie Rupashika. Their son Pulasthi sang the song ‘ Gena Nawpathiyan Gena’with his mother Amara at the age of eight.is also a competent vocalist. Nanditha is married to Sadhana Abeysekara, who is the granddaughter of late songstress Wasantha Sandanayake.Only daughter of Dayaratne is Rupashika a Sangeeth Nipun in addition to been a Visharda in music currently the music teacher at Musaeus College has two grown up sons studying at St Joseph’s College , the duo too could so is her husband though a businessmen had recorded songs with him too. Rupashika too has followed the parents musical instincts through hereditary affiliations , had even sung duets with Father in many television programs like “Laya Saha Liya’ a famous musical program at TV Derana.
While in school in 1952, Dayarathna joined Heywood to be registered as the FIRST student a record that cannot be surpassed where he mastered classical music initially under ‘Guru’ Lionel Edirisinghe who had just returned after his music education in India,when only very young only twelve years old.The Principal who had insisted the authorities that ‘music’ is a criterion essential for the development of the mind of children, subsequently then only music was taught as a subject in schools. Initially Dayarathna had accompanied his elder brother for the classes, after he was asked to sing a classical song he had stunned the Principal who had wanted to enrol him in the permanent cadre. Both Dayarathna and Amara had begun studying classical music at the age of twelve. He was the first male student of Heywood, whereas Amara was the first female student. It was a close friend of Dayarathna by name Karunasena Amerasinghe who had helped and promoted the developing love affair. It was revealed that love letters were all written in the English vernacular who had been kepy in his safe custody Along with Dayarathna there had been very closely knit seven friends viz Sunanda Mahendra,Bandara K Liyanage/Wijetunga, Ajantha Ranasinghe,Asoka Colombage,Swarnasri Bandara, Karunasena Amerasinghe all had emerged from the ‘Lama Pitiya’at Radio Ceylon, which to them had been like an open university for the group. The group of seven had met often at the Nugegoda Cream House or the Lotus Book Shop After his school years, he completed the London B.Sc. in Maths excelling in all subjects.. At the end of the six-year course at the Heywood College of Music, Amara and Dayaratne got teaching appointments in schools at the young ages of just18 years. Amara was appointed to Hanwella school while Dayaratne received the appointment to Richmond College, Galle. However, he quit from the job after one day as the students in the class who were in the same age had bullied him on the first day itself to unbearable tall elevations.. Later, he joined Maradana technical College.
Later Dayaratne had joined with the Buddhist University College, Rosmead Place for a short period. To achieve to be a an musician, he proceeded to India to study Eastern Music in Bhatkhande University. He later obtained Visharada along with his wife Amara.In 1964, he was selected to a research officer post at the Tyre Corporation. But he had not liked the terrible sounds that liberated hence had left the job also rather abruptly Dayarathna without any satisfaction sans music from in such a career, he again moved to music where he was invited for (SLBC). In 1969, she joined with SLBC as the first Producer in the Music Unit. In 1978, he was instantly promoted as the Head of Department – Controller of Sinhala Music considering his proficiency and expertise in Music.
In 1984, Dayarathna became the Director of Music and Music Research where he was the in-charge of all five music units – Sinhala, English, Tamil, Hindi and Muslim, as well as all the regional services a very prestigious as well as a hugely responsible position He continued to render the musical service and guidance to the music field through the SLBC and finally retired in year 1996. His duet `Maha Re Yame’ was first sung by him and his elder sister, Somalatha Ranatunga. Later sang with Amara and daughter Rupashika too..After the demise of Amara it was only daughter Rupashika who sang her songs at many concerts and television programs like ‘Leya Saha Laya’.
Apart from music, Dayarathna wrote several classical books to the local students who sit for the Bhathkanda classical exams such as “Sangeetha Vimarshana” and “Sangeethaya”.He is also the pioneer to introduce music as a therapy for the first time in Sri Lanka with his book “Music Mind Therapy”, this is the first book published by a reputed musician. Dayarathna while in England had heard about a hospital called ‘Patne’ hospital where the patients were treated with less medicines but were made to be involved in other activities like singing and dancing. After lunch all patients needed to assemble in a hall where music was heard loudly. Once a patient had come in a ‘wheel chair’ after hearing the music and seen dancing had alighted from the wheel chair and started to dance and enjoy with the rest.Dayarathna was used to visit this hospital in the evenings having got friendly with doctors too from who Dayarathna got ideas for his book on music therapy.
The idea had come to Dayarathna while in England attached to BBC as Sinhala service news director .While relaying the news Dayarathna one day he had commented the dress of Muslim working girls who also sport short dresses adding it is very good tendency.to be in par with all other working girls In a television dialog Dayarathna said immediately he had received a threatening call from a Muslim father not to say it again otherwise he would be killed. In his book, “Polynesian Music and Dancing” depicts the culture and performing arts of Oceanian islands, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji Islands. He also authored a children’s book, “Salmal” In 1994, he won the UNDA ( University of Notre Dame Australia) a rare prestigious International Award which bought laurels to Sri Lanka.
In 1997, to commemorate the 55th Independence of India, the Indian Government awarded “Bharatha Mithra” to Dayarathna and his wife Amara. From 1997 to 2001, Dayarathna and Amara became lecturers on North Indian Classical music in the Ethno Musicology Department at the California University. On 6th December 2007, a felicitation ceremony, with a completed CD album produced by Vijitha Trade Centre with the label known as “Udumbara” was released, in 2008 “Maha Re Yame’. Thereafter Dayaratna-Amara Abhinandana” was held at 6.30 p.m. at BMICH On 17 August 2011, a CD containing new songs was released at the Ananda Samarakoon studio of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. On that day, Yapa Bandara Seneviratne’s book “Sinhala Sangeethaye on Dayarathna Ranatunga ‘Suvipul Siyatsara” was also released.
In 2019, The ‘Janabhimani’ or ‘ Maha Rawana Rajabhimani’ Awards Ceremony was held at the Jasmine Auditorium at the BMICH where Dayarathna was bestowed the ‘Best Service Award’. At many festivals the Dayarathna and Amara Ranathunga duo had won many awards.
Dayarathna more recently has conducted music therapy classes to many students to help in the medical professions. In his twilight years as an octogenarian do not concentrate on new songs but spend times on finding ways to impart his musical knowledge to teachers to educate budding music crazy children also by publishing new books. Recently Dayarathna Ranathunga had participated in the SLRC’s program ‘Rawdun Gee’ recently also with the intention of educating the masses in music. At this program many stalwarts like Hudson Samarasinghe,Sudath Samarasinghe,Nilar Cassim etc participated with a huge audience of music lovers. .Dayarathna had in addition to many solo songs, duets with Amara had composed music compositions for thousand of songs by which he had contributed a huge contribution to our music
Most songs of Dayarathna and Amara Ranathunga are byheart to many there are many popular songs in cassettes viz ‘Maha Re Yame’, ‘Duras Wannata’,’Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’,’Selalihiniya’,’
Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane
e mail sthenabadu@hotmail.com
