Reminiscing Dr. Lionel Algama: Music Maestro,  Gifted, Innovative Musician, with Multiple Talents – By Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane Image Source : dailynews Dr. Lionel Algama the renowned and gifted musician, innovator teacher and composer passed away in the wee hours of Sunday at a private hospital after a brief illness. He was 74 years old at the time of his untimely demise on the 18th May 2008. He was a contemporary of famous musicians Dayananda Gunawardena and Pandit Amaradeva. In addition he was a ‘A’ grade singer, in Hindustani and Bengali as well, examiner, ‘A’ grade instrumentalist in ballet – stage – films – Teledrama – director, conductor, inventor of the original instrument called the ‘Soorthar’ and the sophisticated ‘Sree Veena’ which took him about 15 years to perfect. He made an enthralling demonstration of the ‘Sree Veena’ as far back as 1979 at a musical recital at the Bharathiya Vidya Bhawan (UK Centre), ...

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URESHA RAVIHARI THE PHENOMINAL SINGER IS TOP TIERED IN MUSIC ARENA AT THE PINNACLE OF FAME – by Sunil Thenabadu     Behind all the songs and music that we hear, there are some untold stories. Stories of those musicians who dedicated their lives to music. Stories of each of their career paths are identified by only them, just like their palm prints. In a competitive and saturated industry like music, one needs a lot of luck to thrive. Uresha Ravihari  is one who had thrived in this industry for over three decades having commenced music while still a school girl at Samudra Devi Balika Vidyalaya at around six years old .Many commence music as a passion but to transform passion into a career is a path of a struggle. Uresha has had immense innate talent not linked to any hereditary affiliations. Like Uresha complete dedication and hard work is the only way ...

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Homage to multifaceted Henry Jayasena accomplished Dramatist, Actor ,Lyricist. Translator and Author – by Sunil Thenabadu    Henry Jayasena who expired on the 11th November 2009, was a firm believer of Shakespear’s memorable phrase  ” All that live must die/passing through nature to eternity”. Decease had already taken its toll on him. He was actually aware that as we learnt in school, “To every man upon the earth/death cometh soon or late”. He, who possessed an effervescent personality, initially stood tall on the modest unsophisticated Lumbini Theatre in the early 1960’s. He had confessed many times as a much-adored artiste that his heart lies in theatre. Henry Jayasena could be easily and definitely classified as one, alongside amongst the elite of eminent literary figures in the annals of theatre in Sri Lanka, like Professor Ediriweera Sarathchandra,  Sugathapala De Silva, Dayananda Gunawardena, Dr Lionel Algama,Premasiri Khemadasa etc.  His numerous contributions to the theatre and cinema spanned for almost 4 decades. He retired from his acting ...

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