“Indrani Perera, Medley by: Shanika Arsecularathne” – By Des Kelly She did come to Melbourne for some performances, many years ago, and I was privileged to meet Indrani and actually sing “My Lovely Island Home”(to the tune of Dilhani In English, that I had composed), with Indrani singing the original of Clarence Wijewardena’s beautiful song, on the same stage, that evening. Our packed audience really enjoyed the combined effort, and later, I met Indrani backstage & congratulated her on being, in my opinion, the BEST female Vocalist at the time, back home. She sang her songs with so much feeling, it was a pleasure to hear her, and now, glory be !, here is Shanika, one of the youngsters of Sri Lanka, with a most beautiful voice herself, singing a medley of “Indrani songs” including Dilhani, which is my Pick, as the most endearing, Sinhalese song ever written & performed ...

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Songs by Desmond Kelly from Charles Schokman Today, (Tuesday 30th November) I took advantage of the last day of spring and spent most of my time in the garden, a place I love to be. It was a beautiful morning and I enjoyed the peace and tranquility it provided. Gardening is my hobby and at the age of 92 I could not find a better way to be out enjoying the beauty of nature amidst the fresh air, the wavering of the tree branches, the fragrance of flowers and the chirping of the birds. As the clock kept ticking the temperature gradually increased and once it reached 30 degrees I realised the need to relax indoors. Whilst in a vacant and pensive mood, feeling half asleep the phone rang and to my delight it was from my good friend Desmond Kelly, affectionately known as Des. Over a brief conversation he ...

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MY LOVELY ISLAND HOME – By Des Kelly   There are many “song-titles” resembling the above, but the true story regarding the music and lyrics to a most beautiful song, was heard by this writer, not long after I had migrated to Melbourne, with my young family, from Ceylon, in 1962. It would have been still the mid 60’s, and I really cannot recall exactly when or where I heard it. The “title” was completely different, and the song Dilhani-dhuvani was being sung by a female of Lankan origin, that I had not heard of, nevertheless, Indrani Perera sang this song so very well (it was on cassette, I think), I listened to it, many times over, and remember feeling extremely homesick for the Country we had just left for good, not because we wanted to, but because we had to. Homesickness, sadness,there’s not much difference, I can tell you.   ...

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