Patrick Denipitiya the music maestro, icon, the musician who has contributed most to native Sri Lankan music having revolutionised our music for over three decades – by Sunil Thenabadu Patrick Denipitiya was born into a family with ten children in Kotahena. His parents were Coronalis Denipitiya, a railway station master and Mary Simona ,née Fernando housewife. His siblings were named Sunny, Benedict, Paul, Andrew, Anne, Edward, Anton, Bertram, and Milton. Patrick had studied at St Benedict’s College, Colombo initially and finally at St. Aloysius’ College in Galle as his father was stationed in Galle. While at St Benedict’s College been a very bright student  had even taught junior students in mathematics under a ‘banyan’ tree within the school location. Patrick had been a very bright student in class his father had wanted him to become a doctor, had even gained admission to the medical college having bought him all compulsory ...

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Niranjala Sarojini phenomenal vocalist, radio artiste, television host in an effervescent voyage of five decades in stardom – By Sunil Thenabadu Niranjala Sarojini Abeywardena nee Peiris hails from a rare celebrated musical family in Sri Lanka as the fourth daughter among six siblings in all to catholic parents living in Nugegoda. Sisters been elders Malkanthi, Nirmala,younger Sakuntala while she had an elder brother Kumar and younger the famous Manoj.Father Harrison Peiris a veteran journalist famous writer and poet was the Chief Editor of catholic ‘Messenger’ for three and a half decades. Mother had been strict on the siblings’ while father had been tolerable it was revealed. Both were in the habit of saying prayers every evening with the siblings, thereafter all had to sing ‘hyms’ with father playing the Button Accordion and mother playing her Japanese   Mandolin ,both very well conversant in playing music instruments. The family used to sing ...

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ANIL BHARATHI UNCONQUERED EFFERVESCENT VOYAGE IN CELEBRITY FOR OVER FIVE DECADES-By SUNIL THENABADU Anil Bharathi’s signature song equally popular “ Bethlehempure” still remains the “evergreen” Christmas song for half a century.The lyrics were by a Buddhist legendary celebrated Karunaratne Abeysekera which still remains as the most popular Christmas song in the century perhaps centuries to come. Even if Anil sang this song only his name would still be etched in the hearts of all Sri Lankans not only Christians.The music of this song was by the POP music maestro Clarence and his Golden Chimes band recorded under the ‘Lotus” label one of the pioneers in records and cassettes.  Anil the lanky vocalist had innate skills but not known to have hereditary affiliations to music was the lead singer which added the requisite spice to the Golden Chimes bank in the early decade of the seventies. Anil, had skill in singing ...

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