J. A. Milton Perera

Milton was born on May 5, 1938 the son of J. A. Edwin Perera, also known as Tabla Podi Appuhamy, an accomplished tabla player. Inspired by his father, Milton became proficient on the tabla at a young age.

J A Milton Perera was a skinny, innocent young man of Podi Appuhamy. They lived in Sangamitta Mawata, Kotahena, known as Green Street. Milton;s father was a proud owner of series of small houses in a land along the street. Father and Milton lived in one of those houses. All other houses were rented. The first house of Podi Appuhamay was rented and that man had a beautiful daughter, named Hemalatha. She was so beautiful, sexy looking, and studied at the nearby school at the Green Street, known as Kotahena Madhya Maha Vidyalaya.

Milton has been trying to express his love to Hemalatha. She was popularly known as HeMALAtha, MALA. He sent sent love letters to Mala through other students at the Schools and they were in love in no time. So Milton sang, ARANNA ADARAE MALA, dedicated to his girl friend. They married and had Priyankara as only child.

Milton ws very close with Alloy Gunawardene, H R Jothipala and Karunaratne Abeysekera.

Sooner or later MALA left Milton and lived with a Muslim man. Milton ws devastated. He then married Kalayani, a resident in a nearby house. Milton sang, KALYANIYA OBA NEESU KATHAWAK KIYANNAM.

Milton married to Kalyani Perera, who had been an actress. Their wedding was celebrated on 26 September 1969. They had four sons - Priyankara Perera, Chalaka Chamupathi, Arosha Asanga and Pamoda Piyushan. Milton died on October 24, 1991.[1] In memory of Milton, Priyankara Perera and Chalaka Chamupathi Perera continue to perform J.A Milton Perera's songs.

Eldest son Priyankara Perera is married to renowned actress Dilhani Ekanayake and they have one son Dilmin Perera.[2]

His second son Chalaka Chamupathi Perera is married to Padmi Ranasinghe, and they have one daughter Anjana Dasuni Perera and one son Chamath Chamupathi Perera.[3]

In 1940, Milton sang his first song for Radio Ceylon, "Alehi Bendi Jeewitha". It was written by Aloy Gunawardena around a Mohamed Sally melody. He subsequently had several popular songs on the radio, "Podi Kale Api Denna," "Oba Wewa Wewa Pahana Mage", "Sikuru liya Komala liya" and "Kalyaniye."

Milton debut to playback singing came with a song on Kurulu Bedda (1961). In his 30 year career in the field, he provided his voice to actors like Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrama, Tony Ranasinghe, Vijaya Kumaratunga, Ananda Jayaratne, D. R. Nanayakkara, Anthony C. Perera and Stanley Perera in such films as Adata Wediya Heta Hondai, Dheewarayo, Yatagiya Dawasa, Allapu Gedara, Bicycle Hora, Daru Duka, Sarawita, Ataweni Pudumaya, Chandiya and Deiyange Theenduwa.

• Milton Perera - මිල්ටන් පෙරේරා Songs on line