Priya Suriyasena

He was born on 27 October 1952 to an up-country middle-class family, in Nattandiya, Puttalam district, Sri Lanka. His father was M. L. D Jemis Liyanage was a poet, from whom he got his musical talent. His mother was A. M. Podi Manike. He was the only son in a family of three. He had his primary education at Nattandiya Primary School and completed his GCE O/L and A/L at Madampe Central College in Puttalam district.[1]

In 1978 he married Thamara Kumari Weerasinghe who was also a music teacher. The couple has one son and three daughter.[1] Lakshitha studied at Ananda College and learned music from Lionel Ranwala.[2] Eldest daughter Minoshi is a doctor. The next daughter, Iroshi, is a manager at a private bank. The youngest daughter Gayashi is a management degree holder.[3] Lakshitha is married to Miyuru Piyathilaka.[4][5]

After his A/L from 1968 to 1971 he sat for external exams conducted by the government musical college 'Heywood' and obtained a diploma in music. Suriyasena won several prizes as a student after participating in musical programmes, such as UNESCO talent competition in which he won the first prize. Suriyasena started his career in 1971 as a music teacher for Kelaniya Gurukula College whilst also as an on stage singer at the same time. Then he moved to Kalubowila Vidyalaya and finally in Dehiwala Central College. After about 10 years of service in Dehiwala, Suriyasena left his teaching career giving priority to his music career.[6]

Then he recorded some of his original songs which were aired in SLBC in 1972 and also passed as an A-grade radio singer.[7] At this stage he shortened his name from Priyadharsha to "Priya", inspired by Sri Lankan Motor Racing legend Priya Munasinghe. The first cassette tape was released under Vijaya Ramanayake's Tharanga label. His first radio song Andura Andura Mage was recorded in 1968. The veteran music directors who conducted music for his songs were Lal Thenabadu, the late Sarath Dassanayake, Stanley Peiris, Sarath de Alwis, late Clarence Wijewardena and Ranjith Perera. Suriyasena directed music for songs such as Adaraniya Neranjana, Heta Dawase, Mata Wasana, Sanda Ma Gawai, Mage Samarum Pothe, Ekama Vidiye, Mohathaka Suwa Dena and Gelawata Banda Wu. He has also composed famous Christian Baila music hit dedicated to St Anthony sung by Anton Jones.[1]

After the release of his first four songs Suriyasena became a heartthrob of youngsters in the 1970s. His first four songs: Sarathasa Niwa, Mata Wasana, Heta DaVase and Andura Andura Mage were recorded for the SLBC in 1972.[3] The release of Sudu Parevi Rena Se brought Suriyasena up to one of the top singers in the 1970s bringing a controversy at the time where the Sri Lankan government prohibited broadcasting the song through radio channels for a period of time. His popularity was raised with the Sarasaviya Award for Kendan Yannam, a song from Sena Samarasinghe's 1984 film Aethin Aethata with Milton Mallawarachchi and Gratien Ananda.[8]

He was also a play back singer in many films including Mal Kekulu in early 1980s, song Bindu Bindu Kandulu Sala, a duet with Shayami Fonseka and music directed by Sarath Dassanayake and produced by Sena Samarasinghe. Further, he sang in many other films like Selinage Walawwa, Mudukkuwe Juliet, Hariyanakota Ohama Thamai, and Pina Paduna Da. In the film Ethin Ethata, he sang the duet "Kandan Yannan Ranmal Mala Dala" with Milton Mallawarachchi to the music direction of Sarath Dassanayake which won a Sarasaviya Award in the 1980s. In the film Suhada Sohoyuro he played a minor role. However, later Suriyasena gave up singing as a play back singer focusing only on stage.[3][1]

His maiden foreign tour was to Singapore in 1978. Subsequently, he made it to over 44 other countries including United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Australia. At the beginning of 1990s Suriyasena was leaned towards cassette production business where he started "Luckshitha Trade Centre" and released cassettes of M.S. Fernando, Punsiri Soysa, H.R. Jothipala and Champa Kalhari.[3]

In 1996 with the album "Sunflowers with Priya", he brought a new musical generation to the country grossing revenue over Rs. 8 million for the album and becoming the most popular singer in the country.[7]

In 2006 he sang a duet Gimhanaye with Samitha Mudunkotuwa for the film Kalu Sudu Mal as the male playback for Kamal Addararachchi. He completed a tour in 2017 on many cities including Los Angeles and Melbourne which has a significant Sri Lankan communities.[9][10] In 2012, he released the album "Malsara Hinawa" which included several old hits.[8]

• Gunewardene, Prasad (23 July 2006). "Comedy and tragedy of "Super Stars"". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 20 June 2008.

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