Sunil Edirisinghe

Edirisinghe was born the youngest of seven children to Patikirige Edirisinghe and Ushettige Elizabeth Perera; he grew up in Waragoda Kelaniya amongst a blooming rubber industry.[2]

Edirisinghe began his schooling at Sri Dharmaloka Vidyalaya in 1955. He moved on to Sapugaskanda Maha Vidyalaya in 1968 and subsequently Delgoda Kalyana Pradeepa Pirivena where he studied for his A/L examamination.[1]

After completing his secondary education in 1969, Edirisinghe began working for the Government Printing Corporation. He debuted as a playback singer that year singing "Sandakada Pahana" for his brother Satischandra's film Matara Achchi. The song was composed by Victor Ratnayake and written by Wally Nanayakkara.[2]

Edirisinghe studied music at Visharada P.V. Nandasiri's Academy of Music and University of Laknaw, India in the early 1970s. In 1975 Edirisinghe graduated with first class honors from the prestigious Bhathkhande Academy of Music in India. He joined the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation soon after. In 1980 Edirisinghe released his first cassette Chandra Mandala.[2]

To celebrate his 70th birthday, he has organized a felicitation ceremony will be held on 19 December 2019 at 3 pm at Sri Lanka Foundation Institution. Meanwhile, a book titled The Spiritual Tune of the Sunil with a scholarly exploration of what he has done with singing is published by Samudra Wettasinghe. Another book, written by Pushkara Wanniarachchi under the title Sunila Siritha - Sunil Edirisinghe Divi Sariya.[3]

Edirisinghe has six siblings. The eldest Dharmasri was involved in fine arts. His sister Mercy was a music teacher; his brothers Satischandra and Nimal went into film.[4]

Edirisinghe met his future wife Nandani "Kumudu" Munasinghe on a visit to Kandy. They were married in 1979 and had their first child Sankha Chamindra Edirisinghe the following year. In 1985 their daughter Sankani Edirisinghe was born.[4]