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“Darkness, darkness, mine..
My sweet love
Please don’t go..
Alone outside..”
Madawala Liyanage Don Sarathchandra Priyadarshi Suriyasena Liyanage was born to middle class parents in Natthandi and we all know her as Priya Suriyasena. He left us on December 24, 2024 while undergoing treatment at the Colombo National Hospital, contributing many melodious songs that captured the hearts of the people and rendered invaluable services to the Sri Lankan music industry. Even though he has passed away, his beautiful songs will live on in people’s hearts forever.
Suriyasena’s musical career began after taking external music examinations held by the Government College of Music, Heywood, where he obtained a diploma in music. As a student, he participated in various music programs and won first place in the All Sri Lanka UNESCO Merit Competition. He started his teaching career from Kelaniya Gurukula Vidyalaya in 1971 and also performed as a singer on stage. He then worked at Kalubowila Vidyalaya and Dehiwala Madhya Maha Vidyalaya.
She recorded some of her original songs at SLBC and became an A-class singer. During this period, she started shortening her name to “Priya”. The first cassette was released under Vijaya Ramanayake’s Tharanga label, the second cassette was produced in Sri Lanka. His first song “Andura Andura Maa” was recorded in 1968. Lal Thenabahu, Sarath Dissanayake, Stanley Peiris, Sarath de Alvis, Clarence Wijewardene, Ranjith Perera and other veteran music directors have composed his songs. Suriyasenayan is also a talented music director and has directed several of his own songs. These include the songs “Dear Neranjana”, “Mata Vasana”, “Sandha Ma Gavai”, “My Celebration Book”, “Ekama Streetye” and “Gelavata Bandavu”.
“I fell asleep in the morning
You seem to be calling me in my dreams
But how to take his hand
I hear my heart whispering to me
Dear Neranjana…
Neranjana dear…”
After releasing his first 4 songs on SLBC, Suriyasenayan became the heartbeat of Sri Lankan youth in the 1970s. His first songs “Sarathasa Niwa”, “Mata Vasana”, “Heta Diin”, and “Andura Andura Maa” were recorded in 1972, at SLBC. He was able to become one of the most talented and popular singers in the 1970s through the song “Sudu Parevi Rana Se” which was released at a time when the government banned the broadcast of songs via radio channels. His popularity further increased when the song “Kandan Yannam” performed with Milton Mallavarachchi and Gretion Ananda for Sena Amarasinghe’s film “Athin Ayyata” won the Sarasaviya Award.
Priya Suriyasena, who contributed to music, died at the age of 80. Even though he has passed away after completing his work in making Sri Lankan music proud for decades, we can be sure that his melodious voice will live on forever among people large and small.
Good luck artist!
