Source : dailynews.lk
Priya Suriyasena’s popularity will remain evergreen even after his death. With his soul-touching lyrics and iconic tunes, the genres of pop, soul, rhythm, and blues will continue to resonate with new generations.
Priya Suriyasena entered the music arena in the early 1970s, alongside artistes of the calibre of Neela Wickremasinghe, Malini Bulathsinhala, Mervin Perera, and T.M. Jayaratne. From his younger days, Priya was a huge enthusiast of Indian music stars such as Lata Mangeshkar, Mohamed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, and Asha Bhosle. Priya was an acclaimed lyricist, composing both lyrics and music, and submitting them to SLBC for auditions. His initial songs accepted by SLBC authorities—Etha Ran Viman, Mata Wasana, Adaraneeya Neranjana, and Sudu Paravi Rena Se—became everlasting hits. With these songs, Priya rose to fame overnight. Over the next five decades, he maintained his prominence, producing some of the most popular songs in Sri Lanka, including: Andura Andura Mage, Sanda Tharakawo Handawee, Sarasatha Nima, Hadawatha Illa, Heta Dawase, Malsara Hinawa, Apasu Enawa, Ratakin Eha, among others.
Priya sat for external music exams conducted by the Government Musical College, Heywood, from 1968 to 1971 and obtained a diploma in music. He won several prizes as a student, including first place in the islandwide UNESCO talent competition. In 1971, Priya began his career as a music teacher at Kelaniya Gurukula College, where he shared his music knowledge with about ten thousand students.
His first cassette tape was released under Vijaya Ramanayake’s Tharanga label, which was also only the second cassette produced in Sri Lanka. His first song, Andura Andura Mage, was recorded in 1968. The late Lal Thenabadu, the late Sarath Dassanayake, the late Stanley Pieris, Sarath de Alwis, the late Clarence Wijewardena, and the late Ranjith Perera, among other veteran music directors, composed music for his songs. Priya was also a talented composer and directed music for his own songs, such as Adaraneeya Neranjana, Heta Dawase, Mata Wasana, Sanda Ma Gawai, Mage Samarum Pothe, Ekama Vidiye, and Gelawata Benda Wu Muthu Pote, among others. Many of these songs were created in collaboration with lyricist Premakeerthi de Alwis, a close friend in the 1970s. These songs became instant hits and remain popular to this day. Priya also composed songs for other artist, including H.R. Jothipala, Milton Mallawarachchi, Mervin Perera, Anton Senanayake, and the famous Christian baila hit dedicated to St. Anthony, sung by the late Anton Jones. Priya sang many famous duets with Victor Rathnayake, Latha Walpola, Chandralekha Perera, Niranjala Sarojini, Malkanthi Nandasiri, among others.
In 1978, Priya married Thamara Kumari Weerasinghe, who was also a music teacher. The couple had one son and three daughters. Their son, Luckshitha, studied at Ananda College and learned music from Lionel Ranwela. Luckshitha pursued a PhD at Stanford University, USA, and is a scientist with a doctorate in Nano Engineering. He is currently a Physics lecturer at Colombo University, after working at the Western Digital Institute in the USA. He is also a talented singer and has performed on live TV programmes, continuing his father’s legacy. The eldest daughter, Minoshi, is a doctor.
The second daughter, Iroshi, is active in the Sri Lankan music industry and works as a Senior Manager at a private bank. She has proven her singing ability on several television programmes. The youngest daughter holds a degree in Human Resource Management and works as an HR Executive.
In 1972, Priya recorded some of his original songs at SLBC, having passed as an A-Grade radio singer. At this stage, he shortened his name from Priyadarshie to Priya. Priya reminisced about the immense musical aptitude of the late Ranjith Perera, who deviated from usual norms, using a Japanese mandolin to create theatre-mode musical compositions. Ranjith composed a unique style of music for Priya’s song Mee Kekunu Kele Ganga Eha Kone.
In the 1990s, Priya moved towards cassette production, establishing Luckshitha Trade Centre, releasing cassettes for himself and other artistes such as M.S. Fernando, Punsiri Silva, H.R. Jothipala, and Champa Kalhari.
In 1996, Priya introduced a new music culture with the album Sunflowers with Priya, which grossed millions, making him the most sought-after singer in Sri Lanka in the late 1990s.
Priya was one of the most extensively traveled Sri Lankan artistes, performing in over 40 countries, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Japan, and Australia.
In 2012, he released the album Malsara Hinawa, which included several of his old hits. In 2017, he made another visit to Australia by invitation.
At the 29th Sumathi Awards in 2024, Priya received the prestigious U.W. Sumathipala Memorial Award for his contributions to the music industry. It was an emotional moment for Priya and all the artistes present. He was assisted to the stage in a wheelchair by his daughter, Iroshi, to receive the award from Thilanga Sumathipala. Priya passed away on 24 December while being treated in the ICU of the General Hospital.
His remains were paid last respects by many mourners and fans at his home, SLBC, and the Borella Florist before being cremated at the Kanatte cemetery in front of a large gathering of mourners, including artistes. May his journey through samsara be short and swift until he attains the Supreme bliss of Nibbana.