Fitting tribute to Khemadasa

Music maestro Premasiri Khemadasa's portrait will be unveiled at St. John's College, Panadura today at 2 p.m.

Everyone born in this world renders some service to humanity. People do not forget the services rendered by great people in numerous fields of activities.

Premasiri Khemadasa is a musician who spent his lifetime to propagate music among Sri Lankans. The unveiling of his portrait at his alma mater during his lifetime is a great achievement and a singular honour for him.

From today Premasiri Khemadasa's portrait will be displayed along with the pictures of an array of great sons of the soil such as Prof. Gunapala Malalasekara, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva, Lalith Athulathmudali and Prof. Ediriweera Saratchandra who are no more.

Khemadasa was born at Thalpitiya, Wadduwa on January 25, 1937. He was the youngest of 12 children in his family. From his young days he was drawn to music. So, as a child he started playing the flute and then after many years became a veteran musician.

He directed the music for Sudu Sande Kaluwala in 1963 and showed his capabilities as a music director in 1966 by producing the musical score for Senasuma Kotanada. He was the first musician to introduce the theme music for the Sinhala cinema.

He has provided music for a number of films and tele films directed by Sirisena Wimalaweera, Lester James Peries, Dharmasena Pathiraja, K. A. W. Perera, Sudath Mahadivulvewa, Prasanna Vithanage and Jayantha Chandrasiri.

Khemadasa will be celebrating his 69th birthday today. On the other hand, St. John's College, Panadura will be 130 years old today. Similarly today marks the 100th anniversary of the Past Pupils Association of the college.

Apart from unveiling his photograph at the school, maestro Khemadasa will conduct a workshop in music for a selected group of students in the Kalutara district.

The workshop will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On the same day, a website for him will be opened at the Namel-Malini Punchi Theatre at Borella.

- R. S. Karunaratne

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