Deepika Priyadarshani

Sri Lankan songstress

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Deepika Priyadarshani

දීපිකා ප්‍රියදර්ශනී
Born|

Kalubowila, Sri Lanka

Education| Anula Vidyalaya
Alma mater| Bhatkhande University
University of Kelaniya
Occupation(s)| songstress, playback singer
Spouse| Chamika Herath (m. 2018)
Parents|

* Sumanadasa Peiris (father)
* Karuna Peiris (mother)

Relatives| Priya Gunawardena (aunt)
Musical career
Years active| 1986–present

Musical artist

Deepika Priyadarshani Pieris (Sinhala: දීපිකා ප්‍රියදර්ශනී පිරීස්) is a Sri Lankan singer.[1] One of the most popular female singers in Sri Lanka, she is the only Sri Lankan vocalist to awarded with Gusi Peace Prize.[2]

## Personal life

[edit]

Deepika Priyadarshani was born on 13 July in Kalubowila as the third child of the family. Her father, Sumanadasa Peiris was an engineer. Her mother Karuna Peiris is a retired nurse. She completed education at Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda.[3] She has one elder brother, Ajith Peiris and one elder sister, Ajantha Peiris who died when she was 3 years old. Her youngest sister is Shalika Peiris.[4] At early times, her mother had gone to sing for various programs on Sri Lanka Radio. Mother's sister Priya Gunawardena is also a singer.[5]

She obtained Bachelor of Music Education (1st class) Vocal Visharadh, (1st class) from Bhatkhande University, India in 1990 and Master of the Arts in Mass Communication from University of Kelaniya in 2007. Later she obtained Bachelor of Education in 2002.[6]

On 15 August 2018, Deepika married longtime partner Chamika Herath, a banker by his profession.[7] Also as a lyricist, Chamika composed many famous songs such as Maga Denethata Denatha Thea sung by Deepika.[8]

## Career

[edit]

At the school, she studied music under renowned musicians, Manjula Vithnage, B.Victor Perera and Nanda Malini.[9]

Having performed in radio and television programs as a child artist,[10] Deepika later studied music under the musician Dunstan de Silva. In the meantime, she met popular artist Athula Ransirilal at Kalubowila Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Buddhist school. At the age of 10, Deepika got the opportunity to sing Sanda Mama and Sangeetha Handawa on Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).[6][3]

She started her career in 1985 with the song Aaju Thapara Lahila sung for the television serial Bhagya directed by Vijaya Dharmasri.[10] The song became highly popular among the public and paved the way to singing career.[9] In 1990, Deepika launched her maiden album Sina Podak Wee as an audio cassette.[3] By then she had already secured an appointment as a music teacher in a public school since 1989 including Panadura Gokarana Maha Vidyalaya for five years, Anula Vidyalaya for 10 years and another five years to Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo.[6]

In 2006, she was lucky to perform in world renowned Sydney Opera House on 3 September and then in Melbourne Concert Hall in Australia and Camden Center in London.[11] In 2009, she was awarded with the most popular female singer awarded by Sirasa FM. In 2020, she launched her fifth album, Sudu Hansinee which is composed of 16 original songs.[10][6] Some of her most popular songs include; Sina Podak Vee, Pembara Kumarana, Ahasai Oba Mata, Me Thani Yahane, Premayata Nim Him, Oba Heenayak Wage, Nubata Inne Mama Witharada, Boralu Aenena, Pithu Senehe Pidu, Kandulu Hela and Jayasiri Ma Hamuduruwane.[12] She sang many children songs for the cartoons such as Ha Ha Hari Hawa and Behei Kyla Behei Kyla Ba.[13]

Deepika was among 20 laureates of the Philippine Gusi Peace Prize 2012 for performing arts with her song Ma Thotin Ena in the film Saroja.[14][15] She has bagged several award including presidential award for the best singer. Apart from that she was awarded with the Binka Award by Japan for the illustrious career. In 2015, her solo concert "Kaviya Oba" was held on 24 November at 7.00 pm at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall.[13][16]

Apart from singing, Deepika is a board member of National Youth Service Council Sri Lanka and a board member of “Sadaham Sevana” International Buddhist Research Center and consultant of the Ministry of Buddhasasana and Religious affairs. In 2017, she won the Sumathi Award for the Best Singer for the theme song of television serial Maada Obama Viya directed by Sahan Wijesinghe. Before that, she has been nominated for the Sumathi Awards several times.[10]

Currently, she has her own music school "Saundarya Shalikawa" located in Kalubowila which was started in 1993.[17][18] The concert "Daru Tharu Waruna" was held on June 3 at 6.30 pm at the Bishop's College Auditorium, Colombo which showcased the music abilities of the children of her music school. The first show was held in 2003 was at the Maharagama National Youth Services Council.[19]

So far, Deepika has been performed six musical shows. The first concert was held in Canada.[10] She also worked as a drug prevention consultant and involved in the social work of educating university students and youth about the dangers of drug abuse.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The highest award I have ever won is popularity". Dinamina. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
2. ^ "Deepika awarded Gusi Peace prize". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
3. ^ a b c "It is enough for this country to have one Nanda Malani and one Victor Ratnayake. Duplicates are not needed". Divaina. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
4. ^ "Really meeting the two of us by chance". Hiru TV. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
5. ^ a b "I dedicate my life to my mother". Divaina. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
6. ^ a b c d "Voice for all seasons". Daily News. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
7. ^ "Deepika Priyadarshani gets engaged". news24. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
8. ^ "Deepika Priyadarshani, who has been single for a long time, gets engaged". lady. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
9. ^ a b "Chat with Deepika". webgossip. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
10. ^ a b c d e "Mother's only desire is to see my marriage". Silumina. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
11. ^ "Kala Korner by Dee Cee". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
12. ^ "The song written by Buddhadasa Galappaththi for the beloved Geetha who passed away in December". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
13. ^ a b "Deepika you sing". Divaina. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
14. ^ "Deepika wins Gusi Peace Prize". Daily News. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
15. ^ "Visharada Deepika Priyadarshani International Gucci was awarded the Peace Prize". Divaina. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
16. ^ "You do not need a video to make a song popular". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
17. ^ "Enrolling students to Deepika's 'Saundarya Shalikawa'". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
18. ^ "Learning crafts from Deepika". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
19. ^ "I'm not a workaholic". Divaina. Retrieved 16 August 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* ජනප්‍රිය ගායිකාවක් වන දීපිකා ප්‍රියදර්ශනී විවාහ ගිවිස ගනී
* දීපිකාට ජාත්‍යන්තර සම්මානයක්
* නුඹත් මා හට හිමි නොවන බව දැන දැනම නොකියම හිඳී
* That Relationship
* අසුරු සැනක්‌ වූ රුසිරු අතීතය සිහිනෙන් ගෑ මුදු සුවඳක්‌ සේ
* Kaviya Oba: Deepika Live in Concert
* Deepika – 'You Two' are turning one

* v
* t
* e

Sinhala music

* Sinhala language
* Music of Sri Lanka

Male singers|

* Abeywardena Balasuriya
* Ajith Bandara
* Allen Ratnayake
* Amarasiri Peiris
* Anil Bharathi
* Annesley Malewana
* Anton Jones
* C. T. Fernando
* Chandra Kumara Kandanarachchi
* Chandrasena Hettiarachchi
* Chitral Somapala
* Clarence Wijewardena
* Cliff Foenander
* Dasun Madushan
* Dayan Witharana
* Dayarathna Ranatunga
* Deepal Silva
* Desmond de Silva
* Dhanapala Udawaththa
* Dharmaratne Brothers
* Dinesh Kanagaratnam
* Edward Jayakody
* Freddie Silva
* Gamini Susiriwardana
* Gratien Ananda
* Gunadasa Kapuge
* H. R. Jothipala
* Henry Caldera
* Indrachapa Liyanage
* Ivor Dennis
* J. A. Milton Perera
* J. P. Chandrababu
* Jagath Wickramasinghe
* Jaya Sri
* Kamal Addararachchi
* Karunarathna Divulgane
* Kasun Kalhara
* Keerthi Pasquel
* Lahiru Perera
* Lakshman Wijesekara
* Lionel Ranwala
* M. S. Fernando
* Madhumadhawa Aravinda
* Mervin Perera
* Milton Mallawarachchi
* Mohideen Baig
* Morris Wijesinghe
* Nalin Jayawardena
* Namal Udugama
* Narada Disasekara
* Nihal Nelson
* Nihal Samarasinghe
* Nuwan Gunawardana
* P. L. A. Somapala
* Paul Fernando
* Pradeep Rangana
* Prince Udaya Priyantha
* Priya Suriyasena
* Punsiri Soysa
* R. A. Chandrasena
* R. Muttusamy
* Rookantha Gunathilake
* Rukshan Perera
* Sadiris Master
* Saman Lenin
* Sanath Nandasiri
* Sanka Dineth
* Sathish Perera
* Senaka Batagoda
* Shelton Perera
* Shihan Mihiranga Bennet
* Shirley Waijayantha
* Sisira Senaratne
* Somasiri Medagedara
* Suneera Sumanga
* Sunil Edirisinghe
* Sunil Perera
* Sunil Santha
* T. M. Jayaratne
* Tharanga Goonetilleke
* Upali Kannangara
* Victor Rathnayake
* Vijaya Kumaranatunga
* W. D. Amaradeva
* W. D. Ariyasinghe

Female singers|

* Amara Ranatunga
* Angeline Gunathilake
* Chandralekha Perera
* Chandrika Siriwardena
* Charitha Priyadarshani
* Deepika Priyadarshani
* G. S. B. Rani
* Indrani Perera
* Indrani Wijebandara
* Latha Walpola
* Leela Asoka
* Madhavee Wathsala
* Malani Bulathsinhala
* Mariazelle Goonetilleke
* Mercy Edirisinghe
* Mignonne Fernando
* Nanda Malini
* Neela Wickramasinghe
* Nirosha Virajini
* Nuwandhika Senarathne
* Pradeepa Dharmadasa
* Priyani Jayasinghe
* Rukmani Devi
* Saheli Rochana Gamage
* Sashika Nisansala
* Sujatha Aththanayaka
* Umaria Sinhawansa
* Uresha Ravihari
* Wasantha Sandanayake

Music directors|

* Allen Ratnayake
* W. D. Amaradeva
* Ananda Samarakoon
* Bibiladeniye Mahanama
* R. A. Chandrasena
* Clarence Wijewardena
* Dilup Gabadamudalige
* Dinesh Subasinghe
* Gunadasa Kapuge
* H. M. Jayawardena
* Kasun Kalhara
* Lakshman Joseph de Saram
* Lionel Algama
* Lionel Ranwala
* Marcelline Jayakody
* Mohammed Gauss
* Nanda Malini
* Patrick Denipitiya
* P. L. A. Somapala
* Premasiri Khemadasa
* R. Muttusamy
* Rohana Beddage
* Rohana Weerasinghe
* Rookantha Gunathilake
* Sarath Dassanayake
* Shelton Perera
* Shihan Mihiranga Bennet
* Somapala Rathnayake
* Stanley Peiris
* Sunil Santha
* Thilan Wijesinghe
* Victor Rathnayake
* W.B. Makuloluwa

Lyricists|

* Ajantha Ranasinghe
* Arisen Ahubudu
* Bandara Wijethunga
* Carlo Fonseka
* Cliff Foenander
* D. T. Fernando
* Dharmasiri Gamage
* Herbert M. Seneviratne
* Karunaratne Abeysekera
* Kumaratunga Munidasa
* Lucien Bulathsinhala
* Madawala S. Rathnayake
* Mahagama Sekara
* Marcelline Jayakody
* Nalin Jayawardena
* Premakeerthi de Alwis
* Saman Chandranath Weerasinghe
* Senaka Batagoda
* Sydney Chandrasekara
* Vicumpriya Perera
* Wasantha Dukgannarala
* W.B. Makuloluwa

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