Deepa Milton Sarath Dassanayake, popularly known as Sarath Dassanayake, was a Sri Lankan composer, film producer and a renowned musician.
17 Facts About Sarath Dassanayake
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One of the pioneer music composers in Sinhala cinema, Dassanayake has contributed to more than around 150 films and 600 film songs as a composer.
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Sarath Dassanayake was born on 13 August 1942 in Katukurunda, Moratuwa as the second of the family.
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Sarath Dassanayake's mother Malalage Podi Nona Peiris was a teacher.
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Sarath Dassanayake was educated at Anuruddha Vidyalaya, Nawalapitiya where his mother worked as a teacher and then attended to Nawandama Vidyalaya, Ja-Ela, Shiksadana Vidyalaya, Laksapathi and Hunumulla Central College.
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Sarath Dassanayake first met Neela during music classes at Government Music College known as Heywood College.
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Sarath Dassanayake worked as a music director and Music Inspector in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Jaffna districts in 1966.
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Sarath Dassanayake died on 18 November 1999 at the age of 57 following a brief illness.
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Sarath Dassanayake joined with music classes conducted by music teachers Hewage Premadasa and Weerasena Gunatilleke.
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Sarath Dassanayake led the orchestra of the music college as well.
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Sarath Dassanayake was a regular sitar player in the films music directed by Premasiri Khemadasa.
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Under the guidance of Wahalle Piyathilaka, Sarath Dassanayake entered to music direction with the 1972 film Sithijaya.
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Sarath Dassanayake was a pioneer in the creation of a new kind of fusion of Sinhala folk and Ragadhari music.
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Sarath Dassanayake produced the melody for the song "Samanala Mudune Siripada Simba Simba" penned by President Ranasinghe Premadasa and sung by Jothipala.
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Sarath Dassanayake won Sarasaviya Awards in 1983 for the Best music direction for the films Athin Athata and then in 1984 for Sasara Chetana.
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Sarath Dassanayake contributed to many of the popular songs of the seventies in radio such as "Punchi Dawaswala Nindata Yaddi" sung by Sujatha Aththanayake.
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Sarath Dassanayake produced popular films Madhu Sihina, Mihidum Sihina and Aathma.