Vijaya Ramanayake is a Sri Lankan film and music producer, songwriter, journalist and author.
15 Facts About Vijaya Ramanayake
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Vijaya Ramanayake was the founder and producer of Tharanga Music and Film.
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Vijaya Ramanayake was born 1 April 1945 in Matara, Sri Lanka to Don Deonis Ramanayake and Dona Coraneliya Wimala.
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Vijaya Ramanayake authored two books, one of which is a children's book.
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In 1978, Vijaya Ramanayake began Tharanga Records, and quickly dominated the music market.
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Vijaya Ramanayake produced music for several popular Sri Lankan musicians including W D Amaradeva, Clarence Wijewardena, Vijaya Kumarathunge, Milton Perera and Neela Wickramasinghe.
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Vijaya Ramanayake's first film in 1981 Aradhana is a tale of love, separation and reconciliation, directed by Wijaya Dharmasri and featuring Malani Fonseka, Ravindra Randeniya, Anoja Weerasinghe and Ramanayake's then 3-year-old son Tharanga.
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Vijaya Ramanayake continued the production of part two and three in the trilogy, Kaliyugaya 1982, and in Yuganthaya 1983.
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In 1987 Vijaya Ramanayake produced Maldeniye Simion, for which he won a Sarasaviya Award for 'Best Picture'.
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The film was one of Vijaya Ramanayake's favourites growing up, he took great pride in having it under his banner.
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Vijaya Ramanayake ran a public bus service, imported vehicles for sale and invested in a number of other projects throughout the country and in Singapore.
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In 1988 Vijaya Ramanayake moved to Canada with his wife Nelum and son, Tharanga.
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Vijaya Ramanayake returned to Sri Lanka in the late 1990s and successfully relaunched his Tharanga record store.
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Vijaya Ramanayake became terminally ill with cancer at the age of 71.
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Vijaya Ramanayake passed away 4 months after his diagnosis on 26 October 2016.