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 Born
on the December 19th , 1949 Patikirige Sunil Jayapreethi Edirisinghe was
the youngest among seven siblings, talented artists. Considering to the likes
of Visharada Amaradeva, Sunil Shantha, Ananda Samarakoone and Rukmani
Devi, the pioneering place among the sinhala singers of the modern age
, and and to the likes of Visharada Nanda Malini,
Victor Rathnayaka and Sanath Nandasiri, as the representatives of he
second generation. Sunil Edirisinghe would most
certainly ranks among the leading humanities of music representing the
third generation.
On completion of his secondary education, Sunil joined the Government
Printing Corporation in 1969. The same year, he embarked on his
musical career as a play back singer in the film "Matara Achchi"
directed by his illustrious brother Satischandra Edirisinghe. The
Music Director for his first song "Sandakada Pahana" was Victor
Ratnayaka, while the lyrics were composed by Wally
Nanayakkara.
Sunil
gained instant popularity as a play-back singer and soon was in high demand, and
has played that role in more than 25 films. [In 1975 having graduated
with First Class Honours, from "Bhatkande" the famous Academy of
Music in India he joined the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
where he soon excelled as a semi classical singer .] In 1977 for the first time, four of Sunil's
songs were recorded in a CD for which he had Rohana Weerasinghe the musical director was
. His fans got had the opportunity to enjoy his first complete
cassette in the latter half of 1980.
Having over 600 songs to his credit, Sunil Edirisinghe has won a
number of " Sarasavi Awards" and was also honoured with a Presidential
Award in 1983. He has won the " Swarna Sankha Award"
on two occasions.
In 1985 Sunil launched his own musical show "Sandakada Pahana" with a
highly acclaimed and successful tour of six European countries. It has
been one of the most popular shows in Sri Lanka, with over 150 shows
being held at various locations.
The service rendered by Sunil Edirisinghe to the development of Sinhala
music was recognized at the State Music Festival held in 1999.
Sunil has always shown a preference for songs with meaningful lyrics,
which touch our hearts and go deep down to our
soul.
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