Priya Suriyasena
| Priya Suriyasena | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 October 1952 |
| Origin | Sri Lanka |
| Genres | Playback singing, Sri Lankan music Classical Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, music director , teacher, lecture,composer |
| Years active | 1972 – present |
Priya Suriyasena is a Sri Lankan popular vocalist and lecturer in music who embarked on his music career through the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) in 1972.
M.L.D. Priyadharsha Suriyasena Liyanage was born to the parents of an up-country middle-class family, in Nattandiya, Puttalam district, Sri Lanka. His father is late M. L. D Jemis Liyanage and mother is late A.M. Podi Manike. He was the only son in a family of three. He had his primary education at Nattandiya Primary School and completed his GCE O/L and A/L at Madampa Central College in Puttalam district.
His father was a poet from whom he got his musical talent. Suriyasena won several prizes as a student after participating in musical programmes, such as UNESCO talent competition in which he won the first prize.
After his A/L from 1968 to 1971 he sat for external exams conducted by the government musical college 'Heywood' and obtained a diploma in music. Afterward he embarked his career as a music teacher and recorded some of his original songs which were aired in SLBC in 1972. At this stage he shortened his name from Priyadharsha to "Priya", inspired by Sri Lankan Motor Racing legend Priya Munasinghe.
After the release of his first four songs Suriyasena became a heartthrob of youngsters in the 1970s. His first four songs ('Sarathasa niwa', 'Mata wasana', 'Heta davase' and 'Andura Andura mage') were recorded for the SLBC in 1972. 'Andura Andura mage' was written by Rohana Fernando and 'Heta davase', 'Sarathasa niwa' and 'Mata wasana' by the late veteran lyricist Premakeerthi de Alwis, and the music was by Suriyasena himself.
The release of "Sudu Parevi Rena" (hit song) brought Suriyasena up to one of the top singers in the 1970s bringing a controversy at the time where the Sri Lankan government prohibited broadcasting the song through radio channels for a period of time.
Suriyasena released one of the first music audio cassettes in Sri Lanka under the guidance of Wijewardene under the Tharanga label. His popularity was raised with the Sarasawiya Award for "Kendan Yannam," a song from Sena Samarasinghe's Aethin Aethata (Movie) in 1984.
In 1996 with the album “Sunflowers with Priya”, he brought a new musical generation to the country grossing revenue over Rs. 8 million for the album and becoming the most popular singer in the country. "Sudu Parevi Rena", "Ratakin Eha", "Jeewithe Mage", "Etha Ranviman, "Kendam Yannam", "Neranjana", "Mulu Muhudama", "Pathum Pireela", "Apasu Enawa", "Mata Wasana" and "Me Paalu Mawathe" became hits once again with the music of the famous music band "Sunflowers".
His hit song "Etha ranviman" became the most popular song in 2006, developing controversies between Suriyasena and Sirasa Super Stars.
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