Victor Rathnayake

Victor Rathnayake
වික්ටර් රත්නායක
Born
Rathnayake Arachchilage Victor

(1942-02-18) 18 February 1942 (age 82)
Kadugannawa, Kandy, British Ceylon
EducationKadugannawa Maha Vidyalaya
Occupations
  • Singer
  • composer
Spouses
  • Chithra Rathnayake
  • Hashini Amendra
Children4
Parents
  • Rathnayake Arachchilage Don James (father)
  • Abeykoon Mayadunnelage Sumanawathi (mother)
RelativesSomapala Rathnayake (brother)
Jayantha Rathnayake (son)
Lelum Rathnayake (son)
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals, harmonium, violin
Years active1958–present
Labels
  • Nilwala
  • Ransilu
Websitewww.victorratnayake.lk

Rathnayake Arachchilage Victor (Sinhala:වික්ටර් රත්නායක; born 18 February 1942), popularly known as Victor Rathnayake, is a Sri Lankan singer, composer, lyricist and a renowned musician. He was the first Sri Lankan artist to hold a solo concert;[1] His concert known as "SA" was first performed in 1973, and was an instant success. Rathnayake credits his success to his "fitting blend of Western music with Ragadari classical music."[2] His songs deal with diverse themes that vary from love, to patriotism and Buddhism.[3]

Matara Achchi is the first film he composed music for and its Sandakada Pahana song sung by Sunil Edirisinghe is still very popular among Sinhala music fans. Rathnayake also has composed music for films like Siribo Aiya, Podi Malli, Sarungale, Hulavali and Athuru Mithuru.[2]

  1. ^ "Victor's New venture". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Victor Goes Cyber with a smile on his lips". Daily News. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  3. ^ "Lovers sigh when the sire sings". SundayTimes. 2005. Retrieved 2007-04-13.