H. M. Jayawardena

Herath Mudiyanselage Jayawardena (17 March 1950 – 18 April 2019: ), popularly known as H. M. Jayawardena, was a Sri Lankan flutist, musician and composer.

Personal life

Jayawardena was born on 17 March 1950 in the village Siyambalanduwa, Monaragala, Sri Lanka as the eldest of the family. His father H. M. Wijayasundara was a farmer and his mother D.M. Ranmenika was a housewife. He received his primary education at Siyambalanduwa School. After passing the grade 5 scholarship examination, he entered Passara Maha Vidyalaya for secondary education.

He was married to fellow musician and songstress Malani Bulathsinhala and the wedding was celebrated on 30 December 1978, and was the father of popular musician Kasun Kalhara. His only daughter, Nirmani Chaya died in 1991 at the age of three due to dengue fever. Malani was in the United States to perform a concert when she was found dead in the bathroom at the residence of the Sri Lanka consul Tissa Wijeratne on 29 March 2001 at the age of 51. It is believed that her death was caused by anaphylaxis brought on by an allergic reaction to hair dye.

Jayawardena died on 18 April 2019 at the age of 69, while receiving treatments for prolonged kidney failure at Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila. His body was laid at the Jayaratna Respect Reneral Home in Borella and the last rites were performed at the Kanatte Cemetery on Wednesday at 3 pm.

Career Jayawardena's ambition to be a musician started at an early age where he learned music under P.A. Subasinghe, who became his mentor. After failing his senior exam in Passara, Jayawardena returned to his village and had to live a very difficult life. He farmed chenas and worked for hire. Then he began to play flute which proved to be the turning point in his musical career. In the mid 1960s, Jayawardena applied for a vacancy for a flutist in the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), but failed the test because he could not read the chord charts. The music of the film received critical acclaim and later won the 1982 Sarasaviya Award for the Best Music Director for the song Sinawakin Puthuige Muwe. In 1985, Jayawardena won the Presidential Award, but refused it, stating that the award should go the fellow musician Premasiri Khemadasa.

As a composer, Jayawardena rendered his knowledge to make several popular hits across many genres and for artists including, Sanda Tharu Nihadai by W.D. Amaradeva, Raththaran Neth Dekin, Me Punchi Rate by Jayaratne, Obayi Ramya Sanda Kirana by Nanda Malini, Eya Yanna Giya Makila, Eka Yayaka Mal by Sanath Nandasiri, Miniseku Pita Nagi, Sayurak Nodu Gangulak, Nube Sithata Punsada by Sunil Edirisinghe, Mala Giraviye by Karunarathna Divulgane, Pancha Kalyaniye by Krishantha Erandaka, Eya Yanna Giya by Amarasiri Peiris, Balikaviyan Thaksala Doren, Kirula Muthu Lihin by Janaka Wickramasinghe and Eka Yaye Kaka Wati by Sunil Edirisinghe and Edward Jayakody, Bana Kiyana Ratak by Jayakody.

Jayawardena also composed some popular songs for his wife Malani, beginning with the solo hit Raja Maduraka Ipadee Sitiyana and continuing with the hits Sanda Ahasa Wage, Himi Sanaramara, Premaye Vil There, Ahasin Tharuwak, Punpoda Sanda, Ma Ekkala Amanapa and Obata Ma Adaraya Kala Bawa. Jayawardena would later be involved in the films Kala Mal, Muhudu Lihini and Mangala Thagga as the composer. On 2 February 2018, another felicitation ceremony HM Harasara was held at Maharagama Youth Council.

Filmography

Year Film Roles Ref. 1981 Aradhana Composer 1982 Kala Mal Composer 1983 Muhudu Lihini Composer 1983 Sumithuro Flutist 1984 Mala Giraw Flutist 1987 Mangala Thegga Composer 1998 Vimukthi Composer 2003 Vishma Rathriya Composer 2006 Dharma Puthra Composer