Lionel Algama

Algama Koralalage Lionel Kumaradasa Perera (24 March 1935 – 18 May 2008 ), popularly known as Lionel Algama was a Sri Lankan singer, composer and a musician. Considered one of the most respected musicians in Sinhala song, Algama is most notable for the invention of a musical instrument known as ‘Sri Veena’.

Personal life Algama was born on 24 March 1935 in Brandiamulla, Gampaha, Sri Lanka. His father Jinadasa Perera, was a rich landowner in Kurunegala who ran a trading business.

Lionel's grandfather worked as the manager of the Kahatagaha mine owned by Sir John Kotelawala. From then on they chose Banduragoda, Kurunegala for their residence. Near the time of his grandfather's death, they returned to their home in Gampaha. During this time, Lionel's father and uncle started a drama company called Theater Club and set out to stage two plays, "Honda Kala" and "Vana Pushpaya".

He was married in 1963 to Sheila Olga Patricia Perera, a resident of Gampaha. The two were nieces and nephews. Sheela learned dance from the Chithrasena Academy and sang children's songs. The couple had one son: Sajeevananda, and two daughters: Yasasi Madhara and Anuradha. Sheila and her eldest daughter Yasasi starred in the popular commercial of Rexona Soap. Sheila died of a heart attack on 13 January 2019. The funeral was held on 21 May 2008.

Career His first music teacher was T. N. Silva. Seeing his son's innate talent for music, his father sent Lionel to the Visva-Bharati University of Music, India in 1955. During his life in India, he studied sitar under the maestro Ravi Shankar and Rabindranath Tagore. He was fluent in English, Vanga and Hindi languages. He learned Hindi from Ven. Daramitipola Rathanasara Thero. Later he won the award for the Best Music Director in 1964 at the United Ceylon Fans Association Awards in 1965. The climax of him film music came through the blockbuster film Parasatu Mal. Released in 1966, the three songs are like precious pearls in the history of Sinhala film music: "Sandakath Pini Diya", "Ada Pamanai Ithiiri" (by Amaradeva), "Parawunu Malwala" (by Sujatha Aththanayaka). Along with Dayananda Gunawardena, he staged popular play Nari Bena on 4 November 1960 at Thurston College Hall. It was able to take Sri Lankan drama music in a new direction where Algama tried to experiment with unique musical compositions with the lyrics of Raigama Raban.

Apart from cinema, Lionel also composed several school anthems for Bandaranayake College, Gampaha, Ratnawali Girls' College and Thurstan College. In 1975, he was appointed as a Cultural Development Officer in the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. He also became the chief Examiner of Music, in both theory and practical at the Faculty of Aesthetic Education, University of Kelaniya and later served as a supervisor in music, Ministry of Education in the Republic of Maldives from 1983 to 1984. Then he designed the North Indian Classical music syllabus for the Institute of Asian Culture, University of Windsor, Canada.