Nadeeka Guruge

Nadeeka Guruge (; born 27 September 1976) is a Sri Lankan composer, musician, and music educator. He is best known for his work in film and theatre music. Guruge has received multiple awards for his contributions to music direction and background music. He served as the inaugural dean of the School of Music at the Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC). He is also known for his onstage concert performances and public engagement in music education and research.

Early life and education Guruge was born in Anuradhapura and raised in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. He began learning guitar at the age of 14 and was initially taught by his brother. He was influenced by composer Premasiri Khemadasa, whose work shaped his approach to Western classical and Sri Lankan folk music. Sunil Santha and Clarence Wijewardena were major influences on his musical outlook, while Johann Sebastian Bach shaped his approach to film scoring and instrumental composition. Exposure to diverse musical traditions through travel and research influenced his interest in indigenous musical forms, which would become a central focus of his career.

Career Guruge began his professional career in 1999 with Sanyugma, a folk music collaboration with Bolivian musician Marcello Titto Li, blending traditional and contemporary styles.

Film scoring and acting Guruge's first credited film composition was for his score in Sulanga Enu Pinisa (2005, also known as The Forsaken Land), which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. For this film, he used a Native American quena flute, showcasing his innovative approach. His musical approach often incorporates traditional instruments and experimental techniques.

In addition to composing, Guruge played the lead role in the film Karma (2012), which was screened at several international film festivals.

Academic and educational contributions Guruge founded the Megha Foundation in 1998, a Nuwara Eliya-based music research institute collaborating with Bolivian and Austrian partners. The foundation hosts monthly dialogues, performances, and educational programs for young artists.

From 2020 to 2024, Guruge served as the inaugural dean of Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC)'s School of Music. He led the development of a Bachelor of Music (Honours) program that included both local and international music traditions.

Since 2024, Guruge has focused on informal education and research into 20th-century Sri Lankan music identity, Balangoda people’s musical behavior, and Vedda music, with findings to be published in future books. Mystique Maya a fiction novel submitted for the Gratiaen Prize. The series continued with performances on 10 April 2015 at Dharmaraja College Auditorium in Kandy and 11 April 2015 in Nuwara Eliya, featuring Kasun Kalhara and Indrachapa Liyanage. These concerts, inspired by Latin American and European formats, integrated the audience with the stage through lighting and storytelling, emphasizing Guruge’s lifelong connection to the guitar. In 2025, Guruge plans to hold a film music concert to celebrate 20 years in cinema, featuring award-winning compositions and possibly popular film songs.

In 2021, he appeared as a guest on Ma Nowana Mama, a TV Derana musical program hosted by Kelum Srimal, where he performed and discussed the meaning behind his favorite songs.

In 2022, Guruge joined Kalhara, Liyanage, and Jayawardana for Legends: Unfolding Youth Legacy, a concert showcasing Sri Lankan musical talent, highlighting their collective influence on Sinhala music (සිංහල සංගීතය).

Artistic style and influence Guruge's compositional work blends Sri Lankan folk music with Western classical traditions, often using traditional instruments in innovative ways.

Political activities Guruge has expressed political views through his artistic work and public advocacy. His 2007 song Luhu Bandinna Maa is a political folk composition addressing themes of resistance and collective memory, inspired by his time in Geneva.

Guruge has participated in various political events supporting the National People's Power (NPP) and its affiliate, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). In 2018, he joined a media conference themed "A Village Free of Pollution" in Pitakotte, expressing support for progressive policies. That same year, he participated in "Artists for Political Ethics and Democracy," opposing what was characterized as unconstitutional political appointments.

In a 2019 interview, Guruge acknowledged receiving both criticism and appreciation from fans regarding his political stance, noting that his approach to music often addresses social concerns.

Personal life Guruge is married to Manori Mallikarachchi, a senior diplomat since 2003, serving as Acting Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in London since 2023. In October 2024, Mallikarachchi, serving as Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in London, led a two-member delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa. Her participation drew public attention, with some social media posts questioning her qualifications, though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed her 20-year diplomatic career and prior appointment to the role in 2023. The couple has two daughters: Tharani, studying for Advanced Level exams in Physics and playing drums and guitar, and Oditya, in Grade 8, playing piano and singing in a school opera in London.

+ Year Award Category Work 2010 Sarasaviya Awards Best Music Direction Aba 2012 Derana Film Awards Contribution to Arts — 2019 Presidential Awards Best Music Director Ginnen Upan Seethala 2023 Sumathi Awards Best Music Director Sansararanya Asabada

Selected works Filmography Pura Handa Kaluwara (2001, composer) Sansun Nosansun (2003, composer) Sulanga Enu Pinisa (2005, composer) Ira Handa Yata (2010, composer) Cindrella (2011, composer) Gamani (2011, music department) Karma (2012, composer and actor) Patibhana (2016, composer) Sakkarang (2016, composer) Swaroopa (2017, composer) Pani Makuluwo (2017, composer) Ginnen Upan Seethala (2019, composer) Praana (2022, composer) Dada Ima (2023, composer) My Red Comrade (2024, music department)

Theatre productions Mal Nelanna Ba (1997)

Books H. R. Jothipala: Jothi Enakang (2022) Untitled fiction novel (submitted for Gratiaen Prize, unpublished) Poly-phony Stories (autobiographical, unpublished) A Well Balanced Music Diet (unpublished) Facing Reality (unpublished)