Priya Suriyasena

Madawala Liyanage Don Sarathchandra Priyadarshi Suriyasena Liyanage (: 27 October 1944 – 24 December 2024), popularly known as Priya Suriyasena, was a Sri Lankan singer. Suriyasena first emerged as a singer with the guidance of his father, who was a poet, and then rose to fame overnight when his first four songs were broadcast at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) in the 1970s. From then on, he retained his fame over five decades and produced popular songs in Sri Lanka such as "Atha Ranviman", "Mata Wasana", "Adaraneeya Neranjana", "Ratakin Eha" and "Sudu Paravi Rena".

Personal life Priya Suriyasena was born on 27 October 1944 to an up-country middle-class family in Nattandiya, Puttalam District. His father Jamis Appuhami was a poet, from whom he got his musical talents. His mother was A. M. Podi Manike. He was the only son in a family of four. He had his primary education at Nattandiya Primary School and completed his GCE O/L and A/L at Madampe Central College in Puttalam District. Eldest daughter Minoshi is a doctor. The second daughter, Iroshi, is also active in the Sri Lankan music industry and is a senior manager at a private bank.

Career Suriyasena sat for external music exams conducted by the government musical college 'Heywood' from 1968 to 1971 and obtained a diploma in music.

Suriyasena recorded some of his original songs in SLBC in 1972 and also passed as an A-grade radio singer. At this stage he shortened his name from Priyadharshi to "Priya", inspired by Sri Lankan motor racing legend Priya Munasinghe. His first cassette tape was released under Vijaya Ramanayake's Tharanga label, which was also the second cassette produced in Sri Lanka.

He was also a playback singer in many films including Mal Kekulu in the early 1980s, the song "Bindu Bindu Kandulu Sala", a duet with Shayami Fonseka and music directed by Sarath Dassanayake and produced by Sena Samarasinghe.

Death Suriyasena died while undergoing treatment at the Colombo National Hospital, on 24 December 2024, at the age of 80. His remains were cremated in Kanatte Cemetery.