Somasiri Medagedara

Somasiri Medagedara (Sinhala:සෝමසිරි මැදගෙදර: born 8 November ), is a Sri Lankan singer. Having emerged from the youth choir as a group singer, Medagedara has been able to show his talents and sang several popular songs such as Sandai Tharui, Asa Imu Api, Issara Bedi Pema, Obage Dothin Pidu and Mathu Muthu Wasse.

Personal life Medagedara was born on 8 November in Theripehe village, Walapane in Nuwara Eliya as the youngest child of a rural family. His father Medagedara Vidyaratne was a farmer. His mother Rankiri was a housewife who helped father for agriculture. Somasiri has five elder brothers. He completed education from Theripehe Siddhartha Vidyalaya. He learned music in the school under the teacher M.M.K Tissa. He is good at reciting Pel Kavi and Virindu songs in the village.

He was married to longtime partner Neela Seneviratne.

Illness In August 2019, the initial symptoms began to subside. At first he went for a doctor because it was difficult to defecate. There was also a tour of America during this time. Before that he went to the United States for medical treatment. After successfully conducting about 9 shows there, he returned to Sri Lanka and appeared for the medical examination. There he knew that a small lump in his stomach had turned into cancer. He stayed in the Apeksha hospital and underwent surgery. After few more days after surgery he went home and got sick again. The body temperature began to rise. Tests carried out there revealed that there was a disease in the liver which was because of the medication taken for the lumps in the intestines.

In 2020, he has been receiving residential treatment at the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital since 13 January. In August 2020, false rumors in the internet stated that he died due to cancer. Later, Medagedara himself made a comment on his false news.

Career In 1980, he joined with the youth choir which was first established by the National Youth Services Council on 1 September. Musicians Shirley Waijayantha and Nihal Gamhewa were the lyricists. He sang his first solo song Salsapu Pipila when he was in the Youth Services Council. The song was written and composed by Shirley Waijayantha. After leaving the band in 1984, he launched the first CD. The CD consists with several popular songs such as Ridawannepa Me Tharam, Sandai Tharui Nisansale and Obe Adare.

He first acted as a music director in the teledrama Irabatu Tharuwa produced by Sriyani Amarasena. Later he composed music for many television serials such as Holman Bottuwa, Depethi and Denethra. On 24 December 2019, he involved in the 'Yowun Gee Mathaka Mansala' live music concert in aid of the Bellwood Alumni Association held at 6.30 pm at the Maharagama Youth Theater.