Victor Ratnayake

Rathnayake Arachchilage Victor (Sinhala:වික්ටර් රත්නායක; born 18 February 1942), popularly known as Victor Rathnayake, is a Sri Lankan singer, composer, lyricist and a renowned musician. He was the first Sri Lankan artist to hold a solo concert; His concert known as "SA" was first performed in 1973, and was an instant success. Rathnayake credits his success to his "fitting blend of Western music with Ragadari classical music." His songs deal with diverse themes that vary from love, to patriotism and Buddhism.

Matara Achchi is the first film he composed music for and its Sandakada Pahana song sung by Sunil Edirisinghe is still very popular among Sinhala music fans. Rathnayake also has composed music for films like Siribo Aiya, Podi Malli, Sarungale, Hulavali and Athuru Mithuru.

One of his brothers, Somapala Rathnayake was a renowned musician in Sri Lanka, who worked mostly in background music for many Sinhala films and television serials.

Rathnayake has one daughter and two sons from first marriage with Chithra Rathnayake. His daughter Chandani (d. 2016) was a dancer and a vocalist. His elder son Jayantha Rathnayake was a renowned musician and composer. Jayantha started his music career as the keyboard player in Sihashakthi musical band. Jayantha was married as had one daughter and one son. His younger son Lelum is also a musician and singer who worked in a musical band. On 6 April 2020, his elder son Jayantha Rathnayake died at the age of 52 while receiving treatments at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama.

Rathnayake is currently married to Hashini Amendra, 40 years younger than him. Rathnayake was 75 years old at the marriage. Hashini is a bank employee.

Early music career His first music teacher was D.A.D. Dharmadasa. Under the guidance of school music teacher K. M. Sugathapala, Rathnayake performed first in both the 1958 and 1959 solo singing competitions of the All Island Inter-School Musical Competition. organised by himself.

Albums Thani Tharuwe (1984)

Filmography As composer Year Film Other roles Ref. 1973 Matara Achchi Playback Singer 1975 Rajagedara Paraviyo Playback Singer 1976 Haaratha Hathara Playback Singer 1976 Hulavali 1977 Sri Madara Playback Singer 1978 Anupama Playback Singer 1979 Sarungale 1979 Podi Malli Playback Singer 1980 Siribo Ayya 1981 Thawalama Playback Singer 1981 Sayuru Thera Playback Singer 1981 Vajira Playback Singer 1986 Athuru Mithuru Playback Singer 1994 Ambu Samiyo 2003 Irasma 2018 Adarei Man Playback Singer