• Source: Ajantha Ranasinghe

Senanayake Mudianselage Ranasinghe Arachchilage Ajantha Sarath Kumara Ranasinghe (30 May 1940 – 27 February 2016), popularly known as Dr. Ajantha Ranasinghe, was a Sri Lankan journalist, lyricist, poet, and novelist. Over the course of a 40 year career, he contributed to nearly 60 films and more than 400 songs.




Personal life


Ajantha Ranasinghe was born on 30 May 1940 in Thalammahara, a small village in the Kurunegala district, as the second of five siblings. His father was a doctor and his mother was both a teacher and a postmaster. He had one elder sister, two younger sisters, and a younger brother. After obtaining his primary education at the Pannala Government School, he moved to Colombo and resumed his studies at St. John's College, Nugegoda. He left after completing the GCE Ordinary Level Exams.
Ranasinghe was married to Sarojini Weeratunge, the daughter of late singer Kokiladevi Weeratunga. The couple had two children: Saranga and Devalochana.




Journalist career


Ranasinghe's uncle Asoka Pieris was a well known dramatist, and he came under his influence and through that got to showcase his talent over the airwaves. At a very young age, Ranasinghe wrote Buddhist songs to the Lama Mandapaya, a program on Radio Ceylon hosted by Karunaratne Abeysekera. He participated in another program, Radio Magazine, organised by the filmmaker K. A. W. Perera. His first published work, Thivanka Rekha, a poetry collection, came out in 1964.
He wrote poetry and short stories for the children's pages of Silumina and Peramuna. His poetry was frequently published in Silumina, Vanitha Viththi, and Lankadeepa. Eventually he was selected as a staff reporter at Dinamina. He would graduate from and to the posts of Sub Editor, Local News Editor, Additional Chief Sub Editor, Chief Sub Editor, Features Editor, and Chief Editor of Navayugaya.




Career as a lyricist


After three decades in journalism, Ranasinghe began writing lyrics for singers, with his verses becoming popular among the public. He earned several awards during his career, including the Sarasaviya, OCIC, State Literary, Raigam, Sumathi, and Kumaratunga Munidasa ceremonies. In addition to being a lyricist, Ranasinghe was also a B Grade Radio Ceylon singer.




Landmarks


Awarded a doctorate degree by the International Open University, New Delhi in 1995.
25 years as an Editor at Lake House
Provincial News Editor and Local News Editor at Dinamina
Features Editor of Janatha
Editor in Chief of Nawayugaya
Consultant at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)
President's Award for Best Song Writer of the Year on three occasions
Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism Awards for Excellence Programme, organised by the Editor's Guild of Sri Lanka – 2014
A song festival Ajantha Geethavalokana was held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute at Independent Square on 9 May 2002
A collection of his songs released in 2002 in a new cassette and CD titled Kalpana Vijithaya
A second CD collection released in 2013 titled Ran Kenden




Death


Ranasinghe died at the Colombo National Hospital on 27 February 2016 after an accident three days prior. His remains were kept at No. 11/4, Ranasinghe Mawatha, Hiripitiya, Pannipitiya at his son's residence. The funeral was held on 29 February 2016 at the Borella Cemetery.




Author work


Landuni Mata Varam Natha (1975)
Vinkal Bass (1978)
Kristhuni Karunakara Manawa (1995)
Sihina Kumara Saha Othamo (2009)
Thunpath Rata
Thiwanka Rekha
Janakanthayinge Manakantha Katha




Filmography


Dr. Ranasinghe contributed over 300 lyrics to Sinhala films since 1976 with his debut, Wasana.




Notable lyrics


Ajantha Ranasinghe wrote more than 400 lyrics for singers across several generations.




References






External links


Ajantha Ranasinghe at IMDb
Funeral of Late Ajantha Ranasinghe
President Wishes Songwriter Dr Ajantha Ranasinghe
Popular Lyrics Ajantha Ranasinghe shows
For Ajantha Ranasinghe
අජන්තා ගැන තවත් නොකී කතා
වසර 56කට පෙර කවියට නැඟුණු අජන්තාගේ අප‍‍්‍රකාශිත පේ‍‍්‍රමය

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Ajantha Ranasinghe
• Susil Ranasinghe
• Ranasinghe (name)
• Saptha Kanya (film)
• Sihina Nelum Mal
• Sanjeewa Ranasinghe
• Edward Jayakody
• Senaka Batagoda
• Gunadasa Kapuge
• Annesley Malewana