Remembering Dharmadasa Walpola

Yester-year singing hero Dharmadasa Walpola’s 37th death anniversary falls on December 25.

Despite his absence in the singing scene for such a long period, he is yet a favourite  among tens of thousands of Sri Lankan music fans.

Honda Hondama Weya Lowa, Mang Mulawela, Lankaren Malak Pipee, Sirini Sarusara Weela, Pem Mala Gotha Gele, Me Soumya Rathreeya, Maga Bala Balaa, Surathalee and Mangala Dinaye are just a handful of the hundreds of popular numbers sung by Walpola.

The Kandy-born singer is regarded as the first Sri Lankan born Sinhala playback singer to make the biggest impact in the first decade of the local movie industry. 

The Kandy-born singer is regarded as the first Sri Lankan born Sinhala playback singer to make the biggest impact

It was on a Christmas day, that the country lost the modest singer who possessed a lovable voice that could melt hearts of filmgoers. His melodious voice indeed played a crucial role behind the success stories of several box office hits.

His first film song came in Prema Tharangaya (Honda Hondama Weya Lowa Kisima Thenaka Nehe) in 1953 with Lata, who became his life partner five years later.

text: Ramesh Uvais