HOW ALBERT PERERA CHANGED HIS NAME TO AMARADEVA

Having been born to a Carpenter’s family as Albert Perera was later named as AMARADEVA:
In our music field name of ‘Amaradeva’ is at its apex .Although the old generation is well aware of his humble beginnings, the present generation of music followers are unaware hoe his climbed up the ladder to stardom and to be at the pinnacle that he is presently in.
Amaradeva having remembering his past very well disclosed the manner he so famous by saying in his own words very humbly to the ‘Silumina’ newspaper in this manner.
“My Father was a carpenter by profession. Hence amongst other wooden items that were brought for repairs invariably there were 10-15 violins at home that were brought for repairs.I learnt to play them on the sly. I got a basic primary knowledge initially about the playing of violins. When I was about 7-8 years old I had already learnt to experiment with different sounds of the strings in the violins which varied from one another. From those days I was adamant to learn the finer points of the violin and my sole intention was to learn the concept of music and to it be my career.
Like most singers I too I learnt to sing from the choirs of Catholic and Methodist churches. My father was a Buddhist while my Mother was a Methodist. That is how I was called and invited to join the choir in the church. Do you believe that I was a prominent member of the Church choir?. I had sung and contributed immensely to Christmas carols
When I heard Ananda Samarakoon’s ‘Ase Madura Jeevanaye’ song, I thought to myself that i too could compose songs similar to that popular song. Even legendary Sunil Shantha had the same style of song similar that sung in church choirs.
In the year 1953 I was anxious to learn music. I did not have money to do to India to study music. It was journalist D.B.Dhanapala who took the initiative to commence a fund on my behalf to collect funds for me to go to India to pursue studies in music. For this exercise Professor Edirweera Sarathchandra too helped in this cause. In Sri Lanka some are classified as Peoples Singers and others as common singers. I was a common singer within this classification of singers. I was branded as a singer of the poor common people. I went to India with funds collected Cent by Cent, Rupee by Rupee. For organising this fund I am very grateful to all those who helped for my cause. The monthly fees for the music school was Rs 200/- per month. I was able to meet my expenses from the fund that was collected.
I initially went to ‘Damuth kodiya’ and then proceeded to Lucknow by train. This visit was my first trip overseas. I entered the ’Bathalanda’ music school. When I first went to the school i saw a small slim person. Thinking he was a minor employee I asked him where is the Principal?. He told to my surprise that he was the Principal. His name was Pandith ‘Krishna Narayana Ratna Jankar’ .Once earlier he had visited Sri Lanka. That was to grade our singers. I was graded as a very competent singer; along with Kokila Devi Weeratunga. We were the two who were classified as the best singers.
He handed me over to the music teacher Sri Vishnu Govinda George. He developed my violin skills and I became the best violin player in the school. My original name was Albert Perera which was changed to “Amaradeva’ by Professor Edireweera Sarathchandra. Otherwise today I would have been named as W.D.Megawarna.
I never accumulated money, which was not my intention also. If we had no money, myself and my wife used to sip some drink. But I did not stop composing songs. My innate abilities are yet to be brought out. I have only made a few compositions to date. There is much more I could do than what I had done in the future. Everyone should have a target for one’s self. If not nothing would be successful. According to Lord Buddha’s preaching what is important is to live an average and simple life is important.
Lord Buddha preached this to Sona thera.The Thera was a great violinist. If we tighten the strings will it will it derive a pleasant sound? If we loosen the strings will it emit a good sound?. It should be made moderate or in between these two. The correct sound would be then heard. It should not be too loud or too low. That is the way of life”
Newspaper article from ‘Silumina’ by Sunil Mihindukula.