"Sapumal suwandak se" ... "Selalihiniyo numba danne nehe" -- Professor Amara Ranatunga passes away

"Sapumal suwandak se" ... "Selalihiniyo numba danne nehe" -- Professor Amara Ranatunga passes away

Distinguished musician Professor Mrs. Amara Ranatunga passed away night. She was in her 76th year when she breathed her last of a heart attack at the intensive care unit at Colombo National Hospital. She was the wife of Dr, Dayaratna Ranatunga and was the mother of three children.

Duets sung by Amara - Dayaratna became very popular as well as some songs sung by her alone. "Sapumal suwandak se", "Selalihiniyo numba danne nehe", ""Eka kirulak", "Maha re yaame", and

"Radha Krishna" are among those. The singing duo Dayaratna - Amara entered the field of music across 'Lama pitiya' programme o the radio. At that time she was Amara Kasthuriaarachchi who took hands with Dayaratna Ranatunga and had completed 52 years of their wedded life.

Dayaratna - Amara couple has two sons named Pulastha Indika and Nandika Sarada and a daughter by the name of Kumadmathi Deepashika and also a daughter-in-law called Sadhana Ranatunga ... all of whom are bent on music. All are Visharads in music. The two sons-in-law are Oshad Chamith and Sahiska Arunda who are involved in singing.

It was in 1995 that Mrs. Amara Ranatunga became a permanent lecturer of Kelani University. She was subsequently engaged for sometime as a lecturer of classical music at California University in America and also took steps to educate the white-skinned people about folk-music and rituals. Subsequently she returned to the island and assumed the position of Head of the faculty of Kelani University in 1995 and assumed the position of Professor. She mentioned  that she exploded all attitudes which had developed in the field of universities that there was no possibility of a woman achieving a post of professor. Among those who achieved permanent appointments in the university were Amaradeva and Shantha Geethadeva. It was as a result of her dedication that a unit for singing was started at Kelani University. Final rites of the Late professor is expected to be performed next Thursday.