{{short description|Sri Lankan singer (born 1946)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Amarasiri Peiris <br> අමරසිරි පීරිස් | other_names = | image_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Senadheerage Amarasiri Peiris | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|07|21|df=y}} | birth_place = Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | alma_mater = Heywood Institute of Art | education = Boralesgamuwa Ananda Vidyalaya <br> Buwanekaba Vidyalaya | father = Albert Peiris | mother = M.K. Asilin | spouse = Nanda Koralage (m. 1972) | children = 5 | occupation = Violinist, solo (music)-singer | website = | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | instrument = Vocals, Violin<!--If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first--> | genre = <!--These music genres are all sourced under the section #Musical themes and genres-->{{hlist|Pop|soul|{{nowrap|rhythm and blues}}|Indian classical music}} | years_active = 1964–present | label = {{hlist|Nilwala|Torana|Ransilu}} | associated_acts = }} }} '''Senadheerage Amarasiri Peiris''' (Sinhala:අමරසිරි පීරිස්: born 21 July 1946) is a Sri Lankan singer. One of the most honored singers of Sri Lanka, Peiris is a well known violinist and a vocalist.<ref>{{cite web |title=The role of an artiste is a hallowed one |url=http://www.nation.lk/2010/03/07/eyefea2.htm |access-date=20 December 2015 |archive-date=27 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127102000/http://www.nation.lk/2010/03/07/eyefea2.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Personal life== He was born on 21 July 1946 in Boralesgamuwa as the eldest of the family. His father Albert Peiris was a classical artiste at Radio Ceylon popular in 1940s. Albert was the first disciple of the Master musician H.W. Rupasinghe. His mother M.K. Asilin was born in Meddewatta, Matara was a housewife. He has three younger sisters – Irene, Shriyalatha and Somalatha. As a child, he dreamed of becoming a train driver due to the influence of his uncle Piyasoma Nanayakkara.<ref name= peries>{{cite web |url=https://blog.siyathatv.lk/දුම්රිය-රියැදුරු-සිහිනය/ |title=The story of Amarasiri Peiris, a singer who gave up his dream of becoming a train driver |publisher=Siyatha TV |accessdate=2 August 2020 |archive-date=23 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723225130/http://blog.siyathatv.lk/%E0%B6%AF%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BA-%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BA%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%AF%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%94-%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%92%E0%B7%84%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%B1%E0%B6%BA/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He completed primary education from Boralesgamuwa Ananda Vidyalaya and later attended to Buwanekaba Vidyalaya, Maharagama and studied music in Advanced Level class. Later in 1962, he attended to Heywood Institute of Art.<ref name= Amara>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2014/05/11/fea08.asp |title=An artiste like no other|publisher=Sunday Observer |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref>

He is married to Nanda Koralage, a student who came to the Heywood to play Ezraj. The couple has one son, Madhawa and four daughters – Janaki, Anuradha, Nadeera and Subashini.<ref name= Amara /><ref name= Amarasiri>{{cite web |url=https://www.nation.lk/2010/03/07/eyefea2.htm |title=The role of an artiste is a hallowed one|publisher=The Nation|accessdate=2 August 2020}}</ref> Madhava is a singer as well as a talented guitarist. He lives in Italy. Daughter Janaki is an Aesthetic Instructor at Devi Balika Vidyalaya. Anuradha is a dancer. She lives in Australia. Nadeera is the Milagiriya Branch Manager of Bank of Ceylon.<ref name= peries />

==Career== Since child age, he used to accompany with father to Radio Ceylon to watch recordings, violin solos and other musicals. After graduated from Heywood, he joined SLBC as an A-grade violinist. Later he became a music conductor, a music controller at SLBC. He became the Director, Music at SLBC and retired after that. He studied violin under Douglas Ferdinands.<ref name= Amara /><ref name= Amarasiri /> In 1967 he joined the orchestra of Radio Ceylon.<ref name= peries />

At SLBC, he sang his first song, ''Budu Sihila Galalaa'', a Bhakthi Gee composed by Sena Weerasekera. Since his life at Heywood, Peries had a close relationship with maestro Premasiri Khemadasa.<ref name= peries /> Khemadasa invited him to join with Sangeetha Manjariya at Maradana, where Peries participated as a violinist for a cassette recording, ''Pahan Tharuwa''. Later, Khemadasa invited him to sing ''Landune'' composed by the late Ranbanda Seneviratne. The song got enormous popularity which made the milestone of Peries' singing career.<ref name= Amara /><ref name= Amarasiri />

Then, he got the opportunity to work as a playback singer for many films including ''Siri Medura'', where he won his first Sarasavi Award for the song ''Minisa Marana Thunak Ethi''.<ref name= peries /> Peries became a permanent member of Khemadasa’s orchestras and met several prominent musicians Dr. Eardley Fonseka, Harvey Deutrom and Mrs. Prince. During this period, he met popular American artiste Roscoe Williams.<ref name= Amara /> He also made playback singing for the films ''Guru Gedera'', ''Awaragira'', ''Kawuluwa'' and ''Samanala Sandhawaniya'' and won several awards.<ref name= Amarasiri />

Peries sang many popular songs such as ''Hanthanata Payana Sanda'', ''Oba Apple Malak Wage'', ''Mage Punchi Rosa Male'', ''Ape Ahinsaka Adare '' and ''Sanduda Awadiyen''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Amarasiri Peiris' Hanthanata Payana Sanda |url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2014/06/01/new51.asp |access-date=20 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222105637/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2014/06/01/new51.asp |archive-date=22 December 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2011, he launched a CD titled ''Ganga Gala Yaa Den''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2011/08/31/art06.asp |title=Let your heartstrings dance|work=Daily News |accessdate=2 August 2020}}</ref>

On 18 May 2014, he performed a solo concert ''Hanthnata Payana Sanda'' held at Musaeus College Auditorium, Colombo 7.<ref name= Amara /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2014/05/04/new60.asp |title=Maestro returns with: 'Hanthanata Payana Sanda'|publisher=Sunday Observer |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref> On 11 February 2017, he performed a concert ''Unmada Sanda'' at Swarnapali Balika Vidyalaya, Anuradhapura.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lankadeepa.lk/latest_news/අමරසිරි-පීරිස්-දුටු-‘උන්මාද-සඳ’/1-503620 |title='Unmada Sanda' seen by Amarasiri Peiris|publisher=Lankadeepa |accessdate=2 August 2020}}</ref>

In 2024, Peiris sang a new song 'Ape podi hamuduruwo,' written by Bandara Eheliyagoda and composed by Rohana Weerasinghe, following the passing of Most Venerable Galboda Gnanissara Thero, chief incumbent monk of Gangaramaya Temple.<ref>{{cite web | title=අපේ පොඩි හාමුදුරුවෝ &#124; Ape Podi Hamuruwo &#124; Amarasiri Peris Ft.Rohana Weerasinghe | website=YouTube | date=8 August 2024 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQNJvgKKMNY }}</ref>

==See also== *W.D. Amaradeva *Victor Rathnayake

==External links== *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGKFbyew21E Songs by Amarasiri Peiris] *[http://www.siyalla.com/sinhala-lyrics/artist-Amarasiri-Peiris/page1/ Amarasiri Peiris Lyrics] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033421/http://www.siyalla.com/mp3-songs/artist-Amarasiri-Peiris/page1/ Amarasiri Peiris Songs]

==References== {{Reflist}} {{Sinhala Music |state=collapsed}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Peiris, Amarasiri}} Category:Living people Category:20th-century Sri Lankan male singers Category:Sinhalese singers Category:1946 births Category:21st-century Sri Lankan male singers