Victor Rathnayake a priceless treasure to our nation- PM Harini

A special event to honor Victor Rathnayake took place today (24) in Colombo, titled “Subhawita Githaye Situvarayano...Abhinandabhishekaya of Dr. Victor Rathnayake.” Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya hosted the ceremony to recognize the significant contributions Dr. Rathnayake has made to Sri Lanka’s music industry over the past sixty years, according to the Office of the Prime Minister. During her speech, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya expressed her admiration for Dr. Rathnayake, saying, “This moment is very special to me. I never thought I would get the chance to honor you like this. It brings me great joy and is a historic moment. For over sixty years, you have served Sri Lanka’s music scene in ways that are hard to put into words. The first concert I attended as a child was your solo show ‘Sa,’ which is also the most frequently performed solo concert in our country. Your songs inspired my love for the Sinhala language. Tunes like ‘Kurullanta Gee Gayanna Obe Kata Handa Denna’ and ‘Sangava Ganu Mena Sonduriya’ beautifully express love and have a unique charm. Through your music, I learned that songs and language can transport us to different worlds. We should talk more about the harmony found in these songs. Your work, including the song ‘Oba Yana Gamane Mavatha Ahura’ from the film ‘Sarungale,’ has introduced us to the beauty of various cultures. As a nation, we are truly lucky to have a priceless treasure like you.” The Prime Minister added that many special moments in the lives of people in Sri Lanka are connected to Victor Rathnayake’s creations. She also wished Dr. Rathnayake good health and a long life as he recently celebrated his 84th birthday on February 18.