Lakshman Wijesekara

Ravindranath Lakshman de Alwis Wijesekera (ලක්ෂ්මන් විජේසේකර; 14 March 1948 – 12 November 2021), popularly as Lakshman Wijesekara, was a Sri Lankan singer, composer, actor, director of advertising and teacher by profession. One of the most respected artists in Sri Lanka, Lakshman has excelled in both music and acting in a career spanned more than five decades.^[3]

Personal life

Wijesekara was born on 14 March 1948 to Walter Wijesekera and Daisy Wijesekera. His father was once a student at Shanti Niketan and was a musician as well as a connoisseur. He was a regular public servant in the local government service and could not continue in his music career. According to his father’s job, Lakshman had to move from place to place in Sri Lanka from 5 years where he attended several schools. He took his primary education from Anuradhapura Central College and later at Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala.

He was married to fellow actress Chandra Kaluarachchi in 1975 and they had one daughter: Ama and one son: Vihanga. Kaluarachchi was born on 6 April 1943 and died on 1 November 2019 at the age of 76. His daughter Ama is also an award winning actress in Sinhala cinema best known for the roles in the films Loku Duwa, Duwata Mawaka Misa and Irasma. Ama is married to Wimal Katipearachchi, a veteran journalist, literary figure and poet.

He died on 12 November 2021 at the age of 73 while receiving treatment at the Kotelawala Defense University Hospital. His remains were laid at his residence: 140/31 S, Kalapura Templers Road, Mount Lavinia. His last rites were held on 14 November 2021 at the Mt. Lavinia public cemetery.