Priya Sooriyasena

M. L. D. S. Priyadarshi Suriyasena Liyanage (ප්‍රියා සූරියසේන: born 27 October 1949), popularly as Priya Suriyasena, is a Sri Lankan singer. Priya first emerged as a talented local singer with the guidance of his father, who was a poet, and then rose to fame overnight when his first four songs were broadcast at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) in 1970’s. Since then he has retained his fame over five decades and produced most popular songs in Sri Lanka such as Atha Ranviman, Mata Wasana, Adaraneeya Neranjana, Ratakin Eha and Sudu Paravi Rena.

Personal life

Priya Suriyasena was born on 27 October 1944 to an up-country middle-class family in Nattandiya, Puttalam district, Sri Lanka. His father Jamis Appuhami was a poet, from whom he got his musical talents. His mother was A. M. Podi Manike. He was the only son in a family of four. He had his primary education at Nattandiya Primary School and completed his GCE O/L and A/L at Madampe Central College in Puttalam district.

In 1978 he married Thamara Kumari Weerasinghe who was also a music teacher. The couple has one son and three daughters. His son Luckshitha studied at Ananda College and learned music from Lionel Ranwala. Luckshitha pursued his PhD at Stanford University, USA and a scientist by profession. He is also a talented singer and performs on live TV to continue his father’s legacy. Eldest daughter Minoshi is a Doctor. The second daughter, Iroshi, is also active in the Sri Lankan music industry and works as a Senior Manager at a private bank.