A special ceremony honoring Victor Rathnayake was organized under the title “Subhawita Githaye Situvarayano...Abhinandabhishekaya of Dr. Victor Rathnayake”.
The event was held today (24) under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo.
The program was organized to honour the invaluable service rendered by Dr. Victor Rathnayake over more than six decades to Sri Lanka’s music sector, the Office of the Prime Minister stated.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
“I am an admirer of Dr. Victor Rathnayake. Therefore this very moment is special to me. I never imagined that I would one day have the opportunity to pay tribute to you so closely. This is a deeply joyful, and historic moment for me.
For more than sixty years, you have rendered a service to Sri Lanka’s music sphere that cannot be expressed in words. The first concert I watched during my childhood was your solo concert ‘Sa’, which also holds the record as the most frequently staged solo musical concert in the country.
It was your songs that nurtured my love for the Sinhala language. Songs such as ‘Kurullanta Gee Gayanna Obe Kata Handa Denna’ and ‘Sangava Ganu Mena Sonduriya’ presented the aspect of love with subtlety and rare beauty. It is through these music that I have understood that music and the richness of language have the power to take us into a completely different world.
The concepts of harmony embedded within these songs are something we must speak about more. Through the musical composition and rendition of songs such as ‘Oba Yana Gamane Mavatha Ahura’ created for the film ‘Sarungale’, you naturally introduced us to the beauty of diverse cultures.
Truly, as a nation, we are extremely fortunate to have received a priceless treasure like you.”
The Prime Minister further noted that the special moments of people’s lives in this country are closely intertwined with the creations of Victor Rathnayake.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya also extended her best wishes for good health and long life to Dr. Victor Rathnayake, who celebrated his 84th birthday on February 18.
