Ajantha Ranasinghe

Ajantha Ranasinghe was born on 30 May 1940[4] in Thalammahara, a small village in Kurunegala district. After few years at the village school Pannala Government School, he moved to Colombo and studied at the St. John's College, Nugegoda.[5] He left the school after completing GCE Ordinary Level Exams.[6]

Ranasinghe was married to daughter of late singer Kokiladevi Weeratunga, Sarojini Weeratunge. She was also an B Grade Radio Ceylon singer.[7]

His uncle Asoka Pieris is also a well known dramatist. Since very young age, Ranasinghe started to write Buddhist songs to the Lama Mandapaya of Radio Ceylon under Karunaratne Abeysekera.[3] He participated Radio Magazine organized by filmmaker K.A.W. Perera. One of his highlighted work at that time was Thivanka Rekha poetry compilation of 1964.[8]

He wrote poetry and short stories for the children's page of Silumina and Peramuna newspapers. After becoming a teenager, Ranasinghe showcased his writing skills with composing verses for the Silumina, Vanitha Viththi and Lankadeepa publications.[7] This habit eventually become his first profession, when he was selected as a staff reporter in the Dinamina publication of Lake House. Through all media ranks from Sub Editor, Local News Editor, Additional Chief Sub Editor, Chief Sub Editor and Features Editor to the Chief Editor of Navayugaya Newspaper.[9] Dr. Ajantha Ranasinghe proved his talents in the media sector.[10]

After three decades of journalist career, he started to write lyrics for famous singers of his generation.[3] His verses became trademarks and highly popularized among the public.[7] He was adjudged with all the local award ceremonies for best lyrics such as Sarasaviya, OCIC Honorary, State Literary, Raigam, Sumathi and Kumaratunga Munidasa awards.[5] Later, he was conferred a Doctorate in appreciation of his Literary work.

• 25 years service as an editor at the Lake House.[10]
• Provincial News Editor and Local News Editor at Dinamina[10]
• Features Editor of Janatha
• Editor in Chief of Nawayugaya
• Consultant at Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)[3]
• President's Award for Best Song Writer of the Year on three occasions[5]
• Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism Awards for Excellence Programme by Editor's Guild of Sri Lanka – 2014
• A song festival Ajantha Geethavalokana was held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute at Independent Square, on 9 May 2002.[11]
• His lyrics creations released in 2002 in a new cassette and CD with the title Kalpana Vijithaya.[12]
• His second CD was released in 2013 with the title Ran Kenden.[13]

Ranasinghe died in Colombo National Hospital on 27 February 2016[14][15] while taking treatments after a minor accident faced in the house on 24 February 2016.[16] His remains were kept at No. 11/4, Ranasinghe Mawatha, Hiripitiya, Pannipitiya in son's residence.[7] The funeral was held on 29 February 2016 at the Borella Cemetery.[17]

• Landuni Mata Varam Natha (1975)
• Vinkal Bass (1978)
• Kristhuni Karunakara Manawa (1995)
• Sihina Kumara Saha Othamo (2009)[18]
• Thunpath Rata[19]
• Thiwanka Rekha[20]
• Janakanthayinge Manakantha Katha

Dr. Ranasinghe has contributed over 300 lyrics to Sinhala films since 1976 with film Wasana.[1]

Ajantha Ranasinghe has wrote more than 400 lyrics to singers across several generations.[21][22]

• Ajantha Ranasinghe on IMDb
• Funeral of Late Ajantha Ranasinghe
• Filmography as a lyricist
• President Wishes Songwriter Dr Ajantha Ranasinghe
• Popular Lyrics Ajantha Ranasinghe shows
• For Ajantha Ranasinghe
• අජන්තා ගැන තවත් නොකී කතා
• වසර 56කට පෙර කවියට නැඟුණු අජන්තාගේ අප‍‍්‍රකාශිත පේ‍‍්‍රමය