Senanayake Mudianselage Ranasinghe Arachchilage Ajantha Sarath Kumara Ranasinghe (30 May 1940 – 27 February 2016), popularly known as Dr. Ajantha Ranasinghe, was a Sri Lankan journalist, lyricist, poet, and novelist.[1][2] Over the course of a 40 year career, he contributed to nearly 60 films and more than 400 songs.[3][4]
Personal life
Ajantha Ranasinghe was born on 30 May 1940[5] in Thalammahara, a small village in the Kurunegala district, as the second of five siblings. His father was a doctor and his mother was both a teacher and a postmaster. He had one elder sister, two younger sisters, and a younger brother. After obtaining his primary education at the Pannala Government School, he moved to Colombo and resumed his studies at St. John's College, Nugegoda.[6] He left after completing the GCE Ordinary Level Exams.[7]
Ranasinghe was married to Sarojini Weeratunge, the daughter of late singer Kokiladevi Weeratunga.[2] The couple had two children: Saranga and Devalochana.
Journalist career
Ranasinghe's uncle Asoka Pieris was a well known dramatist, and he came under his influence and through that got to showcase his talent over the airwaves.[2] At a very young age, Ranasinghe wrote Buddhist songs to the Lama Mandapaya, a program on Radio Ceylon hosted by Karunaratne Abeysekera.[3] He participated in another program, Radio Magazine, organised by the filmmaker K. A. W. Perera. His first published work, Thivanka Rekha, a poetry collection, came out in 1964.[8]
He wrote poetry and short stories for the children's pages of Silumina and Peramuna. His poetry was frequently published in Silumina, Vanitha Viththi, and Lankadeepa.[9] Eventually he was selected as a staff reporter at Dinamina.[2] He would graduate from and to the posts of Sub Editor, Local News Editor, Additional Chief Sub Editor, Chief Sub Editor, Features Editor, and Chief Editor of Navayugaya.[10]
Career as a lyricist
After three decades in journalism, Ranasinghe began writing lyrics for singers,[3] with his verses becoming popular among the public.[9] He earned several awards during his career, including the Sarasaviya, OCIC, State Literary, Raigam, Sumathi, and Kumaratunga Munidasa ceremonies.[6] In addition to being a lyricist, Ranasinghe was also a B Grade Radio Ceylon singer.[9][2]
Landmarks
Awarded a doctorate degree by the International Open University, New Delhi in 1995.[2]
Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism Awards for Excellence Programme, organised by the 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[12]
A collection of his songs released in 2002 in a new cassette and CD titled Kalpana Vijithaya[13]
A second CD collection released in 2013 titled Ran Kenden[14]
Death
Ranasinghe died at the Colombo National Hospital on 27 February 2016[15][16] after an accident three days prior.[17] His remains were kept at No. 11/4, Ranasinghe Mawatha, Hiripitiya, Pannipitiya at his son's residence.[9] The funeral was held on 29 February 2016 at the Borella Cemetery.[18]
