Veteran singer Priyankara Perera passes away

Veteran Sri Lankan singer and actor Priyankara Perera has passed away at the age of 64.

Hospital sources said he died last night (September 1) while receiving treatment at the National Hospital in Colombo after being ill for some time.

Priyankara Perera was a son of popular singer J.A. Milton Perera and became highly popular in Sri Lanka’s music industry, particularly during the cassette era and throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

He performed several songs inherited from his father in his own melodious voice and also won the hearts of listeners with many other popular songs.

Among his popular songs are “Ran Pokunen Diya Nagena Enne,” “Sihina Dev Duwe,” “Pissu Vikare,” “Agadha Sagaraye,” “Samana Wee Ipadi Divi Thalawe” and “Pera Athmayaka Eka Rathriyaka.”

In addition to his singing career, Perera contributed to Sri Lanka’s entertainment industry as an actor, appearing in a number of films and television dramas.

His remains will be placed at a private funeral parlour in Colombo today (September 2).

His wife, veteran actress Dilhani Ekanayake, said details of the final rites will be announced later.