R. A. Chandrasena

Early Life

Ranasinghe Arachchige Chandrasena Perera was born on 27 August 1924 in Kandy, Sri Lanka, into a Sinhala Buddhist family with deep roots in the cultural heartland of the island. Growing up in Kandy — the city of the last Sinhala kingdom and home to the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic — Chandrasena was immersed from birth in a world where music, religion, and tradition were inseparable.

His gift for music became evident early. By the age of 12, in the late 1930s, he was already performing at Radio Ceylon, one of the most prestigious platforms for musicians in the region. This early recognition set him on a path of rigorous musical education and lifelong dedication to the art.

Musical Career

Chandrasena received his formal training at three distinguished institutions: Sri Rahula College in Kandy, Prince College in Kotahena, and Sri Dharmaloka College in Kelaniya. At Sri Dharmaloka, he came under the mentorship of Ananda Samarakoon — the celebrated composer of Sri Lanka's national anthem, Sri Lanka Matha — an influence that would shape his artistic sensibilities profoundly.

What distinguished Chandrasena was his extraordinary versatility. He achieved mastery of both Western instruments — harmonium, piano accordion, piano, and organ — and Oriental instruments including tabla, mandolin, and violin. This rare dual competence allowed him to bridge musical worlds and create works of unique texture and depth.

In 1948, he released what would become his breakthrough composition: "Dasabaladhari Budu Raju Pera Kala". The devotional song resonated deeply with Sri Lankan audiences and established him as a leading voice in Sinhala music.

The Chandrasena Sangeethaayathanaya

In December 1951, Chandrasena founded the Chandrasena Sangeethaayathanaya (Chandrasena Institute of Music), which would become one of the most consequential music schools in Sri Lanka's history. His vision was not merely to teach technique, but to nurture complete musicians who understood both the classical tradition and the expressive possibilities of contemporary forms.

The institute produced an extraordinary roster of talent. Among its most celebrated students:

RAC Records

In 1969, Chandrasena took an entrepreneurial leap and launched his own gramophone record labels: RAC and Shrimath. The labels released 45 RPM EP records — all compositions directed by Chandrasena himself. This initiative gave him artistic independence and ensured his music reached audiences beyond the concert hall and radio studio.

Family

On 26 July 1946, Chandrasena married Sriyani Perera, herself a singer, making music a bond at the heart of their family. They had three children: Thilangani, Lalith, and Darshani. Their daughter Darshani followed in her father's footsteps, going on to study music at the University of Kelaniya.

Legacy

R. A. Chandrasena passed away on 1 March 1980 after a brief heart illness. He was 55 years old. His passing left a void in Sri Lankan music, but his legacy was already woven into the fabric of the nation's cultural identity through the hundreds of students he had taught, the recordings he had made, and the institute he had built.

Following his death, his wife Sriyani continued to run the Chandrasena Sangeethaayathanaya, ensuring that his pedagogical vision endured. The institute remains a living monument to his belief that music is not just an art — it is a discipline, a philosophy, and a gift to be passed from generation to generation.

Today, the names of his students — Khemadasa, Victor Ratnayake, Walpola — are household names in Sri Lanka. Every time their music plays, Chandrasena's influence reverberates. His songs of devotion, patriotism, and beauty continue to move listeners, and this archive exists to ensure his name and story are never forgotten.