Deepika Priyadarshani


Deepika Priyadarshani is a Sri Lakan Singer. She has one Presdential award for best singer. She has also performed in Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Concert Hall in Australia and Camden Center in London

Early Life

Deepika Priyadarshani was born in Kalubowila, in Western Province, Sri Lanka. She was the third child to her parents Mr. Sumanadasa Peiris and Mrs. Karuna Peiris. From grade 1 to 13 Deepika did her studies at Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda. Her elder brother is Mr. Ajith Peiris and the elder sister was Ajantha Peiris who passed away when she was 3 years old. Deepika has another sister who is the youngest in her family, Mrs. Shalika Peiris. In 2018, Deepika married to Mr. Chamika Herath, a banker by his profession.

Career

Vishardh Deepika Priyadarshani started her career in 1987 singing “Aaju Thapara Lahila” which is still a popular song in many Sri Lankan households. She became an overnight star after her debut song. The most important fact is Deepika has able to maintain that popularity since then to date. It was consistent. The best example is that she was awarded with the most popular female singer awarded by Sirasa FM in 2009.
Having performed in radio and television programmes as a child artist Deepika launched her maiden album as an audio cassette in 1990. "Sina Podak Wee" was embraced by music lovers across the length and breadth of the island. By then she had already secured an appointment as a music teacher in a public school since 1989 and she had made a reputation for herself as a vocalist of rare breed.
Among the art circles and artistic music lovers of Sri Lanka, Deepika has been categorized as one of the most creative character among the popular singers. Especially her vision regarding the ethnic harmony was admired and discussed for a long period. Deepika was among 20 laureates of the Philippine Gusi Peace Prize 2012 for performing arts with her song 'Saroja' . The music lovers in Sri Lanka consider her songs as meaningful creations. That’s why she was able to maintain her popularity among different groups and generations equally. During her most distinguished career she had been able to sing with the world renowned Sri Lankan musician Pandith Amaradeva and most popular young artist Bathiya and Santhush. That indicates her ability to work with generations and different ranges as a creator.
Sri Lankans have identified Deepika as an idol and Country’s one of the most awarded singers, has bagged all the awards to her name including presidential award for the best singer. Apart from that she was lucky to be awarded with the prestigious Binka Award presented by Japan for the distinguished artist. Being a music teacher Deepika has produced hundreds of upcoming stars during her career in leading schools including Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo Sri Lanka. The students were able to win the national level awards with her guidance and also she is a Board Member of National Youth Service Council Sri Lanka and a Board Member of “Sadaham Sevana” International Buddhist Research Center and consultant of the Ministry of Buddhasasana and Religious affairs.
Deepika has travelled and performed in more than 20 countries all over the world. Among those tours she was lucky to perform in world renowned Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Concert Hall in Australia and Camden Center in London. These are very rare opportunities for a Sri Lankan artist, Deepika has earned those with her talent and the golden voice.
Vishardh Deepika Priyadarshani launched her 5th album, “Sudu Hansinee” in 2010 which is composed of 16 original songs and lyrics that were written by the island’s most creative lyric writers including Professor Sunil Ariyarathna, Sunil R. Gamage, Kularathna Ariyawansa, Kumaradasa Saputhanthry and Bandula Nanayakkarawasam. Music was done by the legendary composer Rohana Weerasinghe. Her supportive male singers are most popular Bathiya and Santhush and upcoming star Amal Perera.
She obtained Bachelor of Music Education Vocal Visharadh, Bhatkhande Music Institute Deemed University, Lucknow, India in 1990 and Master of the Arts University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka in 2007 and Bachelor of Education in 2002.
Vishardh Deepika Priyadarshani is a legend of this era.

Service to Sinhalese Music

Legendary musician Dunstan de Silva was Deepika’s mentor. Going by the music philosophy of her mentor, Deepika is working towards installing and maintaining Sri Lankan own identity to Sinhalese music. She kept moving in the music field taking the batten from her mentor. She herself is now a mentor to a group of budding musicians. She has her own music school Saundarya Shalikawa in Kalubowila, in Western Province, Sri Lanka where hundreds of musicians were trained and presented to the Sri Lankan society during last two decades. Deepika is credited to singing the last song her mentor composed "Sithum Pathum".