Prince Udaya Priyantha was a Sri Lankan singer, composer and songwriter.
Personal life
Born in rural village of Siripura, Nawadagala in Galle, Prince started his music career as a keyboard player in early 1990s, with his inborn abilities. His father Eaton Fernando, was a former violinist in Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, and also a former principal and a music teacher. His mother Rosalyn Palliyaguruge was also principal, who died in 2014 in a Dubai Hospital. Prince has one sister, Shiromi Priyangika, who cared Prince until his death. He stated that, though he has not married, he had a relationship with fellow female singer Nirosha Virajini, which did not extend up to the marriage, however.
Singing career
Prince completed his education from Elpitiya Ananda Maha Vidyalaya and showcased his music abilities at the time of school. His first music teacher was Nihal Gamhewa, but the classes were interrupted due to 1987–89 JVP insurrections. In 1990, Prince attended to the Belwood Music Academy of National Youth Services Council and worked as violinist, under Gamhewa. He completed Bellwood Diploma from three years along with fellow musicians such as Chandana Liyanaarachchi, and Jayasiri Amarasekara. With the completion, he asked from his music teacher to write some songs for him. With that, Gamhewa wrote four songs to him, which included Pemwathun Sinase, Werala Konaka Hida, Adare Nam Ai, Sanda Kumariyak. These four songs highlighted due to the usage of musical instrument Octapadfor the first time in Sri Lankan music industry. He popularized as a singer in 1992 with the song Sanda Kumariyak Digeka Yanawa and made his mark in open stages and television music industry. Some of his most popular songs include Sigiriye Kurutu Geetha, Oba Hamuwu Dine, Sudu Mal Pokurak, Sadarenu Wahena and Samudenna Samuganna Nam.
Illness and death
In 2014, after his mother's death, Prince was hospitalized in Dubai due to a trauma. On 17 December 2015, Prince was first admitted to Karapitiya Teaching Hospital due intense fever and his brain was infected with germs. With his critical condition, many welfare organizations and fellow artists started to collect funds to cure him. After some treatments, Prince was released from the hospital, but had to take medicines continuously. When he is at home, many rumors indicate that he is healthier, but his sister denied all those and informed that Prince is not well and he has treatments to diabetes and malfunctioning left leg. However, in March 2017, Prince was hospitalized again to Nawaloka Hospital due to germ infection to his brain. He has to treated with injection course each for five consecutive days. Many rumours around the internet informed that he is dead, but refused by his sister many times. Due to these rumours, the funds for his treatments also reduced and this induced his family to sell their land properties and vehicles as well. Meanwhile, Minister of Parliament Reforms and Mass MediaGayantha Karunathilaka presented a cheque amounting to Rs. 100,000 for his medical treatments as well. On 8 June 2017, Prince died at the hospital at the age of 47. His body was kept for 4 days at his residence place and buried on 11 June 2017. However, the hospital bill did not finalized prior to his death. The total more than 25 lakhs was finalized after a donation musical show organized by the Sri Lanka Singer Association.
