Venerable Rambukana Siddhartha Thero, an award-winning lyricist and author, passed away this afternoon.
It is reported that the venerable Thero, who was 76 years old at the time of his death, passed away while receiving treatment in hospital due to an illness.
Born on May 22, 1950 in the Rambukana area of Deniyaya, his lay name was Ananda Liyanage. He entered the monastic life on July 22, 1963 at the Gangathilaka Viharaya in Weliwa with the name “Rambukana Siddhartha” and received his ordination at the Malwatta Mahavihara Uposathagaraya in Kandy in 1972.
The Thero received his primary education from the Weliwa Buddhist Mixed School in Morawaka, completed his secondary education from the Galle Hettachala Pirivena and the Papiliyana Sunethradevi Pirivena, and later completed a special degree in Buddhist philosophy from the University of Kelaniya.
Songs composed by the Thero such as ‘La Dalu Bopath’, ‘Me Ira Handa Yata’, ‘Sanda Tharu Mal’, ‘Budhu Hamuduruwo Apithu Kakkathi’, ‘Senehasa Pudha’, ‘Budhu Bana Esuwa’, ‘Me Prema Katha’, ‘Avwata Veshwata Huru Maninyaney’, ‘Veherak Waga’, ‘Pansale Palliye’ and ‘Siyak Ayu Laba’ were immensely popular among the listeners of the country.
The Thero, who won the Sarasaviya Award for the song ‘Pera Samsare’ written for the film ‘Sandakadapahana’, also won the Derana Cinema Award for the song ‘Sada Parakak Se Ekamuthu Wu Da’ written for the film ‘Aloko Udapadhi’.
His songwriting, which began with the cassette ‘Sansare Api’ in 1987, includes cassettes and CDs such as ‘Gammane Api’, ‘Samanala Kanda’, ‘Sansare Gee Yathika’, ‘Budhu Ama Wessa’, ‘Sansara Charika’, as well as an award-winning collection of lyrics such as ‘Sasara Danawwa’.