By Kalinga Weerakkody
Srikantha Dassanayake is no stranger to the local music scene though the younger generation may not know him. His name has already been written in golden letters due to his acoustic drum playing introduced by the late Clarence Wijewardana in the begining of 70’s in his group ‘Super Golden Chimes’.

Srikantha began his career as a full time acoustic drummer when Clarence formed the band ‘Super Golden Chimes’ in 1971.

He gladly accepted an invitation a fortnight ago to come to the Island office all the way from Kandy.

Srikantha was born in 1950 at Atabage in Gampola and resided at the ‘Udagama Walauwa’ with a family of seven. He is the third in the family. His father L. B. Dassanayake was a MP in the opposition led by former Prime Minister Dudley Senanayaka from 1960 to 65 and later a deputy minister of communications in the 65-70 UNP government.

Srikantha had his primary education at ‘Wickramabahu Maha Vidyalaya’ Gampola and for his higher studies he attended Ananda College (66-70) while his family resided at Paget’s Road in (now Kappetipola Mawatha) Thimbirigasyaya.

Later the family changed their residence to Beddagana road in Pitakotte after his father resigned due to ill health.

After completing his studies at Ananda he joined as a rhythm and base guitarist in the band called "pioneers" formed by his elder brother Raj Dassanayake in 1970.

While playing in his brother’s band he formed a band of his own in the same year (1970) called "Paceset" in which he played as a rhythm guitarist, his younger brother Abhaya Dassanayake played the keyboards.

He said that he first met Clarence in musical shows while playing in his brother’s band and later became a family friend calling his father ‘Appachchi’. He was like a brother!

Meanwhile, ‘Srikey’ (name used by Clarence to address Srikantha in the music field) was in search of a drummer for his newly formed band "paceset".

Nihar Hameed from Nugegoda who was the drummer for the band called "Esquire-set" joined Srikey’s band.

Nihar is currently the leader as well as the drummer of the world famous band "Friends" currently in Switzerland. They used to play at the "Akasakade" at Ceylinco House.

The manager of both these bands was Upali Edirisinghe.

Later Srikantha and Nihar joined the band "Esquire-set" led by "Shan Bahar" Srikantha went for an audition to the "Little Hut" at Mt. Lavinia Hotel and he was selected as a rhythm guitarist. While he returning home after the audition, he met with an accident at a spot between the "Odeon Cinema" and ‘Pudding House’ and suffered severe injuries and hospitalised for about a month.

Srikantha’s father wanted Clarence to get lyrics written about the greatness of God Kataragama to chant inside the Kovil while making a vow, for his son’s recovery.

Clarence had told "I know what you want Appachchi". Several days prior to the pilgrimage from the Baddagana house in Pitakotte. Clarence had asked Srikantha to get the box guitar, a pencil and paper and in a few minutes Clarence had shown the lyrics "Kanda suriduni obe theda oda deka hada" to the father. This is one of the best songs to be written about Kataragama. Srikantha’s father had shed tears of joy. He had said ‘yes that’s what I expected’.

His father organised the pilgrimage to Kataragama with their relatives who sang the song in the Devala vicinity after obtaining special permission. Clarence and Dixon Goonaratne played two box guitars while Srikantha played the Congo drum.

A friend of Gerald Wickremasooriya (the owner of the Childrens’ Book shop) who had heard Clarence at Kataragama suggested it be turned into a special song. When contacted Clarence had told that it was composed as a vow to Srikantha.

Wickramasooriya recorded the song using musical instruments at the Kataragama festival, such as ‘shenai’ and molung (traditional Indian instruments) with nagasalaum music.

After the break of "Golden Chimes" Clarence formed the "Super Golden Chimes" and Srikantha played as a drummer.

Currently Srikantha is a resident at Aluthnuwara in Kandy living with his elder sister Sepalika Kumari. She is working as a manager in a tourists business with his nephew Dhamsiri Bandara Karunaratne who is also a provincial council minister and also the owner of the ‘Aluthnuwara Devalaya’.