Late Venerable Rambukana Siddhartha Thera to lie in state at Wellawatte Sri Sudharmarama Viharaya

The remains of the late veteran lyricist Venerable Rambukana Siddhartha Thera, who enriched the Sri Lankan art field with many meaningful songs including Buddhist devotional songs, are scheduled to be placed at the Wellawatte Sri Sudharmarama Viharaya, where he served as the chief incumbent, this afternoon.

Family relatives stated this.

He passed away yesterday at the age of 76 while receiving treatment at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital due to a prolonged illness.

He was born on 22 May 1950 in the village of Rambukana in Deniyaya.

Having received his education from the Morawaka, Weliwa Buddhist Mixed School as well as the Pepiliyana Sunethra Devi Maha Pirivena, he left a unique mark on Sri Lankan music, generating rare devotional thoughts in human minds through his distinct style.

The songs Pihitak Nathi - Saranak Nathi and Saddharma Makaranda sung by Gunadasa Kapuge, as well as Budu Hamuduruwo Apith Dakinnathi and Kasivalata Gannath Baha sung by Victor Rathnayake, were penned by his stylus.

Among the songs he composed were Himi Sanaramara, Pipena Malakata, Senehasa Puda, and Budu Bana Asuwa sung by Visharada Malini Bulathsinghala, along with La Dalu Bopath and Veherak Wage sung by vocalist Karunarathna Divulgane.

Not limiting his songwriting to a single aspect, Siddhartha Thera also gifted songs such as Pansale - Palliye, Bana Kiyana Ratak, Me Prema Katha Nawatha Mohothak, Me Ira Handa Yata, Siyak Aayu Laba, Awwata Wassata Huru Minisunne, Anuradhapure Anurawa Nagu, and Sanda Tharu Mal Mata Dan Dun.

Family relatives added that the cremation ceremony regarding the remains of Venerable Rambukana Siddhartha Thera will be announced later.