Multi-talented Navy Commander makes his dream a reality

By Ranil WIJAYAPALA

His passion for poetry and lyrics had always been there in his mind but he had to propel these poetic thoughts into the deep recesses of his mind. He was shy to even expose them to the family because he felt that they were too professional to give him any attention.

However, now he has found a day for these precious poetic thoughts to blossom like a lotus bud rising from the depths of the mud to the surface of the rippling waters of a lake.

Vice Admiral Somathilaka Dissanayake, a man better known as a sailor who rose to the highest command of the Sri Lanka Navy, has decided to put his poetic thoughts into print and audio form.

Multi-talented Vice Admiral Dissanayake will make his dream a reality on September 13 at Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa theatre releasing his book titled 'Sindupathi Kavu Gee' (Poems and Lyrics by a Navy Commander) and two CDs 'Ira Handa Pamanai' (Only Sun and Moon) and 'Harshanata Liyu Gee' (Lyrics written to Harshana) in front of a distinguished gathering.

He talks with passion about his family's inborn love for artistic expression and music while enjoying the fragrance of village life that enabled his poetic thoughts to blossom.

"It was that environment and surroundings which echoes in my mind and made me a poet and a lyricist. But they were liberating for long time until the lyrics were written on a piece of paper when I was upset or I had time to relax", Vice Admiral Dissanayake said.

Just like any other poet or lyricist he was shy to come into the open with his talent until he was encouraged by his older brother, veteran film director, poet and lyricist Somarathna Dissanayake after one of his poems appeared in the 'Silumina' newspaper.

Preserved

Being a secret admirer of his older brother, 'Loku Ayya', Somarathna Dissanayake, collected whatever he wrote to the newspapers or to any other publication and preserved them until they were needed for publication by his brother.

But today as the youngest in a family of eight, he regrets that he did not have anyone to collect and preseve his writings like he did for his older brother as a rsult many of his writings and lyrics have been lost as.

"I managed to trace some,, Vice Admiral Dissanayake said. These were what he had without realising the gravity of his ability, done in his youth. "I managed to trace some of them but many are lost" , he laments.

The deep roots he has with his village, his family and his profession is clearly depicted in the lyrics as many of the poems centers around them.

His love for his childhood has been expressed in his lyrics and the song 'Thoppi Gona' which explains the way he went to school in a bullock cart, amply displays how he enjoyed his simple life in the village during his childhood. Even after becoming Navy Chief did not forget his village life and fondly recollects memories of his childhood adventures like a child who is obsessed with characters in a fairy tale told to them by grand parents.

Family gatherings has always been a forum for his family members to come out with their talents but he repents that he never exposed the poet with inside him at those fora.

The village school where he had his primary education and Narammala Mayurapada Central College where he obtained his secondary education has never been distanced from his life. Even today he complains about the lack of a proper music master at Mayurapada Central College.

"If a good music master was there in my school, my life would have been a different one today", Vice Admiral Dissanayake says. Though he had studied science subjects he never gave up his love for music and the arts.

His career in the Sri Lanka Navy helped him to fine tune his ability as a lyricist as he was selected by his superiors and also by his colleagues when they needed the help of a lyricist.

The Sri Lanka Navy Pre School song and the Sri Lanka Navy Seva Vanitha Unit song were among some of the lyrics composed by him as a result of requests made to him.

Tradition

Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara who was bold enough to break away from tradition followed in the Sri Lanka Navy, singing Sinhala songs at parties and composing poems is one of the hero's he had followed in the Navy and still admires the encouragement given to him sending notes of admiration for his work.

The experiences he gathered from the Navy and the experience of friends and colleagues in the Navy honed his talent as the experiences transformed either into a poem or a lyric.

His nephew, Harshana, was the final outlet for his lyrics as it was Harshana who had given 'voice' to many of his lyrics. The song ' Aththamma Nivan Gihin' was the first lyric he wrote to his nephew Harshana Dissanayaka, his 'punchi ayya's son.

Harshana's first song was composed by Somathilaka Dissanayaka. It became popular and opened the doors for Harshana to sing popular song in the film 'Sooriya Arana' directed by Somarathna Dissanayaka and to win the best playback singer award at the Presidential Cinema Awards at the age of 12.

Compose

This encouraged Somathilaka Dissanayaka to compose more lyrics for Harshana who studied music up to Visharada level. His lyrics composed for Harshana will be released in a CD on September 13, when he launches his book 'Sindupathi Kavu Gee'.

He has never been ambitious, but things have came easily for him. "I did not think of becoming the Commander of the Navy until my name was suggested as Commander by Admiral Karannagoda. Never in my life did I ever had dream of becoming the Navy Commander", he says. "Today I am happy that the war on terrorism is over and we are having time for things like this. Even President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Defence Secretary encouraged me to release this book as they promote things with artistic value among Forces personnel", he said.

This poet in uniform who was in limbo will release his book containing more than 60 lyrics and 50 poems.

The dream night on September 13 at Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre for Performing Arts, where he plans to release his book, he thinks will be a different experience for many as it would be filled with the singing from veteran vocalists and performances by the students of Narammala, Mayurapada Central College. The occasion will be graced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa as chief guest.

"I will be happy to see my well-wishers on that night but regret that I am not in a position to accommodate all my fans as the event is only for invitees", he said.