Edward Jayakody married singer Charitha Priyadarshani in 1991, and has a son Chandeepa Sharanath and a daughter Sharanya .
"I'm Charitha Priyadarshini Peiris," she laughs. "And I was born on October 19 in 1967;" she has no intention of hiding her age. "I'm getting grey. But I'm not worried. It's a sign of maturity," she says. But I (the writer) personally feels she still leads. "No...no... both Edward and I lead a very normal, simple and down-to-earth life," she smiles.
Charitha still lives at her birth place at Mirihana, Nugegoda adjoining the Mirihana Police Grounds, which is the ancestral home of her mother Pushpa Wijeratne. "My mother died in 2001 after a brief illness. It's a great void," she sighs. Charitha's father, Ariyadasa Peiris was also one time a famous radio artiste who had introduced many young, up and coming singers to the nation. And Edward Jayakody was also one such young singer who stepped into the field through these programmes.
Charitha is the youngest of the family. Her sister, Malika was never interested in stepping into the field of arts. Nor did their father Ariyadasa like the idea when Charitha showed interest in becoming an announcer.
But even when she was at school at Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda, not a single school ceremony passed without it been compered by Charitha. "Hmm... school days were fabulous. Our class was one of the best classes in the grade comprising nine senior prefects and students with aesthetic talent.
Even Deepika Priyadarshani Peiris who has been among the top singers in Sri Lanka was also in our class. Ours was a very united class. Even if we saw somebody in a bad mood, we would crack a joke to make her smile. I studied Kandyan dancing under Mrs. Daya Nellampitiya and Christine Dissanayake at school. But I took part in musical programmes through out. I was in the Eastern band and played almost all the instruments. I did guiding and netball..hmm.. that's all," she says.
"The biggest mistake I did in my life was deciding to do Bio science for my A/Ls. My father wanted me to become a doctor and never liked me stepping into the field of art. But since 1984, I have been getting involved with programmes the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.
It was my father's younger brother, Jayantha Peiris who gave me a helping hand to enter SLBC. And my mother was also with me through out encouraging me. So after A/Ls I joined SLBC full time. 'Sonduru Sevena' in 1985, was my first programme.
I lent a voice cut for. It was a live programme. I became a Relief Announcer in 1994, a News Reader in 1995 and then a Drama Artiste after a few years. I studied music under Edward and then under late Victor B. Perera and passed the SLBC test as a 'Grade A' singer as well," she reminisces.
Charitha has been conducting the lottery programme 'Shanida Vaasanava' for the Development Lotteries Board and has been at ITN for the past 21 years. "When I started it I was just 19 years old. Apart from that I presented 'Kala Rasanga', a weekly news in the arts field with Francis Wanniarachchi on ITN. At present I present 'Mathakaye Randunu Gee' on Saturday from 3.00 to 4.00 pm, and 'Eda Api Dutu Chithrapatayakin' on Sunday at 4.30 pm.," she says.
"Dalmalamu Api Eka Iti Pahanak" composed by Pushpa Ramlani and the melody by Charitha was sung by more than 100 popular female singers in Sri Lanka - both young and old on the International Women's Day in 1998. And since then this song is the theme song of the International Women's Day up to day.
Source : http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/02/17/spe07.asp
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