Wannakuwatta Waduge Don Albert Perera, known by his assenting name Amaradeva was a vocalist, violinist and composer. Conceived in December 5, 1927, he is considered to be the maker of a special music style which was later polished by artists like Victor Ratnayake, Sunil Edirisinghe and Sanath Nandasiri.

A beneficiary of numerous awards, Amaradeva won the Ramon Magsaysay Award (2001), Indian Padma Sri Award (2002) and Sri Lankan “President’s Award of Kala Keerthi” (1986) and the Deshamanya Award (1998). He has represented Sri Lanka in numerous forums including the UNESCO Manila Symposium in 1967.

Amaradeva entered Sri Sumangala College, Panadura subsequent to finishing his essential instruction with a grant for English. At the school, he shaped a fellowship with the music instructor and central Danister Thomas Fernando, who was the senior sibling of Amaradeva’s first music educator W. J. Fernando. D. T. Fernando who was living in Kalutara helped Amaradeva get into Kalutara Vidyalaya and consequently to Siddharta Vidyalaya Balapitiya.

Pandith W. D. Amaradeva