The Chandrasena story.
One family. More than seventy years of teaching Sri Lankans to make music — beginning with a young man from Kandy who would come to be called a father of contemporary Sinhala music.
From a carol cart to a national legacy
The milestones of a short but extraordinary life in music.
- 1924
Born in Kandy
Ranasinghe Arachchige Chandrasena Perera is born, the third of eleven children.
- 1948
His most popular melody
“Dasabaladhari Budu Raju”, for the drama Sanda Kinduri — still loved today.
- 1951–1980
Chandrasena Music Institute
Led by R. A. Chandrasena and Sriyani Chandrasena.
- 1953
Sri Lanka’s Naushad
He arranges the music for Mohamed Rafi’s celebrated visit to the island.
- 1969
The RAC record label
He launches a gramophone company, pressing his own compositions to EP records.
- 1981
Renamed in his memory
R. A. Chandrasena Memorial Music Institute — Director: R. A. Darshani Chandrasena.
- 1983–2020
Under Darshani's direction
Director: R. A. Darshani Chandrasena · Assistant Director: W. D. Ariyasinghe.
- Today
Carried forward
His daughter Darshani continues the school he began, in Mount Lavinia.
He taught the musicians who taught Sri Lanka.
R. A. Chandrasena mentored artists at the start of their journeys — names that would go on to define the island’s music.
Dharmadasa Walpola
A beloved film and radio voice, among the first artists Chandrasena guided.
Premasiri Khemadasa
Sri Lanka’s towering composer was coached by Chandrasena in 1953, early in his path.
Victor Ratnayake
A defining voice of Sinhala music, mentored in his formative years from 1962.
- H. R. Jothipala Playback Singer
- Somapala Ratnayake Cellist · Music Director
- Tissasiri Perera Composer
- Ernest Soysa Music Director
- Nihal Nelson Baila Singer
- Punsiri Soysa Singer
- Dhanapala Udawatta Baila Singer
The teaching never stopped. It only passed to the next pair of hands.
The best way to know a school is to hear it.
Visit us, meet the teacher, and let your child try an instrument. New batches are enrolling now — we would love to welcome your family.
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