Chitrananda Abeysekera (1930–1992) was a veteran broadcaster, poet, writer and an administrator. He joined Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, then Radio Ceylon as a radio announcer and retired as the Director of Sinhala Services in 1989. He was also the President of Aganuwara Tharuna Kavi Samajaya (Athakasa) for more than a decade and initiated a lot of programs that benefited poets and the public alike. He restarted Kavi Suwanda, the poetry newspaper for poets. Chitrananda dedicated his whole life to Sinhala poetry and literature, not forgetting Radio Journalism.

Early life

Agampodi Harindranath Chitrananda Mendis Abeysekera was born on 7 March 1930 in Kosgoda. He was the only child of Mr. Agampodi Louis Mendis Abeysekera and Mrs. Degiri Roslin Henry de Zoysa. He started his primary education at Kosgoda Sinhala School in Galle district but when he was nine, Chitrananda entered Nalanda College Colombo. He was a prominent member of the College Debating Team and also of the College Culture Club. He published his first book of poetry (Sarasavi Gitaya) as a student at Nalanda with the help of mentor and teacher U. A. S. Perera. Young Chitrananda was a corporal of Nalanda College Colombo Senior Cadet Corps. Chitrananda began work as an English assistant teacher in a village school in the rural town of Menikkadavara in the Dedigama electorate in 1949. He left this post soon after to lend his hand to the Registrar General's department, Official Languages Commission and the Official Languages Bureau.

As a radio journalist

On 6 August 1956 he found his long journey at Radio Ceylon as a guest producer of poetry, drama and features. He would subsequently advance to the top position of Director of Sinhala Services which he would hold till his retirement till 1989. In his position, Abeysekera would attempt to advance new talent through programs like 'Nava Mihira'. During this period, he served as the head of the Rural Services and Publication divisions. Chitrananda headed the "Govi Jaya Handa" program project during Hon. Dudley Senanayake era and was very popular among rural Ceylon. He was a very talented and well-known broadcaster and administrator. He was also very popular as a Live Radio commentator. He got the opportunity to train on different mass media fields at ABC – Australia, BBC, AIBD – Malaysia, Pakistan and in 1980 he represented Sri Lanka at Non-aligned Broadcasters Conference in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He participated in several Poetry and Cultural events in Yugoslavia and China.

Photo gallery

As a poet, writer, lyricist

Chitrananda became the President of Young Poets' Association of Colombo (ATHAKASA) in 1979 and held this position till his death. In addition to his initial school publication, Sarasavi Gitaya, Abeysekera published several other poetry collections and story books: Poetry and Story Books Publisher: M.D. Gunasena & Co. Colombo, Sri Lanka Publisher: M.D. Gunasena & Co. Colombo, Sri Lanka Publisher:Samayawardana Printers, Maligakanda Rd, Maradana, Sri Lanka Publisher: M.D. Gunasena & Co. Colombo, Sri Lanka Publisher: M.D. Gunasena & Co. Colombo, Sri Lanka Publisher: M.D. Gunasena & Co. Colombo, Sri Lanka Publisher:Lassana Printers, Wellampitiya, Sri Lanka Publisher:Samayawardana Printers, Maligakanda Rd, Maradana, Sri Lanka Publisher:Samayawardana Printers, Maligakanda Rd, Maradana, Sri Lanka Publisher:Captain Printers, Maradana 1st, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka Publisher:Dulmini Printers, "Kamkarupura" Flats, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Publisher:Dulmini Printers, "Kamkarupura" Flats, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Publisher:Dulmini Printers, "Kamkarupura" Flats, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Publisher:Dulmini Printers, "Kamkarupura" Flats, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Popular radio songs Movie Songs by Robin Thampoe in 1959 Produced by P.L. Buddhadasa & Meena Thampoe Music by V. Krishnamurthi (Indian national) Song – Karunawe Yukath Dharma: Singer – Latha Walpola Song – Aakase Aawase: Singer – Latha and Dharmadasa Walpola Song – Aay Wade Mey: Singer – Christy Leonard Perera and K. Rani Song – Rani Karalini: Singer – Latha Walpola Song – Pem Hada Moray: Singer – Latha Walpola Song – Pun Chandra Paaya: Singer – Indrani Wijebandara and Sidney Attygalle Song – Sinasewi Wando: Singer – Latha Walpola Produced by S. M. Nayagam Music by R. Muththusami Song – Ho Surathal: Singer – Rukmani Devi Song – Me Aawaa Mung Awaa: Singer – Rukmani Devi Produced by Premalal Edirisinghe (E.A.P. Edirisinghe) Music by R. Muththusami Song – Agata Kadun: Singer – Latha Walpola Song – Suwandathi Pipunu Kusum: Singer – Latha Walpola Song – Dutu Da Wagema Lasanayi: Singer – Dharmadasa and Latha Walpola Song – Meda Poti Athata Mitata: Singer – Mohideen Baig, Srimathi Rasodari and chorus by Robin Thampoe in 1961 Produced by Robin Thampoe Music by R. Muththusami Song – Pem Ganine: Singer – Angeline de Lanerolle (Gunatillake) and H. R. Jothipala Song – Doy Doya Puthe: Singer – Latha Walpola Song – Loku Podi Katath: Singer – Chandra de Silva and L. M. Perera Song – Amme Badagini Wenawa: Singer – Angeline de Lanerolle, Indrani Wijebandara and chorus Song – Maha Polowe Upan: Singer – Mohideen Baig Song – Sapawath Pawuluk Paramarithe: Singer – Mohideen Baig Song – Thani We Mey Loke: Singer – Latha Walpola Song – Lipe Mule: Singer – Sidney Attygalle and Angeline de Lanerolle Song – Nihaday Gamanaya: Singer – H. R. Jothipala, Angeline de Lanerolle and chorus Song – Suhada Madura Preme: Singer – H. R. Jothipala and Angeline de Lanerolle by Devendra Goyel in 1961 Dubbing Direction by Thewis Guruge Music by P.L.A. Somapala Original Hindi Movie:Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan Song – Assaya Gone Tik Tik Tik I: Singer – Latha Walpola & Geetha Song – Assaya Gone Tik Tik Tik II: Singer – Latha Walpola & Geetha Song – Nivi Nivi Dilihe Tharuwe I: Singer – Indrani Wijayabandara Song – Nivi Nivi Dilihe Tharuwe II: Singer – Latha Walpola by Robin Thampoe Song – Kothanaka Sitiyath Oba Melowe: Singer – H.R. Jothipala Song – Lassana Rattharan Babo: Singer – Rukmani Devi Song – Kiyanna Ran Kanda: Singer – Rukmani Devi Song – Monawa Hithagena: Singer – Rukmani Devi Song – Oba Dekumen Ma Sith: Singer – H.R. Jothipala by Robin Thampoe in 1965 Music – Somadasa Elvitigala Song – Savibala Yakada Wagei: Singer – W.D. Amaradewa Song – Prema Sebawii: Singer – Latha & Dharmadasa Walpola Song – Heenmenike Mage: Singer – W.D. Amaradewa by Asoka Pieris Music – Mohamed Sali & P.L.A. Somapala Singers – Sujatha Perera, Latha & Dharmadasa Walpola, Manel Upasena Asoka Pieris has also written few songs for this movie by Robin Thampoe in 1963 Song – Denna Eka Sirurey: Singer – H.R. Jothipala Song – Maa Langa Hinehee: Singer – H.R. Jothipala Song – Wanasanna Jeewe: Singer – H.R. Jothipala by Thissa Nagodawithana by Bindu Gunasekera in 1966 Music – M.K. Rocksami Song – Narapathiya Wetha Yanne: Singer – H.R. Jothipala Song – Pape Galee Lowa: Singer – A.J. Kareem Premnath Morayas in 1959 Produced by Premnath Morayas Music by P.L.A. Somapala Original Hindi Movie: C.I.D. Song – Wediya Honda Narakaine: Singer – Mohideen Baig Song – Man Awa Hirabath Kala: Singer – H.R. Jothipala Song – Me Enna Sanasannam: Singer – Latha Walpola Song – Doyya Gan Ma Kiri Ketiya: Singer – Indrani Wijayabandara Song – Pami Loke Rengum: Singer – Indrani Wijayabandara & H.R. Jothipala Song – Sasi Piye: Singer – G.S.B. Rani Perera Song – Duk Gini Godaka: Singer – G.S.B. Rani Perera Song – Ma Soya Aa Nisa: Singer – Indrani Wijayabandara in 1962 in 1964 Movie Related by W.M.S. Thampoe in 1958 Produced by Robin Thampoe Film Script: Chitrananda Abeysekera & Suriya Kumar Story from the Hindi movie Dulari – 1949 by Herbi Seneviratne in 1961 Produced by W.M.S. Thampoe Screen Play: Chitrananda Abeysekera Story from the Hindi movie Dulari – 1949 by Robin Thampoe in 1959 Produced by P.L. Buddhadasa & Meena Thampoe Dialogues: Chitrananda Abeysekera by Robin Thampoe in 1965 Dialogues & Screen Play: Chitrananda Abeysekera Other Links