The second part of 'Amaraneeya Jothi' written by veteran journalist and author Ernest Waduge is now available islandwide. The book titled ‘Hadawatha Raththaran’ that also includes the first part ‘Amaraneeya Jothi’ was laucnhed to coincide with the 25^th death anniversary of legendary singer H. R. Jothipala.

'Hadawatha Raththaran' (Golden Heart) will include rare events in Jothi's life including a detailed account by Jothi's closest associate who had been by his bedside when he breathed his last at the Ratnams Hospital in Colombo on July 7, 1987.

“Jothi who is the undisputed popular singer even today, has held 242 solo musical shows 'Jothi Rathriya' details of which is also included in the book,” said Ernest Waduge who was an ardent Jothi fan from his childhood.

“I remember seeing Jothi personally for the first time during a musical show in Galle which also had singers like Daisy Akka, Eddie Jayamanne, G. S. B. Rani Perera, Chandani de Silva Weerasinghe and others while Karunaratne Abeysekara was the compere. I was a Mahinda College schoolboy. I was so adamant to meet Jothi in person. After the show ended, I however managed to meet Jothi backstage and instantly realized the humility in the man who was a huge star at that time too.

That friendship thrived till his demise. I remember he asked me what my ambition was and I said I wanted to become a journalist. He said ‘not a journalist, you must try to become the editor of a paper’. And decades later I became the founder editor of ten publications. Above all I feel extremely lucky that Jothi entrusted me the task of writing his biography ‘Amaraneeya Jothi’ the first part which was published in 1995. Later when I moved to Maligawatte, Jothi became my closest friend and trusted neighbour. I have never come across a human being like Jothi. He was a true human being,” said Ernest.