‘Celebration 40 with Lankika’ , the four decades of golden music of Lankaika Perera and her band Golden Chimes will come alive on 28th April at the Air conditioned Ummul Maleeha Memorial Auditorium, Keselwatte, Panadura  commencing at 6.30 p.m. The Concert is organized by the Senior Guild of Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa to commemorate Lankika's land mark 40 years as a singer with the Golden Chimes.

‘Celebration 40 with Lankika’ will feature Annesley Malawana, Indrani Perera, Anil Bhareti, Dharmaratne Brothers, Errol  Fernando, Christine Gunawardene, Priya Peiris, Rukshan Perera, Lucky Deva, Sureshni Wanigasuriya and Derana Dream Star  Keshan Sashindra.

The Celebration Concert will be musically backed by the Golden Chimes and compered by Dr. Vijaya Corea. Dancing sequences  will be handled by 'Sanka & Solar Heat'.

When late Clarence Wijewardene, Chanaka Perera, Wijith Peiris and Dixon Gunaratne formed the Golden Chimes in 1970, Lankika Peiris was just a friend of the outfit. She joined the Golden Chimes in 1971 on being invited by its leader Clarence Wijewardene.

 When Lankika was eight year old girl at Princess of Wales’ College, Moratuwa, sang ‘Butter cup a Golden Hair’ some years ago at a school talent contest and won the first prize. That was the start to bag prizes at school and the Sunday School . She has kept the Golden Chimes going for 42 years with her lifetime partner Chanaka Perera, bassist of the Moonstones and the Golden Chimes.

 Lankika is the only female singer and musician who hold the record of being in one pop music group for an uninterrupted period of 41 yrs. Among her songs are evergreen classics such as 'Kimada Naave', 'Molaketi Puthuni', 'Malai Wela'i, 'Sandai Tharui', 'Bethlehem  Pure', 'Puthu Nidiyay', 'Guwan Yanaya', 'Sihina Sagare' and 'Hiru Negila'. There are more than 50 original songs and spirituals of her.

She has also released two CD’s of Gospal songs, titled 'Yesusge Geetha’ and ‘Yesusmen Mithurek’. She has sung duets with Clarence Wijewardene, Anil Bhareti, Chanaka Perera, Lucky Deva,
Tilak Perera, Sunil Perera,  and Nalaka de Soysa.

She was performing most of the tourist hotels in Kalutara, Beruwala, Bentota,  such as Tangerine Beach, Mermaid, Riverina, Eden, Neptune, Palm Garden, Ceysands, etc.with the Golden Chimes for more than 24 years.
The band toured  Lebonon, Dohar, Bharain and Canada within the past 40 yrs to attend concerts and dances.

The new line up comprises Suranga, Kamal, Chanaka, Lankika, Chamila, Eranga and Pushpa

 The tickets for the ‘Celebration 40 with Lankika’  concert are priced at Rs.2500/(Reserved), Rs.2000/-, Rs.1500/-, Rs.1000/-, Rs.750/- and Rs.500/-

All proceeds will be utilized for social projects  of Holy Emmanuel Church Senior Guild  and  the building fund of St.Michael & All Angles Church, Willorawatte.

Lankika was a Manager at Bank of Ceylon serving for 39 long years. The Bank of Ceylon has come forward to sponsor the show and she is very grateful to the  Chairman, Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe and the Management  of Bank of Ceylon.

 

 

(By Sanath Weerasuriya)