| T.M. Jayaratne | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | T.M. Jayaratne |
| Born | April 13, 1944 |
| Origin | Dodangoda, Sri Lanka |
| Genres | Sri Lankan music |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 1970 – Present |
T.M. Jayaratne (sinhala : ටී.එම්. ජයරත්න) (born April 13, 1944 in Dodangoda, Sri Lanka) is a popular Sri Lankan singer.
He has received the Presidential Award in 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1987.[1] In 2006 Jayaratne was awarded the best male singer award at the Raigam Tele Award Festival.[2]
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Jayaratne was born in Dodangoda, Sri Lanka. He pursued higher learning at St. Anthony's College and subsequently Maliyadeva College. As a teenager Jayaratne trained as a violinist.[3]
In 1966 Jayaratne began work as a music teacher at the Hewavitharana Maha Vidyalaya in Rajagiriya.[1] He was drawn into singing by the head of the Folk and Research unit at the Broadcasting Corporation C.J.S. Kulathilaka who asked him to vocalise several Sinhala folk songs that included "Gana Thel Sadun" to be broadcasted over the radio.[3] He recorded his first song in 1970.
Jayaratne debuted as a playback singer with "Lahiru Dahasak" written by Sunil Ariyarathne and composed by Premasiri Khemadasa.[3] In 1978 he released his first cassette Tharanga Volume - 01.[1]
In 1980 Jayaratne dueted with Sunila Abeysekera on "Hemin Sare Piya Vida" for the movie Hansa Vilak. The song was written by W. Jayasiri with music by Khemadasa and became a popular song in Sri Lanka.[2]
Jayaratne is married to Malini Jayaratne and has two children. His son Isuru intends to enter the music industry like his father.[3]