Saman de Silva


Saman de Silva, was a Sri Lankan singer. One of the most popular singers in both indoor and outdoor shows in Sri Lanka, de Silva popularized the style of chorus baila in a career spanned more than five decades.

Personal life

Saman de Silva was born on 6 February 1956 in Passara, Badulla, Sri Lanka and later moved to Moratuwa. He completed education from Sri Sumangala College, and Nalanda College, Colombo.
De Silva was married to Anoma de Silva. The couple has two sons: Chilan, Chethan; and a daughter, Nadiya. Eldest son, Chilan, runs a music band in England.
Apart from singing, he worked at the National Gem and Jewelry Institute for 14 years.

Career

He started singing career in the mid 1970s at the age of 16. Since school times, he joined with a musical band and then formed the band "Super Tharanga" with his close friend and fellow singer Susil Fernando, the son of late M. S. Fernando. During this period, he performed in hotels such as Mount Lavinia Hotel.
Meanwhile, he met the musician Vernon Perera and de Silva asked to be given a chance to sing a song. Then Perera took him to Vijayapala Hettiarachchi, the owner of Gemtone label. After seeing de Silva's singing ability, Hettiarachchi gave the opportunity to release 4 songs under the Gemtone label. Accordingly, de Silva composed his first 4 songs made to Tamil melodies, where the Perera made the lyrics and music by Ernest Zoysa.
After that, he had the opportunity to sing at the Nuwara Eliya Lake Club, where he met Siak Band. He joined with the band and performed for several years. Later, he became the owner of three music bands named: Saman and the Clan, Siak, and Super Clan, in which he received multiple overseas tour events. He used to sing mainly chorus baila that is locally popularized by Wally Bastiansz in 1940s. He remade songs sung by Bastiansz under the permission of his family and received audience popularity with the song "Irene Josephine Rosalin Angelin". The song became his tradeamark in the musical arena and he later sang the popular songs, "Nonaa Mage Nurse Nonaa" and "Yaman Bando Vesak Balanda".
He created his first solo cassette under Tharanga label with the tile "Irene Josephine". After the cassette, he started to make his own originals under the music composition of Ernest Zoysa, Clarence Wijewardene and Nimal Dias. Some of his popular originals include: "Ran Rasa Vāgē Gæḷapennē", "Niyarē Piyanagalā", "Thananilla Digē Aedilā Yanavā", "Santhōsa Venna Preethi Venna" and "Punchi Kurulu Kūḍuvē". The song "Thananilla" was made in 1983 but made a huge popularity after Sri Lanka became the champions of 1996 Cricket World Cup. He has performed more than 200 concerts in more than thirty countries.
After many fast beat songs, he sang the duet "Pahana" with Malani Bulathsinhala where the melody is composed by Clarence Wijewardene and the lyrics are written by Premakeerthi de Alwis. He also engaged in few films as a background singer in the films: Rajek Vagē Puthek, Saṭanen Saṭana and Poronduwa.
Later he served as the President of the Singers' Association as well as the President of the Musicians' Association.

Political career

He was the National Organizer of the United National Party Arts Forum for many years. Then he contested the Colombo District from the United National Party in the Western Provincial Council election.

Illness and death

De Silva suffered from cirrhosis for many years. In 2021, he underwent an endoscopy surgery with variceal banding.
De Silva died on 27 April 2025 at the age of 69 while receiving treatment at the Kotelawala Defence University Hospital. His remains were kept at his residence No. 3/1, 3rd Lane, Agulana Railway Station Road, Agulana, Moratuwa for public rites. The funeral was held on 29 April 2025 at 5pm at the Rawathawatta Crematorium, Moratuwa.