Nalin Jayawardena (Sinhala : නලින් ජයවර්ධන) (born 18 April 1957) is a popular Sri Lankan singer and vocalist. He was the first Sri Lankan singer to release an internet based audio album in Sinhala allowing his fans from around the world to download the album free of charge.[1] This album titled Kanda Paamule was released in 2004.[2] Nalin Jayawardena lives in Perth, Australia.[3]
He has released more than 21 CDs including several tribute CDs for the legendary singer HR Jothipala . Nalin Jayawardena has sung over 350 original songs and over 20 videos of his songs are available online. These songs were composed in collaboration with talented sinhala lyric writers such as Dr Vicumpriya Perera who wrote most of Nalin's songs, Sunil Govinnage, Sriya Kumarasingha and Chrishanthi de fonseka . Musical composition for Nalin's songs were done by popular Sri Lankan musicians including Nimal Mendis , Jayanga Dedigama, Dhammika Edusooriya, Multi award winner Visharada Dharashana Wickramathunga, Visharada Sarath Ovitigala, Rohan Jayawardena, Sangeeth Wickramasingha, Ananda Widyasekara and Rukshan Karunanayaka .[4] Nalin is one of the early Sri Lankan artists to release his songs in Google Play,[5] iTunes, and Amazon. In 2016, a lyrics book, "Gee Tharu Mal," containing over 300 songs sung by Nalin Jayawardena was released. Nalin Jayawardena was the recipient of the Multicultural Deshabhimani Award in 2016 of Serendib Publications, Australia.
He has also collaborated in the making of the first-ever Dhammapada Stanzas CD packs with Ven Beruwela Siri Sobitha and Dr Gill Fronsdal. He also collaborated in making the charity CD/DVD in the aid of the tsunami victims in Sri Lanka.[6] He also collaborated with Vicumpriya Perera and Bhadraji Mahinda Jayatilaka to produce the first-ever sinhala audio fiction book Kulageyin Kulageyata spanning into five compact discs. This audio book is a production of Lanka Heritage and Sarasavi Publishers, Sri Lanka.
Born in Batticaola, in eastern Sri Lanka as the eldest son of Mr Chandra and Mrs MaryAnn Jayawardena, and did his primary studies at Prince of Wales college Moratuwa and at Bandaranayaka college in Gampaha [WP]
He has written several of his own songs and began his music career at a later stage of his life. He in musically talented in the sense that he has the ability to vocalise in a variety of styles and genre ranging from semi-classical to popular western. He has produced over 11 Sinhala audio CD's and several DVD's to entertain his fans.[4]
He is married to Renuka Jayawardena [nee Ranasingha] from Galahitiyawa, Ganemulla, Sri Lanka, a medical scientist by profession, and has two daughters. He resides in Perth, Australia.[6]
Nalin Jayawardena is currently employed as a building service professional in Australia. He recently released several Sinhala audio compact discs including "My Sister Meenachchi (2018)"[7] and Adare Makaranda (2017).[8] In 2016, a lyrics book, "Gee Tharu Mal," containing over 300 songs sung by Nalin Jayawardena was released. Nalin Jayawardena was the recipient of the Multicultural Deshabhimani Award in 2016 of Serendib Publications, Australia.
