Lankan Voice 2nd Auditions in London

Photography credit goes to Renuka Wimalarathna.


One plus one Equals UK with Hiru TV Sri Lanka proudly presented “Lankans Voice” singing competition 2013-in UK.

1+1= UK launched a journey with the Main media sponsor Hiru TV in Sri Lanka to hunt for a “Talented Lankans Voice” – a best performer in singing among the Sri Lankans who live here in the United kingdom.

According to Gayan Mahawatte; one of the talented most popular Sinhala medium event host we could find in the United kingdom, 1+1= with Hiru TV is looking “not for a star to shine but for a sun to shine in Sri Lankans singing world”.

According to the comments made by many contestants they value the opportunity made to them by 1+1=, because many Sri Lankans live here in the united Kingdom are losing such opportunities available in Sri Lanka since they are tied here in the United kingdom with their life commitments, hence though they got skills they cannot take part at the competitions such as “Sirasa Supper Star OR “Derana Dream Star”. Hence for some it was in a way “a dream comes true”.

The journey of “Lankans Voice” began with the first audition held on the 5th May 2013 at the Paul Robeson theatre with 40 registered applicants and now 32 applicants are through to the second round to be held on the 23rd June 2013 at the same venue. According to the new upcoming English Medium event host Waruni Senanayake, it was a beginning of a long and tough journey for those been through to the next round where all those contestants will be performing with music here after till the Grand Finale.

Three panel members namely Visharadha musician Mr Dimuthu Thilakarathne; the son of popular singer Sreemathi Thilakarathne, a famous long standing musician here in the UK and also a one of the main member of Sky-high Band Mr Chameera Dondeenu, shouldered the main part of the competition and volunteered 1+1= in making decision on the contestants as the event judgers.

It was a very special day for all the attendees not because it was a live audition, but it was a day with many other skills brought up by the volunteer gust artists such as Roshan Jayakody, baby Shennen Jayakody: the daughter of Roshan Jayakody, Rohan Ranasinghe as well as some of the contestants too invaded the Paul Robeson Theatre stage to show off their acting and dancing skills which definitely gave a 30 minutes of unforgettable entertainment time for everyone who admired the day.

One of the main part of the “Lankans Voice” first audition was that the most popular contestant” was chosen by audience vote and the winner would definitely have a place in the next round. The youngest contestant 14 years old Diluni Kavindi Ramanayake from Stevenage-Herts won this award and it was clear that she was through to the next round by judgers score too.

The day made very special by some of the special guests such as Ms Sooriya Samaraweera : the Principal Partner of Samras Solicitors in Hounslow and Mr Janak Ranansinghe from PIP printing in Brentford. The event was sponsored by the generous financial support by Harrow Solicitors including Mr Ranjan Herath, the President of 1+1=, and Ms Sooriya Samaraweera from Samras Solicitors, Dr Lankesh Kodagoda and Mrs Vishaka Pieris from Harrow Solicitors. 1+1= is very grateful to the UK media sponsors of “Lankans Voice” who gave their fullest support throughout the publicity campaign and afterwards namely: News Lanka, Ceylon Radio, Sesatha Web, Sri Lankans times, TSL exchange and SL bite.

Every moment of the event was captured into superb video/audio by Srindi Video headed by young upcoming professional Mr Friyan Joseph Fernando who is also the designer of the event publicity materials, who is offering his service free of charge to 1+1=. 1+1= is thankful to the team Logon photographer for their support on the day while remembering the name of Mr Susantha Fernando thankfully, who was the event manager of the first audition of Lankans Voice.

The next audition will be held on the 23rd June 2013 and these days our contestants are on training including attending workshops etc. Last Sunday the 26th may 2013 they were on a work shop with Visharadha Mr. Dimuthu Thilakarathne while rehearsing for another fantastic show to be performed on the 23rd June 2013, at the concert and they are trained by Miss Shashi kariyakarawana and Mrs Ramanayake. They will soon be practicing with the “Lankans Voice” music director Mr Manjula Minasinghe the long standing UK musician from the famous Sky-high Band.