Kasun Kalhara Jayawardena (Sinhala: කසුන් කල්හාර ජයවර්ධන) (born 3 November 1981), known professionally as Kasun Kalhara, is a Sri Lankan singer, musician, vocal coach, composer, guitarist and record producer. During his musical career, Kasun has released three albums, Haritha Nimnaye, Radical Premaya and Romantic Opera. Widely regarded as one of the greatest singers Sri Lanka has produced, Jayawardena's singing voice has garnered acclaim from prominent musical peers and publications. He is one of the biggest and best-selling music artists in Sri Lankan history.
Biography
Kasun's mother Malani Bulathsinhala, was a veteran vocalist and his father H. M. Jayawardena was a renowned composer as well. His younger sister, Nirmani Chaya died in 1991 at the age of three.
Kasun's music career started along with Indrachapa Liyanage and his schoolmates from Ananda College under the mentorship of Maestro K. M. Rathnapala in late 1999. His mother who was highly supportive of his musical career once answered a newspaper interviewer who asked "what is the most memorable day in your life?" with "the day Maestro Premasiri Khemadasa hugged and wished my son, following his first musical concert (Waves of Introspection). That warm hug from Maestro Kemadasa guaranteed that Kasun had a genuine talent and a clear future".
Kasun has held a number of solo concerts, collaborating with other artists such as "Kasun Kalhara: Live in Concert", "Kasun Kalhara Unforgettable Live in Concert", "The Black Red White Concert", "Kasun Kalhara in Culture Shock", "4U: Live in Concert" and "Love U: Live in Concert".
Kasun also performed in concerts: Culture Shock (2013) and Kasun Kalhara in LoveU (both in 2016 and 2017) which collectively became one of the most attended musical show trios in history of Sri Lanka with over 5,000 fans gathering around at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre. He was one of the judges of The Voice Sri Lanka seasons 1 and 2 along with Bathiya and Santhush, Sashika Nisansala and Umaria Sinhawansa.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes2004Aadaraneeya WassaanayaPlayback singerSong(s): Heenayaki Mata Adare2006NilambareComposer / playback singer2006Eka Malaka PethiComposerCo-composed with Rookantha Gunathilake and Nalin Perera2006AnjalikaComposer / playback singerSong(s): Pama Wee Pipunu Mal Suwandai2007Sikuru HatheSingerSong(s): Nilata Nile2009KanyaviPlayback singer2009JuliyaAdditional music / playback singer2010UththaraComposer / playback singerSong(s): Mal Mitak Thiyanna2016Adaraneeya KathawakSingerSong(s): Adare, Me Obata Ahenawada, Ahasin Eha2018GoalSingerSong(s): Sansaraye Nawathenaka2019ThaalaPlayback singerSong(s): Roda Bandila, Gagane2025Ice CreamComposer / playback singer
Television YearTitleChannelLanguageRole2017SahodarayaITN Sri LankaSinhalaComposer / Singer2020-21The Voice Sri Lanka (Season 1)Sirasa TVSinhalaCoach – Himself2022-23The Voice Sri Lanka (Season 2)Sirasa TVSinhalaCoach – Himself
Discography
Albums
With other artists Aadaraneeya Wassaanaya (with Uresha Ravihari) Aathmaabhimaanayay (with Indrachapa Liyanage) Adare (Adaraneeya Kathawak Movie Song) (With Kushani Sandareka) Ahasin Eha (Adaraneeya Kathawak Movie Song) (Uresha Ravihari) Malakai Kiya (with Kushani Sandareka) Pamaawee Pipuna (with Indika Upamali and Uresha Ravihari) Raaththriya Manaram (with Nirosha Virajini) Samagi Samaadana (with Malani Bulathsinhala) Sanda Ahimi (with Pradeepa Dharmadasa) Sanda Eliya (Moonlight) (with Indrachapa Liyanage) Sara Sande (with Kushani Sandareka) Shuunya Wuu Nagaraye (with Samitha Mudunkotuwa) Sihinayata Tharam (with Prathibha Prabha)
Singles Sanda Mithuri (2009) Meedum Dumaraye (2009) Math Mal Sena (2011) Mata Kiya Denna (2011) Nawathi Methekin (2012) Adarema Geethayak (2013) Atheethaye Ma (2015) Kadadasi Oru (2015) Lowa Dutuwe Amma (2015) Lihiniye (2015) Ithin Hadamu Api Aluth Ratak (Let's Make A New Country) – Produced with Rookantha Gunathilake for the victory of New Democratic Front (Sri Lanka) at the 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election Sri Lanka Cricket Theme Song (2016) Varamale (2016) Me Obata Ahenawada (Adaraneeya Kathawak Movie Song 2016) Vasilissa (2016) Alaye Ghatha (2016) Nagena Bindena (2017) Melaa (2017) Wahilihiniye (2017) Nodaneema Awasan Una (2018) Nela (2018) Siyak Dahasak (2018) Hanthana Nathimuth J'Pure (2020) Ma Balawath Karana Samide (Sinhala Hymn) (2020) Roopakartha Adariye (2021) Ruwanarini (2021) Hitha Heena Aran (2021) Banchimaari (2022) Mage Diwi Pana Nala Rakinne (Sinhala Hymn) (2022) Paradeesaye Jawayai Me (2022) Matath Kaviyak Liyanna (2023) Bohoma Issara (2023) Swetha Rathriya (2024) Genimi (2024)
Political Campaign Songs
Ithin Hadamu Api Aluth Ratak (Let's Make A New Country) - Presidential campaign of Ranil Wickremesinghe Ratakata Ona Apamana Agayak (2015) - Presidential campaign of Maithripala Sirisena Rata Anurata (2024) - Presidential campaign of Anura Kumara Dissanayake
External links Kasun Kalhara Guitar Chords
References