චන්ද්රිකා සිරිවර්ධන
8 songs performed
Chandrika Siriwardena (also spelled Chandrika Siriwardhana, චන්ද්රිකා සිරිවර්ධන) is a Sri Lankan singer, actress and television personality whose recording career spans more than six decades. She is remembered for hits such as Igillila Yanna Yan and Midule Mal, and in later years for her role as a judge on Sri Lanka’s major televised singing competitions.
Born on 11 November 1948 in Kandy, Chandrika Siriwardena grew up in a musical household. Her father, Peter Siriwardena, was a musician and actor, and her mother was a music teacher, so she was surrounded by performance from childhood. She was educated at Pushpadana Girls’ College in Kandy and went on to study North Indian classical and Carnatic music at Bhatkhande University in India.
Siriwardena built a long career across pop, soul, and Indian classical styles, working alongside many of the leading names of Sri Lankan music. She is often credited as a pioneering figure in the country’s televised reality music programmes, having served as a judge on shows including Sirasa Superstar, Derana Dream Star, and Ranaviru Star. Her work as a performer and a mentor kept her name familiar to several generations of listeners.
Among Chandrika Siriwardhana’s best-known recordings are Midule Mal (මිදුලේ මල්), Igillila Yanna Yan, and Rana Bima Marune, songs that remain in steady rotation among Sri Lankan and diaspora listeners. Several of these are available on Lyrics-lk with Sinhala lyrics and English translation.
Siriwardena’s contribution to Sinhala music has been recognised over the years, including a Kalabushana national honour conferred in 2019. Her longevity, from playback and stage work through to television, makes her one of the more enduring figures of her generation in Sri Lankan popular music.
Every Sinhala lyric, composition, and song credit by Chandrika Siriwardena.