ඉරාජ් වීරරත්න
38 songs performed
Iraj Weeraratne (ඉරාජ් වීරරත්න), known to most listeners simply as IRAJ, is a Sri Lankan rapper, singer, and music producer born on 21 February 1981 in Colombo. He is widely credited with bringing Sinhala and Tamil rap and hip hop into the Sri Lankan mainstream during the 2000s, and his productions blend pop, R&B, and electronic sounds with local lyrics.
Iraj began releasing music in the early 2000s and built a catalogue that moved between radio-friendly pop and harder hip hop. As a producer he worked with a long list of vocalists, and many of the tracks he is associated with reached the top of local charts. His album-era output, including the project Manamali, kept him a fixture on Sinhala music television and online.
He was also the first Sri Lankan artist to cross into the South Indian film industry, contributing music to the 2009 Tamil film Vettaikaaran. At home he hosted the popular Iraj Show on television and later moved much of his commentary and music to his own YouTube channel.
Iraj is known for catchy, hook-driven singles that often pair his production with featured vocalists. He frequently collaborated with Kaizer Kaiz, including on the duet Cleopatra and the playful Sweety Manika. His chart singles Manamali and Dasa Themila remain among his best-known work.
Iraj’s signature is the fusion of Sinhala and Tamil verses with hip hop, dancehall, and pop production, an approach that helped open the genre to a generation of younger Sri Lankan acts. For the diaspora, IRAJ remains a recognisable name tied to the early commercial rise of Sinhala rap, and his songs continue to circulate widely online. Lyrics-lk hosts the Sinhala lyrics, transliteration, and English translation for many of his most-played tracks.
Every Sinhala lyric, composition, and song credit by Iraj Weeraratne.