Nadeeka Guruge

Nadeeka Guruge (නදීක ගුරුගේ, also written Nadeeka Guruge) is a Sri Lankan composer, music director, guitarist and singer best known for his film and theatre scores and for songs such as Veronika and Neela Nethu Yuga Dilena Tharamata. He came to wider attention scoring the 2005 feature Sulanga Enu Pinisa (The Forsaken Land), which screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

Early life and training

Guruge was born on 27 September 1976 in Anuradhapura and grew up in Nuwara Eliya. He took up the guitar at the age of fourteen, first learning from his brother before pursuing music more seriously. His early professional work began in 1999 with the folk and applied-music project Sanyugma, which paired Sri Lankan idioms with collaborators from outside the country.

Career as a film and theatre composer

Guruge built his reputation in cinema and stage music. Beyond Sulanga Enu Pinisa, his film scores include Karma (2012), in which he also took the lead acting role, and the historical drama Maharaja Gemunu (2015). His teledrama work includes the score for Aga Pipi Mal. On Lyrics-lk several of these screen songs appear, including the Karma movie song, the Sanda Payanne theme from Maharaja Gemunu, and the Ahasa Gugura theme from Aga Pipi Mal.

Songs and collaborations

As a composer Nadeeka Guruge has written music carried by a range of vocalists. The duet Anunada wana dehadaka pairs him with Natasha Rathnayake, while his compositions have also been recorded by Nirosha Virajini and Amal Perera. His own recordings on the site include Wedikawe, Lelasiye and Mitiyawathe, the last of which he also wrote.

Notable songs on Lyrics-lk

• Veronika
• Neela Nethu Yuga Dilena Tharamata
• Anunada wana dehadaka
• Sanda Payanne (Maharaja Gemunu theme)
• Wedikawe
• Karma Movie Song

Recognition and teaching

Guruge has been recognised for his music direction and background scores with awards including Sarasaviya and Presidential honours. He served as the inaugural dean of the School of Music at the Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC), where he helped shape a degree programme in music, reflecting his long-standing interest in music education and research alongside his composing.