Chanaka Perera
Born and bred in the coastal suburban town of Moratuwa, young Chanaka was attending Prince Of Wales College, where he found his first love: Cricket. He soon made a name for himself as an excellent left arm bowler, 1st colors men of the school team.
This was also the time where he first met his now spouse, Lankika Perera. Chanaka aged 18, had developed a great hunger for music and dreamed of forming a band, and led him to the formation of “The Vikings”: a bunch of Moratuwa teen boys decided to call themselves.
Debut
In 1965, after finishing school, Chanaka knew that music was his life and he joined a band called “The Beacons”. The band soon made a name for themselves in the Moratuwa area and became a popular band for weddings and functions.
L to R: Laksiri Wijepala (Leader/ Rhythm guitar), Chanaka Perera (Bass guitar), Donald Perera (Mandolin), Sunimal Peiris (Hawaiian Guitar), Nihal Corea (Drums)
L to R: Anton Gunatilleke (Lead guitar), Wijith Peiris (Drums), Ralph Gunatilleke (Vocals), Chanaka Perera (Bass guitar), Wimal Peiris (Hawiian Guitar), Laksiri Vijepala (Leader/Rhythm guitar)
His real breakthrough however happened when he joined with Clarence Wijewardana’s and Annesley Malawana’s band “The Moonstones” in 1967, who by then where a well-established popular group already thanks to the exposure of Vijaya Corea. Clarence Wijewardena being inspired after singing at a wedding function where “Beacons” performed with electric guitars, invited Chanaka to join “The Mooonstones” to record the first EP on the Sooriya label for Gerald Wickremesooriya: “More Hits by The Moonstones” bearing the catalogue number CHB001.
Journey
With the departure of Clarence Wijewardena from “The Moonstones” in April 1970, Chanaka and Clarence together with Wijith formed a new band which originally was known as “Breakaways from the Moonstones”. The band performed for the first time at Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa along with Anton Goonatileke (Lead guitar) from “The Beacons” on a temporary basis.
Gerald Wickremesooriya baptized the band as “The Golden Chimes” and Dixon Gunaratne joined in replacement of Anton. In 1971, the band released their first EP titled “The Dynamic New Sound of the Golden Chimes” on the Sooriya label, bearing the catalogue number CHB 014.
In 1970, Chanaka decided to propose to his girlfriend Lankika, and the two were united in holy matrimony on 1st December 1971.
Despite the departure of Clarence Wijewardena as well as Dixon Gunarathna from the band in May 1973, Lankika and Chanaka continued the band. The couple Chanaka and Lankika has until this day been the strong pillars of both their family, children and many grandchildren, as well as the stronghold of “The Golden Chimes”.
Chanaka was awarded the ‘Kala Bhooshana State Award’ on 15th December 2013 in appreciation of the services rendered to the music industry. Until this day Chanaka, the rock in the storm, can still be heard and seen grooving his bass guitar with “The Golden Chimes”.
Chanaka Perera completed 50 years in the field of music while “The Golden Chimes” completed 45 years in 2015. To mark this celebration, ‘CELEBRATION SING-ALONG’ concert including Anil Bhareti and Rukshan Perera was held on 23rd August 2015, at Ramadiya Ranmal Holiday resort at 6.30 p.m., compered by Vijaya Corea.
