The Cabinet of Ministers has approved listing the song “Danno Budunge Sri Dharmaskandha” as a national heritage based on its uniqueness.
The approval has been granted on the recommendation of the Special Committee appointed on the instructions of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, as a song that has continued to influence the nation’s thoughts and aesthetic values for more than a century, “Danno Budunge Sri Dharmaskandha” has become popular since time immemorial.
This song, which has been used continuously to express national pride and historical consciousness, can be considered a key factor in the study of the local genre of music and it will be an inspiration to the musicians of this country.
This will have a unique impact on building national identity. There is evidence that this song was used as a national anthem in festivals and other occasions until the current national anthem was officially selected, the PM’s office stated.
“Danno Budunge” is a song from the Sirisangabo stage drama (1903) by John de Silva which expresses the historical consciousness coloured by the environment of the contemporary Anuradhapura era. The melody has been composed by Mr. Vishwanath Lauji.
The Special Committee appointed by the PM has decided that there is no legal or other hindrance to making this song a national heritage and the committee has also emphasized that it is not affected by the intellectual law enforcement of the country.
The Special Committee is headed by Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry Secretary K.D.N.Ranjith Ashoka.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Buddhasasana and Cultural Affairs Somarathne Vidanapathirana, Director General of the Department of Archeology Prof. Anura Manatunga, Director of the Cultural Affairs Department Bhagya Katudeniya, President of Hela Haula Srinath Ganewatta, President of All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Chandra Nimal Vakistha, Literary scholar Sunil Sarath Perera, Musician Lionel Gunathilake, and Retired Ministry Secretary Kanthi Wijethunga are the other members of the committee. (NewsWire)