Kala Keerthi The Kala Keerthi ( si, කලා කීර්ති) is a Sri Lankan Sri Lankan honours system, national honour awarded "''for extraordinary achievements and contributions in arts, culture and drama''". It is the highest national honour for arts, cu ...

Pasquel Ge Don Augustine Ivor Dennis ( si, ඊවෝර් ඩෙනිස්) (28 May 1932 – 18 June 2018) was a popular Sri Lankan veteran playback singer who was also known as the former student of veteran icon

Sunil Santha Sunil Santha was a Sri Lankan composer, singer and lyricist. He was pivotal in the development of Sinhala music and folk songs in the mid to late 1940s and early 1950s. He composed the beloved soundtracks to Lester James Peries' films ''Rekava'' ...

. He was well known for establishing long time relationship with legendary musician

, who is known as one of the icons and pioneers of Sinhala music. He had worked as a playback singer in many Sinhala films including Sri Lanka's first Sinhala film ''

Rekava ''Rekava'' (Sinhala for "Line of Destiny") is a 1956 film based on village life and mythical beliefs in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). It is the first Sinhala film fully shot in Ceylon and was film shot outdoors in the country. It was also the first ...

''. He died on 18 June 2018 at his home in

Seeduwa Seeduwa (/sīðuvə/; Sinhalese language, Sinhalese: සීදුව ''Seeduwa'' pronounced īðuvə Tamil language, Tamil: சீதுவை ''Seeduwai'' pronounced ītuvai is a suburb of Negombo city, in Katana Divisional Secretaria ...

at the age of 86.

Career

He pursued his career as a vocalist and took part in a song competition at

Radio Ceylon Radio Ceylon ( si, ලංකා ගුවන් විදුලි සේවය ''Lanka Guwan Viduli Sevaya'', ta, இலங்கை வானொலி, ''ilankai vanoli'') is a radio station based in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and the first ...

in 1952. He sang veteran musician Sunil Santha's famous song ''Waren Heen Sare Redhee Walave'' during the competition and his performance was sooner recognised by Sunil Santha who also came forward to teach music for the latter. Ivor was pursued by Sunil Santha to croon a song on his own and Ivor recorded his first song ''Kurulu Paradiseye'', which became an evergreen hit. He had also performed in many concerts in various countries including Japan, Indonesia, Italy, England and New Zealand. He made his film debut as a singer which coincidentally came in Sri Lanka's first Sinhala film ''Rekava'' which was released in 1955. He was promoted as an A grade singer at Radio Ceylon in 1958. He notably won the Presidential Award for the Best Playback singer for the film '' Hima Kathara''. He was honored with the prestigious

award during the

2017 Sri Lankan national honours In March 2017 President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena awarded national honours to 90 individuals for distinguished services. It was the first time in twelve years that awards were given out and there were 426 applicants. The awards ceremony w ...

, for his outstanding contributions to the Sinhala cinema.

Discography

* 1956 - ''

'' * 1960 - ''

Sandesaya ''Sandesaya'' ( Sinhalese language word meaning ''The Message'') is a 1960 film. The film based on the war between the Sinhalese people and the Portuguese invaders in Sri Lanka. It was directed by Sri Lankan film director Lester James Peries. It ...

'' * 2007 - ''Ai Oba Thaniwela''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dennis, Ivor 1932 births 2018 deaths 20th-century Sri Lankan male singers Sinhalese singers Sri Lankan Christians Sri Lankan Roman Catholics Alumni of Maris Stella College People from Gampaha District