The Moonstones was an influential

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

n band, led by

Clarence Wijewardene Vithana Kuruppu Arachchilage Clarence Arthur Somasinghe Wijewardena JP ( si, ක්ලැරන්ස් විජේවර්ධන, ta, கிளாரன்ஸ் விஜேவர்தன; 3 August 1943 – 13 December 1996), known prof ...

and

Annesley Malewana Annesley Malewana () ( Sinhala: ඇනස්ලි මාලේවන) is a Sri Lankan musician. Often considered "The Prince of Sinhala Pop", Malewana is well known for being a master of contemporary Baila worked with popular musical bands The M ...

. It also included Mangala Rodrigo on lead guitar and Sunil Malawana on bass guitar. Originating in Ratnapura, the group was one of the most popular Sri Lankan bands during the 1960s.

History

Formation

Wijewardene formed the group in 1966 after finding a fitting lead vocalist in friend Annesley Malawana. His earlier choice for the position, another friend, had failed to please his manager Sri Sangabo Corea. Corea named the group "The Moonstones" after the leading export of the group's hometown and for how talented he considered the band."A rare gem that gave voice to Moostones"
''Sunday Times''. Retrieved December 17, 2006.

Success and dissolution

With a lineup set, the Moonstone(s) began to dominate Sinhala popular music with hits like "'Mango Nenda", "Kalu Mama", "Ruwan Puraya", and "Gonwassa" among others. Indrani Perera joined in 1968, and sang on several of the group's subsequent hits like "Dilhani."
''Sunday Times''. Retrieved December 17, 2006. Wijewardene left in 1970. Annesley continued the group with Mike Gunesekera and had a hit single with "Dunhinda Manamali." The band eventually broke up; Malawana and Wijewardene reunited in a similar group, Super Golden Chimes.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moonstones Sri Lankan musical groups Musical groups established in 1966 1966 establishments in Ceylon