Morris Wijesinghe

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Morris Denzil Bernard Wijesinghe, popularly known as Morris Wijesinghe (16 October 1941 – 31 August 2020), was a Sri Lankan singer and musician. A leading pop artist of the 1980s, he had a career spanning more than four decades and sang many well-known songs such as Duvillen Wathsunu Thavara, Nil Ahas Thale Aage, Oba Enna, and Peradiga Ahase.

Early life
He was born in Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka, the second of seven children. Morris studied at St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya. He developed a love for music early, learning under Fr. Merciline Jayakody, taking part in school operettas, and singing in the church choir.

Personal life
Morris married Marina Vinodani Perera in 1969. The couple had two children, a daughter named Manori and a son named Mevan.

Career beginnings
After school, he worked in a welding shop and later at Bata and Car Mart companies while pursuing music. He began his singing career under T. S. Peiris, who worked with the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). Morris performed Western-style songs and gained recognition for his multilingual performances, including Italian, Spanish, and French tunes. He even signed a six-month contract with the German band Lübeck and performed in Sri Lanka’s top hotels.

Film and television work
In 1981, Morris entered playback singing for films, working with composer Dharmasiri Gamage and later with Premasiri Khemadasa. His notable film songs include Milana Ma Denethe, Duvillen Wathsunu Thavara, Nil Ahas Thale Aage, and Mathura Savanata Romeo Kumaruta. He also sang for teledramas, notably the theme songs for Wes Muhunu and Dekethi Muwahatha. He acted briefly in the popular teledrama Nedeyo in the 1990s, playing a character named Ivan.

Awards and later years
Morris won the Presidential Award for Best Singer for the serial Samanalee and the Sumathi Best Teledrama Singer Award in 2001 for Peradiga Ahase in Dekethi Muwahatha. In his later years, he collaborated with Navaratne Gamage on songs such as Oba Enna and continued performing and recording. His last song was Sigiriye Sinhaya.

Death
Morris Wijesinghe passed away on 31 August 2020 at the age of 78. He was cremated at the Mount Lavinia Public Cemetery in accordance with his will.