Ajith Bandara (Sinhala: අජිත් බණ්ඩාර) is a Sri Lankan singer.[1] He is the winner of the first season of the singing reality competition Sirasa Superstar in 2006.[2]
Personal life
He is from Ahasyanapitiya, Mawathagama, in Kurunegala District and the second child of his family. His father, who was a carpenter, died after a chest pain when he was a teenager. He has two brothers and three sisters. Before entering singing, he worked as a woodcarver and polisher at Bandara Weerakone Furnishers at Mawathagama. He completed his education at Pothubowa Vidyalaya in Mawathagama.[3]
He is married to Niluka Bandara and they have two children.[3] His daughter, Sathsari Chanchala, became the champion of the reality show Hiru Super Hero in 2017.[4][5]
Singing career
He started singing at a young age., but his poor family status kept him away from popular singing. Then he joined a group called Flowers. In 2005, his wife sent an application for Sirasa Superstar, Sri Lanka's first singing reality competition.[6] His first audition was in Habarana. He gradually moved through the competition and eventually was the winner.[4] He received one million LKR, a prize car and free sponsorship for a first album. Soon after winning the competition, he released his first music album, Thilaka Thiyanna, which was launched at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo.[3][7]
After the competition, he had several popular hits, including "Sudu Hansiye", "Duwillen Thilaka Thiyanna", "Oba Innawanam", "Seetha Handekare" and "Aradhanawak Kalado". He made a duet, "Bandara Aiye", with Shanika Madumali, the season 3 winner of Sirasa Superstar. In 2017, he released the solo "Mage Santhake".[6] In 2018, he released the song "Heena Yaya Pura" after a year silence.[5]
