Senaka Batagoda, known for his musical and lyrical style, which blended unique folk influences, versatile vocals, and genres, passed away, leaving a legacy in the Sri Lankan musical scene that will be remembered for years.
Born on June 25, 1958, Senaka Batagoda received his first feature film playback singing opportunity through the film CineMa and quickly became a household name.
With his specialization in rock, pop rock, soft rock, and folk, Batagoda was considered one of the influential personalities in Sri Lankan music. He helped shape the genre and present it to a broad audience.
Veteran singer Senaka Batagoda has died at the age of 66 while receiving treatment at the Ragama Hospital#lka pic.twitter.com/ibnlOn0vey
— Prabodth Official (@PrabodOfficial) September 11, 2024
Before his health deteriorated, the singer had his final concert with Marians on January 21, 2023, at the Arcade Independence Square.
Moreover, Batagoda maintained his distance from social media after his family admitted him to Ragama Hospital for treatment. However, neither the doctors nor his family members have revealed the cause of his demise.
Soon after the hospital confirmed his death, fans sent heartfelt messages and condolences to the artist, once considered the greatest of his time.
One fan wrote, “My heart just stopped. Thank you giving us life with your music. Never known such a humble, kind hearted musician in my life. Rest In Paradise. Heaven has received a Gem. Rest in Paradise sir.“
Throughout his career, Batagoda inspired new artists and encouraged them to explore styles outside the traditional pattern. Even though Senaka Batagoda has passed away, his music will continue to bring peace to many people.
The Sri Lankan government banned Senaka Batagoda from singing more than seven songs due to a law violation!
Previously, Senaka Batagoda specialized in guitar and had an array of discography, including Api Kavuruda, Api Senasille, Alu Yata Gini, Rastha, and Heena Walata Panak Thiyenawa.
The singer had over 36.4K monthly listeners on Spotify and over 89K subscribers on YouTube. Moreover, Batagoda toured the world, including countries like Australia and Dubai.
In addition to releasing music, Batagoda composed for the TV series Yan in 2019. His works received acclamation from fans and critics, which helped him further establish his name in the industry.
රෑ අහසේ තරු දිලුනට
— Kamila Dias (@KamilaWDias) September 11, 2024
නෑ එළියක් හඳ වාගේ
ජීවිතයට මොනවා තිබුණද
නෑ කිසිවක් නුඹ වාගේ…
You will be remembered forever, legend. May your soul rest in peace!#SenakaBatagoda 🖤🕊️ pic.twitter.com/kJ4iu2DVix
Likewise, he instilled his musical interest in his daughter, Sereena Batagoda, who often helped the singer with lyrics, melody, and vocals. She also appeared on several YouTube videos to create melodic Hindi and Sri Lankan song covers.
However, in 2024, Batagoda faced a significant challenge in his career as the Colombo Commercial High Court prevented the singer from singing his most famous songs, including Api Kavuruda and Api Senasille.
The court proceeded after receiving a complaint filed under the Intellectual Property Act by musician Janath Kulathilake, who claimed that Batagod had not compensated the composer fairly.
Similarly, Janath claimed that the singer had violated the law economically and demanded a maximum fine of roughly $100 million from Batagoda as a remedy.
During such a difficult time, Batagoda’s fans stood by his side and continued to buy and stream his music to cover the compensation amount.
After his demise, a mark has been left in his fans’ hearts, and one of them expressed, “An underrated musician who didn’t receive enough acclaim for his prowess.“
Additional Information
- Senaka Batagoda has requested fans to maintain their boundaries during this unfortunate time, as his close ones have yet to release a public statement about his demise.
- Senaka Batagoda priced his albums at $14.99, and their sales helped him amass an estimated net worth of thousands of dollars.
