Ellamulla Kapuge Gunadasa (Sinhala: ගුණදාස කපුගේ; 7 August 1945–3 April 2003) popularly known as Gunadasa Kapuge, was a Sri Lankan singer, musician, music director and playback singer. He was well known among Sri Lankans due to the philosophical background of his music renditions and lyrics selected for his work. Personal life Kapuge was born on August 7, 1945 in the tiny village of Thanabaddegama in Elpitiya. His father was Ellalamulla Kapuge Francis and mother was Dona Alice Nona Siribaddana. Being the second of eight siblings, he attended Karandeniya Central College up to grade five and the latter part at Dharmasoka College in Ambalangoda, where he initially studied science before switching to music. His brother, Premawardhana Kapuge is also a singer. He married Prema Vithanage,, in 1978. The couple had one son: Mithra, and two daughters: Ridhma and Sajani. His son Mithra Kapuge, and his brother, Premawardhana Kapuge sing his songs to continue his legacy. Music career In 1963, he left Haywood college of music (presently known as University of the Visual and Performing Arts), where he was studying at that time, to follow a degree course in India. In late 1960, Kapuge joined the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and in 1969, he worked as an operational assistant and in 1975 started out as a program producer. Kapuge's initial release was titled "Daesa Nilupul Thema" in 1973, which he sung for a cultural program was aired on SLBC. It was later became an instant hit and made his mark in the career. After which, Kapuge was quoted as a 'Grade A' vocalist by the Radio Ceylon. Thus the three decade long music career of Visharada Kapuge began. He appeared as a film background singer as well as a music director and stage play music director. The first stage drama for which he provided background music was "Thuranga Sanniya" by Sugathapala De Silva. Since then he provided background music for the highly popular musical "Tharawo Igilethi" by Lucien Bulathsinhala and several others. His first movie background music gig was for Stanley Perera's "Sandha." In 1973 following his marriage, he lost his job due to political revenge. He was invited to an international youth conference in Havana, Cuba, applied for a leave of absence from the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, but his request was rejected for political reasons. However, Kapuge decided to attend the Youth Conference in Havana on July 22, 1978. On