A group of Sri Lanka’s most respected vocalists has called for urgent legal reforms to guarantee economic and moral rights for singers, arguing that the country’s music industry continues to profit heavily from their work while they remain uncompensated. Speaking at a press conference organized by the Sri Lanka Singers’ Association in Colombo, legendary vocalist T. M. Jayaratne declared that certain parties earn billions of rupees annually using songs performed by senior artists without sharing any revenue with the original voices.
He emphasized that a song is sustained in public memory primarily through the singer, noting that audiences identify music by the performer rather than the lyricist or composer. As an example, he referenced how songs associated with Dharmadasa Walpola are widely recognized through the performing artist’s name, illustrating the central role of vocalists in carrying compositions to the public. According to him, singers have long demanded a fair system that formally recognizes and protects that contribution.
Veteran artist Sujatha Attanayake stated that senior singers have dedicated their lives to performing for the public and now expect society and policymakers to safeguard their wellbeing, especially as many age without stable income despite decades of cultural service.
Music scholar and performer Jagath Wickramasinghe described singing as an aesthetic profession tied to both artistic and spiritual expression, insisting that singers deserve professional-level rights equal to those of lyricists and composers. He warned that the absence of balanced recognition among the three creative pillars threatens the sustainability of the industry itself.
He also raised concern about the growing trend of newer performers reproducing classic songs with altered rhythms instead of creating original works, arguing that such practices can dilute or even damage the integrity of beloved compositions while offering no benefit to the original artists. The speakers collectively called for amendments to existing intellectual property and performance laws in Sri Lanka to ensure that all contributors to a song receive equitable recognition and compensation, stressing that justice for one group must not come at the expense of another but should preserve harmony across the entire musical community.
