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31 July 2023 01:20 pm - 42 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Referring to the brouhaha over the video circulating on social media in which a popular singer Umara Sinhawansa was mispronouncing a key lyric whilst performing the National Anthem at the 2023 LPL opening ceremony, Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake warned legal action against the incident.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the Minister said, “No one can distort the National Anthem of any country as it represents the county’s identity and culture. Therefore, such incidents where the National Anthem is distorted can’t be condoned.
“A national anthem can’t be remixed or performed as a rap music. Hence, the Ministry is contemplating taking action against the recent incident. In addition, we will also take steps to inform the relevant parties in this regard,” he said.
“There is a standard way of singing the National Anthem and the standard version is available on YouTube. With this trend, I am not surprised if the National Anthem is performed while being naked in the future,” the Minister added.
Popular singer, Umara Sinhawansa ruffled feathers on social media after mispronouncing a key lyric whilst singing the National Anthem at the 2023 LPL opening ceremony.
In the video she is repeatedly heard singing the anthem as ‘Namo Namo Mahatha’ instead of ‘Namo Namo Matha’ thus sparking a controversy amongst netizens online, which has also resulted in the current trending hashtag Mahatha across all social media platforms. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)
True Lankan Monday, 31 July 2023 01:36 PM
This happens when you apply western singing techniques with eastern, Western singing technique is so much different they exaggerate certain words to sound better, I hope that is what she tried with our National Anthem and failed.
Marcian Christopher Monday, 31 July 2023 01:49 PM
There are a lot of important and urgent issues against which to immediately act upon should be the criteria taken by the Ministers viz., sub-standard medicines about their availability at exorbitant prices, rising and soaring cost of living and non availability of medicines in hospitals and loss of employment in the private sector and a multitude of other immediate problems faced by the citizens of the country. At least now take some effort to solve these burning problems faced by the majority of citizens instead of acting as all these are non-existent if you are so concerned about the country and the welfare of the society.
Reza Monday, 31 July 2023 01:56 PM
Sri Lankans have lost their identity. Mainly due to the 225 1 who are incompetent. Till we have young strong clean leaders this rot and looting will continue.
Ron Monday, 31 July 2023 04:05 PM
If it's a mistake or purposely done it should handle the matter professionally the country have far toomany important issues need urgent addressing and fixing specially the majority poor families desperately need help.....cost of living inflation poor mans earning column against expense colum families have very dificult task to keep home fire burning
Ravi Monday, 31 July 2023 04:07 PM
Mr. Minister you better do your job first and do useful development work. Before talking petty.
Nimal Monday, 31 July 2023 04:15 PM
This was an insult to the entire nation.
Namo Namo Mahatha Tuesday, 01 August 2023 06:27 AM
Maybe to you, but her singing is much better than version demanded by unjust and suppressive government.
Hari duck Monday, 31 July 2023 04:25 PM
She sounded much better than whoever sings our anthem for any of our cricket matches. They do it in America and many other countries as well and it sounds good. We have to have pride when singing our anthem
mnsmart Monday, 31 July 2023 04:28 PM
Before singing the national anthem, put the country in a proper order to bring some meaning to the much respected anthem.
Born Again Plan Monday, 31 July 2023 04:36 PM
This is a plan by the Born Again top brass in the cricket board to slowly distort our culture. Surely the NGO clans support is behind it .
Willow Drive Monday, 31 July 2023 04:41 PM
So this is the need of hour?????
Sukuruttam Monday, 31 July 2023 05:01 PM
Minister is also talking crap there. He thinks the correct anthem is in the Youtube. Its lyrics and music notations are in the constitution, if he has read it. Not only the lyrics, even the singing pitch and the key in her singing was not according to it.
Namo Namo Mahatha Tuesday, 01 August 2023 06:28 AM
It is utterly a waste and demeaning to the nation to sing it according to the constitution. The Constitution has 13A, about Provincial Councils but what fool would take that seriously either. Constitution is not fit for purpose anymore.
Tissa Fernando Monday, 31 July 2023 05:11 PM
It us good to take legal action otherwise every Tom and gerrymandering will start distorting it for gaining publicity.. I am fan of Umaria but that does not mean we should keep quite about these acts.
Canadian Calamenda Monday, 31 July 2023 05:21 PM
Mr. Minister. Don’t you have better things to do other than finding faults in pity little things like these? Aren’t there enough of illegal activities within your government that you need to work on to improve the lives of the citizens in your nation?
Sing, sing and sing aloud. Monday, 31 July 2023 05:25 PM
Minister, just forget about it. You have more important matter to worry about. You are trying to get cheap popularity.
How do you put up with such morons like Vidura Wickramanayake? Monday, 31 July 2023 05:41 PM
I recently had an idea of retiring in Sri Lanka and I found myself browsing for properties. I then asked myself "how would you consider living amongst 6.9 million morons?". With that thought I quickly put the idea to rest. I'll stay put.
Ranil, put your house in order before there is another scandal Monday, 31 July 2023 05:46 PM
Can someone please put an end to this misery? Mr Minister, please find another job if you have nothing better to do.
M Fernando Monday, 31 July 2023 05:49 PM
This is a master-class on how to distract the attention of the people from the Real issues of the day.
A true patriot Monday, 31 July 2023 06:51 PM
Hon Minister; Don't you have anything useful to do for your motherland than trying to spending money and time taking legal action on a trivial matter?
Thilini Taraka SLC Monday, 31 July 2023 06:57 PM
Minister please short out the electricity bills to temples first. Poya is nearing.
Riza Rassool Monday, 31 July 2023 07:00 PM
Another distraction! Look there, not here.
Robin Banks Monday, 31 July 2023 07:04 PM
We Sri Lankans are cursed with some pedantic moronic politicians. No wonder the country is going to hell in a hand basket. Get a life you imbeciles and stop wasting public money and time.
Henry Mathiaz Monday, 31 July 2023 07:07 PM
The biggest insult is when the country is run by so called nationalists who are robbing the Sri Lanka dry! Get real, Nimal. Mispronouncing a word or two should be the least of your worry.
Reza Dole Monday, 31 July 2023 08:34 PM
Please bring down the prices of bread , now rice is in shortage, people are suffering from your unreasonable taxes, now you are trying to put your dirty hands in our EPF and ETF funds. We will get a chance soon to kick you all out..
Dan Thursday, 03 August 2023 07:59 AM
Don’t worry. They’ve jacked the price of water by 30 to 40 percent.
ANTON Monday, 31 July 2023 09:02 PM
NOW SHALANI THARAKA MIGHT THANK UMARIA FOR MAKING PEOPLE FORGET HER INVOVED IN SLC.
Fahim Knight. Monday, 31 July 2023 09:26 PM
Quote: Referring to the uproar over the video circulating on social media, wherein popular singer Umara Sinhawansa mispronounced a key lyric while performing the National Anthem at the 2023 LPL opening ceremony, Buddha Sasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake has warned of legal action against the incident. In an interview with the Daily Mirror, the Minister stated, "No one can distort the National Anthem of any country, as it represents the country's identity and culture. Therefore, incidents where the National Anthem is distorted cannot be tolerated." Unquote. I don't believe the lady had any ill intentions. As a popular singer, she wouldn't jeopardize her future by antagonizing the citizens. Moreover, no Sri Lankan would ever insult our National Anthem. However, I agree that whoever was in charge should have been more responsible. I think it would be appropriate for her to offer a public apology on Facebook, and we should accept it and move on.
Fahim Knight Monday, 31 July 2023 09:30 PM
Today, it is not the government of Sri Lanka that is suppressive; rather, it is a few citizens who are members of certain camps that have become disgusting thugs on the roads. When a netizen, by default, is unbiased and appreciates some members of the ruling party, he or she becomes a target. The government of Sri Lanka has failed miserably with law and order. There are murders on a daily basis, reckless drivers causing accidents, and buses toppling down precipices, killing innocent passengers who use public transport not by choice. Furthermore, there are thugs who assault citizens on the road. If the government is unable to protect netizens from goons of certain political camps, then let them defend themselves and provide them legal access to arm themselves. The entire law and order system has broken down, and it is disappointing to note that the government has not taken any serious action. please consider appointing a new Minister to deal with crime and to establish discipline
Ganesh Monday, 31 July 2023 11:04 PM
We have bigger burning issues. Stop trying to side track the people with insignificant issues. For crimes you politicians have committed this is a nonsensical statement
Ravi Perera Tuesday, 01 August 2023 12:47 AM
How about taking legal action against those who butchered the economy?
Tony Mahawa Tuesday, 01 August 2023 05:19 AM
wow this is the BIGGEST and ONLY problem Sri Lanka is facing at the moment.
Bandu Tuesday, 01 August 2023 05:19 AM
This is the biggest problem in the country? 15% of the under 5 are malnourished. Politian's are robbing the country. Let focus on sone lyrics...
Sambo Tuesday, 01 August 2023 07:43 AM
There are much more happenings in this country to look into than this slip of the mouth. Fisrt of all the lpl is held without the cons consent of the sports ministry, which is said to be illegal.
People have cost of living pressures but National Anthem is big issue Tuesday, 01 August 2023 07:48 AM
The nation is in multiple crisis, EPF is being looted, the medical system if failing with low quality products, and country cannot even meet the debt obligations affecting the cost of living of the public. The whole National Anthem matter is waste of time, with more practical matters of significance. Really the remix done is much better than the dull government National Anthem. There can be further improvement done too.
Cecil Hedwige Tuesday, 01 August 2023 08:50 AM
Ravi you are absolutely right.
Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 01 August 2023 08:53 AM
There is a confusion here. The article identities the name of this person as 'Umara Sinhawansa' but is this the same 'Umariya Sinhawansa ' who sings with Bathiya and Santosh group? Is the name misspelled ?
Mark Anandappa Tuesday, 01 August 2023 10:01 AM
Srilanka will be Srilanka always - you have 99 problems
Hard Truth Tuesday, 01 August 2023 10:48 AM
Namal and Mahinda can fix this problem
Kaputa Tuesday, 01 August 2023 11:30 AM
Why punish her ? Let the hooker sing, career in music is better than the other option.
Minister without Portfolio Tuesday, 01 August 2023 12:07 PM
Hon Minister; I know you have to divert attention from food, fertilizer, drugs, and other burning problems but find a better reason than wasting time on a Mahatha or Maatha.
Kondam Pala Tuesday, 01 August 2023 05:18 PM
These politicians cannot think of any burning problems of people! Making a good parliament! Leave the parliament for a new election - just touching sone issues to waste millions of public money while people are starving!
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