Lyricist | Creative Thinker | Civil Engineer

Introduction
Nayanasena Wanninayaka was a Sri Lankan creative artist whose contribution to music and poetry reflected a deep sensitivity to nature, emotion, and human experience. Known primarily as a lyricist, he brought evocative imagery and poetic refinement to song, enriching Sri Lanka’s contemporary musical expression. Beyond his artistic pursuits, he was also a civil engineer by profession, having completed his studies at the Hardy Advanced Technological Institute, Ampara. This rare combination of technical discipline and artistic sensibility defined both his work and his worldview.

Though he did not seek widespread public recognition, Nayanasena’s contributions endure through the words he wrote, the music he helped shape, and the memories he left behind among those who knew and worked with him.

Educational Background and Professional Life

Nayanasena Wanninayaka completed his formal technical education at the Hardy Advanced Technological Institute (HATI), Ampara, one of Sri Lanka’s respected institutions for applied and technical education. The institute has a long-standing reputation for producing skilled professionals in engineering and technology, particularly in disciplines that contribute directly to national development.

As a civil engineering graduate, Nayanasena belonged to a profession central to society’s progress. Civil engineering involves the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure such as buildings, roads, water systems, and public facilities. It demands precision, responsibility, analytical thinking, and a deep understanding of how human life interacts with the built environment.

Those who pursue civil engineering often develop a mindset rooted in structure, balance, and long-term impact—qualities that can also shape artistic expression. In Nayanasena’s case, this technical grounding appears to have complemented his creative instincts, allowing him to observe the world with both practical clarity and poetic depth.

Artistic Contribution and Lyric Writing

Nayanasena’s documented artistic legacy is found in his work as a lyricist, where his words became the emotional core of musical compositions. One notable example is the song “Thisa Wewa Langa Ralapanawe” (තිසාවැව ළඟ රළපනාවේ), for which he wrote the lyrics.

The song was:

• Lyrics: Nayanasena Wanninayaka
• Music: Nalaka Anjana Kumara
• Vocals: Krishantha Erandaka

This collaboration highlights his role in the collective creative process, where lyricist, composer, and performer come together to create a unified artistic experience.

Lyric writing in Sri Lankan music holds a special cultural position. Lyrics are not merely words set to melody; they are vehicles of memory, emotion, place, and identity. Nayanasena’s writing reflects this tradition, emphasizing imagery and atmosphere rather than overt narration.

Themes and Poetic Style

An examination of the available lyrics attributed to Nayanasena Wanninayaka reveals a strong affinity for nature-based symbolism and introspective mood. References to reservoirs, moonlight, night air, and subtle movement create a calm yet emotionally resonant setting.

Key thematic elements include:

• Nature as emotional mirror: Landscapes are not passive backdrops but active participants in expressing feeling.
• Stillness and reflection: His writing often conveys quiet moments—times of pause, memory, and contemplation.
• Cultural rootedness: By drawing inspiration from familiar Sri Lankan environments, his lyrics resonate deeply with local sensibilities while remaining universally relatable.

Such qualities suggest a lyricist who valued subtlety over excess, allowing listeners space to interpret and feel rather than be instructed.

The Intersection of Engineering and Art

What makes Nayanasena Wanninayaka particularly distinctive is the coexistence of two seemingly different worlds within one life: engineering and art.

Engineering is governed by rules, calculations, safety margins, and precision. Art, on the other hand, thrives on intuition, emotion, and abstraction. Yet both disciplines require creativity, discipline, and vision.

Nayanasena’s life demonstrates that these domains are not opposites but complements. His engineering background may have influenced the structure and clarity of his lyrical compositions, while his artistic sensibility may have brought human warmth and imagination into his professional outlook.

This balance reflects a broader truth: creativity is not confined to the arts alone, and technical professions can be deeply enriched by artistic awareness.

Public Presence and Legacy

Nayanasena Wanninayaka was not a figure of mass publicity, and much of his work exists within community, collaborative, and personal artistic circles rather than formal archives. This is true of many meaningful contributors whose impact is felt more deeply than it is documented.

His legacy lives on through:

• The songs that carry his words,
• The collaborators who shared creative journeys with him,
• The family, friends, and colleagues who remember his quiet dedication and thoughtful nature.

Such legacies are often the most enduring, rooted not in fame but in authentic contribution and human connection.

Passing and Remembrance

Nayanasena Wanninayaka passed away a few years ago, leaving behind a sense of loss among those who knew him personally and professionally. His passing marked the end of a life that gracefully balanced responsibility and creativity, logic and imagination.

While his physical presence is no longer with us, his words continue to echo through music, and his influence remains alive in memory.

Condolence and Tribute

With deepest respect and remembrance, we honour the life and legacy of Nayanasena Wanninayaka.

He was a man who quietly bridged worlds—engineering and art, structure and emotion—leaving behind work that speaks gently yet meaningfully. His contributions as a lyricist and his service as a civil engineer reflect a life lived with purpose, sensitivity, and integrity.

May his words continue to inspire reflection, and may his soul attain eternal peace.

Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and all who were touched by his life and work.

May he rest in peace.