GROUP BIOGRAPHY

The story of Pahan Silu begins in early 2002, when Priyan Weerappuli met Lochana Talagala; a student of the classical guitar, who had recently moved to Michigan from Abu Dhabi.  Later that year, the two were introduced to vocalist Shirantha Kannangara (at a Sinhalese/Tamil new year festival); and the three musicians began meeting at one another's homes to rehearse the short list of songs Priyan had written previously - it was during one of these meetings that Priyan and Shirantha composed the bands first full song 'Mihiraki Oba'.

In early 2003; Priyan, Lochana, and Shirantha were joined by violinist Chinthana Herath, drummer Sujit Weerasinghe, tablist Chinthaka Weerappuli, keyboardist Sanjaya Abeysirigunawardena, and vocalists Shripal Fernando and Samadhi Liyanage.  This group, which was dubbed Pahan Silu by Priyan's father after a verse in the classical poem 'Guttila' (written by Vaeththaeva Himi) - later adapted into the song Ru Rase Andhina Lese by Susil Premaratne; began meeting regularly to rehearse and perform their original compositions for small audiences throughout the midwestern United States.  The success of these initial performances inspired Priyan to return to his initial compositions, and to expand their musical and lyrical range.

In 2005, following the departures of Shirantha, Chinthaka, and Sanjaya (all of whom left to focus on their academic careers); the members of Pahan Silu were joined by guitarist Venura Jayasekera, tablist K. Jayawardene, keyboardist Deepthi Weerappuli (Priyan's mother), and vocalist Dharshan Talagala (Lochana's father).  Venura, who had performed with several small bands in Sri Lanka, brought with him stage experience, and (more importantly) an interest in performing largely acoustic arrangements - one that Priyan and Lochana both shared.

Following Venura's arrival in late 2005; he, Priyan, and Lochana (who are sometimes referred to as the creative core of Pahan Silu) returned to the studio and began dissecting the catalog of songs they had composed during the years prior.  The results of these collaborations have been some of the most original music that has emerged in Sri Lanka since the late 1990s - when pop/rap group Bathiya and Santhush released their freshman album 'Vasanthaye'.

In late 2006, the members of Pahan Silu were joined by vocalists Ruwan Jayaweera, Praveen Fernandopulle, and Shirantha (who had returned after a one year hiatus), and together, recorded what would become their first publicly-released single - Siripada (released on the radio in December 2006, and on CD January 1st, 2007).  The success this single enjoyed, though modest, earned the group an opportunity to perform on the BBC Sinhala Service's tribute to Pandit Amaradeva (held on the occasion of his 80th birthday) in December 2007.  It was for this program that Priyan composed the song that would become their sophomore single - Mirayen Eha Thale (roughly translated: 'On a Distant Shore').

By late 2008, they had released their second single and music video 'Mihiraki Oba', and had begun rehearsing with guitarists Umanga deSilva and Brian Rishi Fernando, as well as the Sudanese Gospel Choir of Metropolitan Phoenix to perform, and record, their third single - 'Yala' (which was launched on YouTube in January 2009).

Currently, the band is in the studio recording their fourth and fifth singles ('Gamanak Yanowa' and 'Lelena Pahan Silu'), and preparing for their first US tour (tentatively scheduled for SUMMER 2010).