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5 unusual facts about Annesley Malewana


Annesley Malewana

The Moonstones were managed by the advertising man Sri Sangabo Corea and were mentored by the legendary Radio Ceylon broadcaster Vernon Corea and his cousin Vijaya Corea.

Calypso-style baila

Sri Lankan groups such as Los Cabelleros led by Neville Fernando (first ever Sinhala pop group), Las Bambas, The Humming Birds, Los Muchachos, and The Moonstones (whose members included Annesley Malewana and Clarence Wijewardane) practiced this music, which melded Caribbean rhythms to traditional Sri Lankan baila music.

Clarence Wijewardena

Wijewardena formed the Moonstones at the age of 21 with Annesley Malewana as lead vocalist.

In 1976, when Vernon Corea was invited to present the first Asian radio programme in English on BBC Radio London called 'London Sounds Eastern' he played the music of Wijewardena and Annesley Malewana, introducing them to a whole new audience in London.

London Sounds Eastern

A whole host of Asian stars were featured - Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Usha Uthup, Ravi Shankar, Pandith Amaradeva, Asian actress Jamila Massey and her husband the writer Reginald Massey, Clarence Wijewardene, Annesley Malewana, Mignonne Fernando, Nimal Mendis, The Gypsies, Desmond de Silva were some of the South Asian stars on 'London Sounds Eastern.'


Mariazelle Goonetilleke

She has also collaborated with some of Sri Lanka's top musicians, among them Sunil Perera of the Gypsies, M.S. Fernando, Dalreen Suby, Clarence Wijewardena, Annesley Malewana, Damian Wickramatilleke, Maxi Rozairo, Shanelle Fernando, Umara Sinhawansa, Ashanthi De Alwis and Raj Seneviratne.


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