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re-created, popular in Sri Lanka
 
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{{Short description|Sri Lankan singer}}
'''Iraj Weeraratne''' born February 21,1981, is a [[Sri Lanka]]n music producer based in Sri Lanka, known for his involvement in the island’s new generation music.


{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=February 2015}}
{{Copy edit|date=November 2024}}
{{Tone|date=November 2024}}
{{Confusing|date=November 2024}}
{{Too few opinions|date=November 2024}}
}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Iraj Weerarathne
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age |1981|02|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Colombo]], [[Sri Lanka]]
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality = [[Sri Lanka]]n
| education = [[Royal College, Colombo]], Sri Lanka
| alma_mater = [[Northumbria University]], UK{{cn|date=September 2024}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|Music Producer|DJ}}
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| instrument = {{hlist|Piano|Synthesizer|Drum Machine|DJ}}
| genre = {{hlist|Hiphop|Pop|RnB|Electronic|Indian Pop}}{{cn|date=September 2024}}
| years_active = 2003-present
| label = {{hlist|MEntertainment|Ill Noize Records}}
| associated_acts = [[Sean Kingston]] <br> [[Ranidu Lankage]] <br> [[R.I.O]] <br> [[Kurupt]] <br> [[Dilan Jay]] <br> [[Krishan Maheson]] <br> [[Vijay Antony]] <br> [[Carlprit]] <br> [[Dilshad Nahar Kona]] <br> [[Yama Buddha]] <br> [[Neha Kakkar]] <br> [[Soulja Boy]]
}}
}}


'''Iraj Weeraratne''' (born 21 February 1981) known professionally as '''IRAJ''' is a [[Sri Lankan people|Sri Lankan]] [[Rapper]], [[Music Producer]] and [[DJ]]. Weeraratne had a television show on [[TV Derana|Derana TV]] called "Iraj Show".<ref>{{Citation|title=Iraj Show|url=https://www.youtube.com/@IrajShow|date=September 2021}}{{unreliable source inline|date=September 2024}}</ref> He is known as a prominent hip-hop and RnB artist in Sri Lanka. He was the first person to introduce Sinhala rap as well as Tamil rap to Sri Lanka in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|last=E!Online|date=2020-04-28|title=10 Reasons IRAJ Became The King Of Sri Lankan Hip-Hop - E! Online|url=https://eonlinesrilanka.com/10-reasons-iraj-became-the-king-of-sri-lankan-hip-hop/|access-date=2022-02-01|language=en-US}}</ref>


His first South Indian composition together with [[Vijay Antony|Vijay Anthony]] featured in the 2009 Tamil film, ''[[Vettaikaaran (2009 film)|Vettaikaaran]]'', starring [[Kollywood]] star Vijay and was ranked number one in the Chennai Charts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Iraj detained in Chennai - Breaking News {{!}} Daily Mirror|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/iraj-detained-in-chennai/108-4578|access-date=2022-02-01|website=www.dailymirror.lk|language=English}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}


During different election periods in [[Sri Lanka]], Iraj actively participated in [[facebook]], [[twitter]] and other social media platforms for political sponsoring in solidification with the [[Rajapaksa]] camp.<ref>{{Citation|title=Suspension of Facebook page: Iraj wants Prez to intervene|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Suspension-of-Facebook-page-Iraj-wants-Prez-to-intervene/108-170835|date=10 July 2019|language=English}}</ref> He also contributed to content that promoted [[political campaigns]] and mobilised his several followers to have a specific type of opinion.<ref>{{Citation|title=ගායන ශිල්පී ඉරාජ් වීරරත්නට ෆේස්බුක් වැසෙයි|url=https://gossip.hirufm.lk/64379/2021/08/iraj-weerarathne.html|date=24 August 2021|language=Sinhala}}{{unreliable source inline|date=September 2024}}</ref> Iraj has been accused of being part of [[propaganda]] campaigns all with an aim of making the ruling parties he supports gain acceptance from the public.<ref>{{Citation|title=Sri Lanka’s CID investigates singer for ‘defaming Buddhism’|url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/sri-lanka%E2%80%99s-cid-investigates-singer-%E2%80%98defaming-buddhism%E2%80%99}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Iraj's Facebook Page Unpublished By Facebook Over Complaints On Fake News Item On Antigen Test Kits|url=https://asianmirror.lk/news/item/33455-jvp-says-iraj-s-facebook-page-unpublished-by-facebook-over-complaints-on-fake-news-item-on-antigen-test-kits|date=26 August 2021|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=මාව හිරේ දැම්මේ ඉරාජ්, ඩෑන් ඇතුළු පිරිසක් එක්ව කළ කුමන්ත්‍රණයකින්
==Reference==
|url=https://sinhala.asianmirror.lk/news/local/damitha-abeyratne-2/|date=2 May 2024}}</ref> He has been more involved in the media and acts as a [[public figure]] that has exacerbated these allegations.<ref>{{Citation|title=ගෝඨාගේ-කුමන්ත්රණය|url=https://dasathalankanews.com/%e0%b6%9c%e0%b7%9d%e0%b6%a8%e0%b7%8f%e0%b6%9c%e0%b7%9a-%e0%b6%9a%e0%b7%94%e0%b6%b8%e0%b6%b1%e0%b7%8a%e0%b6%ad%e0%b7%8a%e0%b6%bb%e0%b6%ab%e0%b6%ba-%e0%b6%a0%e0%b7%92%e0%b6%ad%e0%b7%8a/|date=9 March 2022|language=Sinhala}}</ref>


In 2023, Iraj has been sitting under heavy backlash and calls for [[boycott]]s because he’s been affiliating with [[Namal Rajapaksa]] and [[Yoshitha Rajapaksa]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Four Sri Lankan Civil Organizations Petition Against Iraj's Concert in Australia|url=https://citizen.lk/article.php?slug=four-sri-lankan-civil-organizations-petition-against-iraj-s-concert-in-australia|date=2 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Yoshitha denies rumors that he assaulted musician Iraj
* [http://www.google.lk/search?hl=en&q=iraj+weeraratne&btnG=Search&meta= Iraj Weeraratne in Google Search]
|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/latest_news/Yoshitha-denies-rumors-that-he-assaulted-musician-Iraj/342-219069}}</ref> His public support for the [[Gotabaya Rajapaksa]] government, for example in the [[Galle Face]] [[2022 Sri Lankan protests]], attracted public ire.<ref>{{Citation|title=Iraj's Kirulapone residence vandalized|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2022/05/11/video-irajs-kirulapone-residence-vandalized|date=11 May 2022}}</ref> Critics fingered his [[social media]] criticism of protestors and saw his work in countering their efforts to breed discontent among [[activists]] and [[citizens]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Social media activists grilled by CID over Iraj’s complaint|url=https://www.themorning.lk/articles/209409|date=5 Jul 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=“හොරුන්ට කඩේ යනවා නම් මම මගේ පුතාට වුණත් විරුද්ධ වෙනවා” – ඉරාජ් ගැනත් කියමින් ප්‍රිතිරාජ් වීරරත්න කියූ කතාව|url=https://am.lk/2014-05-29-09-30-04/item/69691-2022-04-28-15-25-29|language=sinhala}}</ref> It was fed by numerous incidents, including last May when a group of protestors stoned his family home, a moment of escalating tensions between the government and citizens during [[Sri Lankan economic crisis]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Iraj Weeraratne's house in Kirulapone attacked|url=https://www.hirunews.lk/english/304073/iraj-weeraratnes-house-in-kirulapone-attacked-video|date=11 May 2022}}</ref>


== Career ==
He won the best keyboardist title which was awarded by Guildhall Music School at the age of 16. He later teamed up with his schoolmates [[Ranidu Lankage]] and Yauwana Wigneswaran to form a band titled ‘’Zealots’’ while still studying at the Royal College, Colombo.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mirror Magazine|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/041219/mirror/4.html|access-date=2022-02-01|website=www.sundaytimes.lk}}</ref> He owns the [[Bongo BD|Bongohd]] firm in Bangladesh.<ref>{{Citation |title=කුඩු ගහන මන්ත්‍රීලා මම දන්නවා {{!}} Talk With Chatura (Full Episode) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVdhxADdBY0 |language=en |access-date=2022-05-07}}{{unreliable source|date=September 2024}}</ref> In August 2020, he was appointed as the board member of National Youth Service Council by [[Namal Rajapaksa]] and he was supposed to serve in the relevant position for a period of three years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Iraj made director at NYSC|url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2020/08/18/local/226240/iraj-made-director-nysc|access-date=2022-02-01|website=Daily News|language=en}}</ref> However, a year later after his appointment he resigned from the position citing unavoidable poor work-related commitments.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-25|title=Iraj quits NYSC Director Board|url=http://www.themorning.lk/iraj-quits-nysc-director-board/|access-date=2022-02-01|website=The Morning - Sri Lanka News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=bugsbunny|date=2021-08-25|title=Iraj sends resignation letter to Namal Rajapaksa|url=https://colombogazette.com/2021/08/25/iraj-sends-resignation-letter-to-namal-rajapaksa/|access-date=2022-02-01|website=Colombo Gazette|language=en-US}}</ref>


==Discography==
{{stub}}
{{no sources section|date=September 2024}}
=== Albums ===
* ''Iraj'' - M Entertainments (2010)
* ''Chapter 02: Aloke'' - M Entertainments (2013)
* ''Manamali'' (2017)


== Record labels ==
{{no sources section|date=September 2024}}
* Universal Music Group
* Sony BMG Music Entertainment
* M-Entertainment


=== Popular music videos ===
{{div col}}
* ''Poo Pookum Tharunam''
* ''Vise Kurutta''
* ''Mathinta''
* ''Mage himikari''
* ''Thiruda''
* ''J town story''
* ''Sweety Manika''
* ''Your love''
* ''Just 1 Click''
* ''Dekhechi''
* ''Anuvhuti''
* ''Timi Ra Ma''
* ''Nachna''
* ''Sina mal''
* ''Yayata Payana''
* ''Gemak Deela''
* ''Ahankaara Nagare''
* ''Aloke''
* ''Behuli'
* ''Mama Sil bindagaththe''
* ''Kathandare''
* ''Giniyam rae''
* ''Ashawari'
* ''Aaradhana''
* ''Wassana heee''
* ''Yeanadi penne''
* ''Cleaopatra''
* ''Thurule Nidan'
* ''Danuna''
* ''Innam ma''
* ''Hithumathe''
* ''Mata Sithanna be''
* ''Mr.Koththu''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sarigama.lk/sinhala-song/iraj-weerarathna/mr-kothu/e2cff03f-fe28-4b91-bd48-f018538120bd/|title=Mr Kothu Iraj Weerarathna Sinhala Song - SARIGAMA.LK |website=Sarigama|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-07}}</ref>
* ''Bambara Patikka - Hondata Math Una''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sarigama.lk/sinhala-song/iraj-weerarathna/bambara-patikka-hondata-math-una/f364ba8b-2f51-492f-9082-8f0f5995085e/|title=Bambara Patikka - Hondata Math Una Iraj Weerarathna Sinhala Song - SARIGAMA.LK |website=Sarigama|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-08}}</ref>
* ''Dasa Themila Heena Penguna''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sarigama.lk/sinhala-song/iraj-weerarathna/dasa-themila-heena-penguna/0122dea2-52a0-420e-ae5e-31be83421f3d/|title=Dasa Themila Heena Penguna Iraj Weerarathna Sinhala Song - SARIGAMA.LK |website=Sarigama|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-08}}</ref>
* ''Lion Nation''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sarigama.lk/sinhala-song/iraj-weerarathna/lion-nation/994fd804-cda4-4f18-9f27-75780aed4b2c/|title=Lion Nation Iraj Weerarathna Sinhala Song - SARIGAMA.LK |website=Sarigama|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-08}}</ref>
*''Hansiye''
*''Sewaha''
*''Warayo''
*''E Hitha''
*''Hithumathe''
*''Mon Janey''
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5577005/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 Iraj] at IMDb

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weeraratne, Iraj}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Northumbria University]]
[[Category:Sinhalese people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sinhalese singers]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan male singer-songwriters]]


{{SriLanka-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 22:54, 19 November 2024

Iraj Weerarathne
Born (1981-02-21) 21 February 1981 (age 43)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationRoyal College, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Alma materNorthumbria University, UK[citation needed]
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • Music Producer
  • DJ
Musical career
Genres
  • Hiphop
  • Pop
  • RnB
  • Electronic
  • Indian Pop
[citation needed]
Instruments
  • Piano
  • Synthesizer
  • Drum Machine
  • DJ
Years active2003-present
Labels
  • MEntertainment
  • Ill Noize Records

Iraj Weeraratne (born 21 February 1981) known professionally as IRAJ is a Sri Lankan Rapper, Music Producer and DJ. Weeraratne had a television show on Derana TV called "Iraj Show".[1] He is known as a prominent hip-hop and RnB artist in Sri Lanka. He was the first person to introduce Sinhala rap as well as Tamil rap to Sri Lanka in 2004.[2]

His first South Indian composition together with Vijay Anthony featured in the 2009 Tamil film, Vettaikaaran, starring Kollywood star Vijay and was ranked number one in the Chennai Charts.[3][citation needed]

During different election periods in Sri Lanka, Iraj actively participated in facebook, twitter and other social media platforms for political sponsoring in solidification with the Rajapaksa camp.[4] He also contributed to content that promoted political campaigns and mobilised his several followers to have a specific type of opinion.[5] Iraj has been accused of being part of propaganda campaigns all with an aim of making the ruling parties he supports gain acceptance from the public.[6][7][8] He has been more involved in the media and acts as a public figure that has exacerbated these allegations.[9]

In 2023, Iraj has been sitting under heavy backlash and calls for boycotts because he’s been affiliating with Namal Rajapaksa and Yoshitha Rajapaksa.[10][11] His public support for the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government, for example in the Galle Face 2022 Sri Lankan protests, attracted public ire.[12] Critics fingered his social media criticism of protestors and saw his work in countering their efforts to breed discontent among activists and citizens.[13][14] It was fed by numerous incidents, including last May when a group of protestors stoned his family home, a moment of escalating tensions between the government and citizens during Sri Lankan economic crisis.[15]

Career

[edit]

He won the best keyboardist title which was awarded by Guildhall Music School at the age of 16. He later teamed up with his schoolmates Ranidu Lankage and Yauwana Wigneswaran to form a band titled ‘’Zealots’’ while still studying at the Royal College, Colombo.[16] He owns the Bongohd firm in Bangladesh.[17] In August 2020, he was appointed as the board member of National Youth Service Council by Namal Rajapaksa and he was supposed to serve in the relevant position for a period of three years.[18] However, a year later after his appointment he resigned from the position citing unavoidable poor work-related commitments.[19][20]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
  • Iraj - M Entertainments (2010)
  • Chapter 02: Aloke - M Entertainments (2013)
  • Manamali (2017)

Record labels

[edit]
  • Universal Music Group
  • Sony BMG Music Entertainment
  • M-Entertainment
[edit]
  • Poo Pookum Tharunam
  • Vise Kurutta
  • Mathinta
  • Mage himikari
  • Thiruda
  • J town story
  • Sweety Manika
  • Your love
  • Just 1 Click
  • Dekhechi
  • Anuvhuti
  • Timi Ra Ma
  • Nachna
  • Sina mal
  • Yayata Payana
  • Gemak Deela
  • Ahankaara Nagare
  • Aloke
  • Behuli'
  • Mama Sil bindagaththe
  • Kathandare
  • Giniyam rae
  • Ashawari'
  • Aaradhana
  • Wassana heee
  • Yeanadi penne
  • Cleaopatra
  • Thurule Nidan'
  • Danuna
  • Innam ma
  • Hithumathe
  • Mata Sithanna be
  • Mr.Koththu[21]
  • Bambara Patikka - Hondata Math Una[22]
  • Dasa Themila Heena Penguna[23]
  • Lion Nation[24]
  • Hansiye
  • Sewaha
  • Warayo
  • E Hitha
  • Hithumathe
  • Mon Janey

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Iraj Show, September 2021[unreliable source?]
  2. ^ E!Online (2020-04-28). "10 Reasons IRAJ Became The King Of Sri Lankan Hip-Hop - E! Online". Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  3. ^ "Iraj detained in Chennai - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  4. ^ Suspension of Facebook page: Iraj wants Prez to intervene, 10 July 2019
  5. ^ ගායන ශිල්පී ඉරාජ් වීරරත්නට ෆේස්බුක් වැසෙයි (in Sinhala), 24 August 2021[unreliable source?]
  6. ^ Sri Lanka’s CID investigates singer for ‘defaming Buddhism’
  7. ^ Iraj's Facebook Page Unpublished By Facebook Over Complaints On Fake News Item On Antigen Test Kits, 26 August 2021
  8. ^ "මාව හිරේ දැම්මේ ඉරාජ්, ඩෑන් ඇතුළු පිරිසක් එක්ව කළ කුමන්ත්‍රණයකින්". 2 May 2024.
  9. ^ ගෝඨාගේ-කුමන්ත්රණය (in Sinhala), 9 March 2022
  10. ^ Four Sri Lankan Civil Organizations Petition Against Iraj's Concert in Australia, 2 July 2023
  11. ^ Yoshitha denies rumors that he assaulted musician Iraj
  12. ^ Iraj's Kirulapone residence vandalized, 11 May 2022
  13. ^ Social media activists grilled by CID over Iraj’s complaint, 5 Jul 2022
  14. ^ ""හොරුන්ට කඩේ යනවා නම් මම මගේ පුතාට වුණත් විරුද්ධ වෙනවා" – ඉරාජ් ගැනත් කියමින් ප්‍රිතිරාජ් වීරරත්න කියූ කතාව" (in Sinhala).
  15. ^ Iraj Weeraratne's house in Kirulapone attacked, 11 May 2022
  16. ^ "Mirror Magazine". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  17. ^ කුඩු ගහන මන්ත්‍රීලා මම දන්නවා | Talk With Chatura (Full Episode), retrieved 2022-05-07[unreliable source?]
  18. ^ "Iraj made director at NYSC". Daily News. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  19. ^ "Iraj quits NYSC Director Board". The Morning - Sri Lanka News. 2021-08-25. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  20. ^ bugsbunny (2021-08-25). "Iraj sends resignation letter to Namal Rajapaksa". Colombo Gazette. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  21. ^ "Mr Kothu Iraj Weerarathna Sinhala Song - SARIGAMA.LK". Sarigama. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  22. ^ "Bambara Patikka - Hondata Math Una Iraj Weerarathna Sinhala Song - SARIGAMA.LK". Sarigama. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  23. ^ "Dasa Themila Heena Penguna Iraj Weerarathna Sinhala Song - SARIGAMA.LK". Sarigama. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  24. ^ "Lion Nation Iraj Weerarathna Sinhala Song - SARIGAMA.LK". Sarigama. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
[edit]


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