Mr. D. C. Peiris

Dr. Chanaka Peiris is a Senior Lecturer (Grade I) in Tabla at the Department of North Indian Music, Faculty of Music. He is also a classical performing artist, music composer, and academic researcher. He completed his schooling at Ananda College, Colombo.

He obtained his BMus (Hons) in Tabla with First Class from the Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, India, in 1997, and his MPhil in Music from the University of Kelaniya in 2006. He was awarded the PhD in Music by the University of Kelaniya in 2024, with research focusing on the mathematical aspects of North Indian Tala Shastra. In addition, he obtained the Vadya Visharad in Tabla from the Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapith, India, in 1990. He has also served as a resource person in numerous workshops conducted for music teachers and related professionals.

As an academic researcher, he published a book titled Tabla Dhvani in 2003, based on a research study on Tabla and playing techniques. He has authored several research articles in the field of music. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Abstract Book of the Undergraduate Research Symposium, Faculty of Music, from 2018 to 2021, and as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of C. de S. Kulathilake Archival and Research in 2023.

He is an ‘A’ Grade classical Tabla artist at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. As a classical solo artist, he has performed in numerous concerts, radio programmes, and television programmes in Sri Lanka and India, and has collaborated with many leading artists in both countries. As a composer, he has contributed a wide range of musical compositions.

In addition to his musical career, he has a keen interest in video production and has obtained a certificate in video production from the OCIC Sri Lanka.

He has been serving as Head of the Department of North Indian Music from April 2024 to date.

• Member – Board of Senet, UVPA (2024 to date)
• Head of the Department – Department of North Indian Music – (2024 to date).
• Faculty Representative – Library Committee, UVPA (2024 to date)
• Member- Editorial Board, Journal of C. de S. Kulathilake Archival and Research 2 No.2 (2023 December).
• Editor-in-Chief – Journal of C. de S. Kulathilake Archival and Research 2 No.1 (2023 June).
• Secretary – Faculty of Music Teachers’ Association, UVPA, (2021-2022)
• Editor-in-Chief – Abstract Book of the Undergraduate Research Symposium – 3, Faculty of Music, (2021)
• Convener – Undergraduate Research Symposium-3, Faculty of Music, UVPA, (2021)
• Member – Review Committee, Undergraduate Research Symposium – 3, Faculty of Music, UVPA, (2021)
• Member – Organizing Committee, Undergraduate Research Symposium – 3, Faculty of Music, UVPA, (2021)
• Coordinating Editor – Journal of C. de S. Kulathilake Archival and Research, C. de S. Kulathilake Archival and Research Unit, UVPA, 2020 January
• Member- Editorial Board, Music Research of Final Year Students, Faculty of Music, UVPA, (2020)
• Member – Research Development Committee, Faculty of Music, (2020 to date)
• Member – Web Committee, Faculty of Music, UVPA (2020 – 2024)
• Editor-in-Chief – Abstract Book of the Undergraduate Research Symposium – 2, Faculty of Music, (2019)
• Convener – Undergraduate Research Symposium-2, Faculty of Music, UVPA, (2019)
• Member – Review Committee, Undergraduate Research Symposium-2, Faculty of Music, UVPA, (2019)
• Member – Organizing Committee, Undergraduate Research Symposium-2, Faculty of Music, UVPA, (2019)
• Editor-in-Chief – Abstract Book of the Undergraduate Research Symposium -1, Faculty of Music, (2018)
• Convener – Undergraduate Research Symposium-1, Faculty of Music, UVPA, (2018)
• Member – Review Committee, Undergraduate Research Symposium-1, Faculty of Mu sic, UVPA, (2018)
• Member – Organizing Committee, Undergraduate Research Symposium-1, Faculty of Music, UVPA, (2018)
• Head – C. de S. Archival and Research Unit, Faculty of Music. UVPA, (2018 to 2021)
• Faculty Representative – Board of Senet, UVPA (2018 – 2021)
• Member – Theatre Committee of Faculty of Music, UVPA (2016 – 2019)
• Member – Review committee, Research Symposium of UVPA, (2015)
• Course Coordinator – MA in music, Postgraduate Centre, UVPA, (2012)
• Member- Committee of Postgraduate Studies, Postgraduate Centre, UVPA, (2012)
• Member- HETC project special committee, UVPA (2011)
• Secretory- Teaches Union of Faculty of Music, UVPA (2009 – 2011)
• External examination- MA in Music, University of Kelaniya,( 2010 to date)
• Member – Syllabus Committee, Department of North Indian Music, Faculty of Music,(2007- to date)
• Chief coordinator- Planning Board for the Establishment of the department of Avanaddha Vadya, (2009)
• Student Counselor – University of Kelaniya, (1998 – 2000)

Research Interests:

My research interest is mainly focused on the field of the Indian Tal system. My current research is to study the mathematical background of the North Indian Tal system. And the pre-history of Sri Lanka is also another research field that I am interested in.

Publications:

Book

• Peiris. D. C., (2003). Tablā Dhvani.Yakkala: an authot publication.

Research Articles

• (2004). Tablāva bhāratīya nirmāṇayak da?. Samajja saṁhita-5. Colombo: Institute of Aesthetics Studies.
• (2005). Srī Lānkēya hā bhāratīya avanaddha bhānda sambandha āgamika viśvāsa. Kalā sangarāva,62-62. Colombo: Arts council of Sri Lanka
• (2005). Sangīta bhānda prabhavaya. State Music Festival Young Artist Award Ceremony. Colombo: Department of Cultural Affairs.
• (2006). Mata vimasumak- Avanaddha bhānda. Miyasi Subasa. Colombo: Faculty Students Association of the University of the Visual & Performing Arts.
• (2006). Srī lāṁkēya avanaddha bhānda kerehi vidēśīya balapǟma. Saundarya Kalā Vimarśana-1. Colombo: University of the Visual & Performing Arts.
• (2007). Avanaddha bhāndayē sannivēdana kāryaya. Saundarya Kalā Vimarśana-2. Colombo: University of the Visual & Performing Arts.
• (2008). Paṅcatūrya yanu paṅcavidha bhānda vargīkaraṇayak da?. Kalā sangarāva-1,Vol III. Colombo: Arts council of Sri Lanka
• (2011). Uttara bhāratīya tāla paddhatiyē tālī- khālī bhāvitaya. Research Symposium-1. Colombo: University of the Visual & Performing Arts.
• (2013). Ridma, tāla, laya pilibanda vigrahayak. Sangitānjali-2. Colombo: Department of Cultural Affairs
• (2012-2013) Paṅcāṅgika tūrya saṁkalpaya srī lāṁkēya saṁgītabhānda vargīkaranayak da?. Paryēshana Parisaṁvāda Vistruta Ekatuwa. Colombo: University of the Visual & Performing Arts.
• (2014). Uttara bhāratīya tāla saṁkalpaya. Saundarya Kalā Vimarśana-6. Colombo: University of the Visual & Performing Arts.
• (2016). Tihāi nirmānayē gaṇitamaya pätikada. Saundarya Kalā Vimarśana-7. Colombo: University of the Visual & Performing Arts.
• (2018). Uttara bhāratīya saṁgītayē bhāvita laya saṁkalpaya. International Research Symposium-1. Colombo: University of the Visual & Performing Arts.
• (2020). The concept of laya in north indian music. Journal of C.de S.Kulatilake Archival and Research 1(1). Colombo: C.de S.Kulatilake Archival and Research Unit.
• (2022). bhāratīya mātrāvē adyatana swar󠆷ūpaya. Research Abstracts – International Research Symposium. Colombo: Faculty of Music UVPA.
• (2023).  bhāratīya hā sri lānkēya tāla pilibanda saṁsandanātmaka vigrahayak. sāhitya kalā vimarśana. Colombo: S. Godage & Bros.

Creative works:

Google Scholar   |  Research Gate

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