C/O Roy fernaWhen I was a student of Maris Stella College in grade 5, I was really interested in music which made me to learn the guitar in 1976. I was only 11years of age at that time. I learnt to play the guitar from my elder brother Chandralal Fernando. He was my first teacher. In 1978 my father T.J.F Fernando bought me a box guitar. Since then I was able to win the first place in many singing competitions which held in the college. When I was in grade 7 in the 1978, I got together with few of my friends namely Janaka, Roohan and Sudath and formed a small group and started to practice. But as we were busy with our studies we had to give it up. But I still continued to practice my guitar which I never gave up. When I was in grade 9, I got the opportunity to join with the college band and we were the once who played for the college band for the very first time. Gradually I became interested in playing the lead guitar and I started to practice it. In 1980 joining with Ravi Jayawardana, I organized a carol service and started practicing for it. Later on Ravi and myself suggested to form a group along with Ravi's brother Suresh. We named the group as "GALAXIES" and started the group in 1983. The name "GALAXIES" was suggested by Ravi's mother Weeda Margert Jayawardana. My father bought us a sound system for our practices. We got the opportunity for the very first time to perform as a group at my brother Chandralal's daughter's christening party in our home itself on 24th June 1984. Ravi Jayawardana had to give up the band as he became very busy. So I along with some of my other friends continued the practices of "GALAXIES" band. As I was really keen on performing in a out door stage and providing music for the leading singers of Srilanka, I decided to recruit one of the l leading drummer in Srilanka Lushan Alahacoon to my band.On 5th of October in 1987 we performed our first out stage musical show in the celebration of Nelumpitiya Church Feast at Galkatuwa. It was organized by Chandrasiri Fernando and the youth club. I played the lead guitar while the rhythm guitar was played by Lal Fernando. The keyboard was played by Sujeewa Kariyakarawana and the base guitar was played by Sherly. Lushan Alacoone joined us playing the drums in this very first show. After this show we received many invitations to perform at live band musical shows and then we were able to establish our band as one of the leading bands in Srilanka and little by little we became popular. Since then I was able to encounter with many challenges and obstacles up to now in continuing this long journey of my band. My band was really fortunate to have an opportunity to perform at the popular programme "NANDANA VINDANA" which telecasted on the only channel Jathika Rupavahini in 1989. I really appreciate the support given to us by the popular artist Samanda Silva and Michel Perera for having this opportunity to perform at this programme. I can not also forget the support given by