Iraj Weeraratne
Iraj Weeraratne | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 February 1981 |
| Education | Royal College, Colombo |
| Alma mater | Northumbria University[citation needed] |
| Occupations |
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| Musical career | |
| Genres |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels |
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Iraj Weeraratne (born 21 February 1981), known professionally as IRAJ, is a Sri Lankan rapper, music producer, and DJ. While recognized for introducing Sinhala and Tamil rap to the local music scene, his career has been overshadowed by controversies involving political affiliations, misinformation, and hate speech allegations.
Career
[edit | edit source]Weeraratne was educated at Royal College, Colombo and later claimed to have studied at Northumbria University, although this remains unverified. He won a best keyboardist award from Guildhall Music School at the age of 16 and formed the band Zealots with his schoolmates, including Ranidu Lankage.[1]
He composed music for the 2009 Tamil film Vettaikaaran, but later faced legal issues during a trip to Chennai in connection to the project.[2]
In 2020, he was appointed to the Board of the National Youth Services Council by Namal Rajapaksa, a move that was widely criticized due to his lack of relevant experience.[3] He resigned in 2021 citing "work-related commitments".[4]
Political affiliations and backlash
[edit | edit source]Weeraratne has been a vocal supporter of the Rajapaksa family, especially Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Namal Rajapaksa. During the 2022 Sri Lankan protests, he used social media to defend the government and criticize protestors, which resulted in widespread public backlash. His residence in Kirulapone was vandalized by protestors in May 2022.[5][6]
He has been accused of participating in coordinated propaganda efforts and spreading disinformation. In 2021, Facebook removed his page over fake news allegations involving COVID-19 antigen test kits.[7]
In March 2025, Weeraratne was summoned by Sri Lanka’s Cyber Crimes Division over a video in which he alleged fraudulent donation requests related to the Temple of the Tooth.[8]
Recent controversies
[edit | edit source]In 2023, civil organisations in Australia petitioned against one of his concerts, accusing him of hate speech, political propaganda, and discriminatory views, particularly toward marginalized communities.[9]
In February 2025, Weeraratne took legal action against individuals who insulted him and his family on social media platforms.[10]
Discography
[edit | edit source]Albums
[edit | edit source]- Iraj – MEntertainments (2010)
- Chapter 02: Aloke – MEntertainments (2013)
- Manamali (2017)
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Iraj Weeraratne at IMDb
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