He composed the Sri Lankan national anthem "Namo Namo Matha" and is considered the father of artistic Sinhala music and founder of the modern Sri Lankan Sinhala Geeta Sahitya (Song Literature).

After six months he abandoned his studies and returned to Ceylon, and changed his name to Ananda Samarakoon, embracing Buddhism.

The love themed song Endada Menike unfolds in the form of a dialogue between a young village boy and a girl.

But after some days, he was asked to visit the SL broadcasting cooperation and had made to listen to his song which had been changed without his knowledge and consent.

On 5 April 1962, at the age of 51, Samarakoon committed suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping tablets.