History

Although the Portuguese colonizers bid adieu to the island centuries ago, their legacy — delicately interwoven with the very own spirit of the country — remains to date, having stood the test of time. And their cultural influence was more pronounced than their predecessors. The island’s beloved get-up-and-dance kind of music, papare has its roots in Portuguese folk music. However, this lively genre of music is Sri Lankan to its last beat and never fails to make everyone — both young and old alike — forget where they are and what they come for.

 

Dihan Nammuni Dewage and Sanjaya Perera — a duo of cricket crazy fans — determined to bring the spirit and exuberance that only the beats of traditional Sri Lankan papare music could knock off, brough the Papare Army into being during the Sri Lanka Tour of Australia – 2002/02. What started as a five-piece papare band — together with three friends of the duo — playing a brass band to cheer on their beloved Sri Lankan cricketers, has now evolved into a well-received supporters’ club of Sri Lankan cricket. Aptly dubbed the ‘Papare Army’, the band is Sri Lanka’s own version of Barmy Army that roots for the Sri Lankan team by adding that local yet fiery fervor and vibrance.

The unmistakable presence of the Papare Army – Melbourne has been raising spirits at almost every cricket match ever since— from the enduring yet satisfying test matches at the Melbourne Cricket Stadium to dynamic ODIs to intense T20s and even the ICC Champions Trophy – 2017 played at the Oval in the United Kingdom. We have been welcomed with open arms and wide smiles wherever we go and are honored to experience the phenomenal hospitality extended by our hosts across the world.

In an attempt to preserve the remarkably entertaining genre of music that papare is, we offer papare music as a professional entertainment service for occasions of any type that need a little bit Sri Lankan thrills and spills. Dance your heart out and the bring out the true Sri Lankan in you as we get your party going.