Because in my childhood I liked to collect many records and all songs… I was fond of it. My hobby was that. I have four hundred… more than four hundred records.

Menna Menike, the old songs. Naarilatha Pushpe by Mohideen Beg, is a very old one. And also Columbia records, Jeewithe Peralena Rodhaki. The other side is… Dura Etha Patan. Dilenaa Suvisaala… these are very olds ones. Is a very old one, Dilenaa Suvisaala

Mostly I have Hindi songs, but these are Sinhalese songs from Colombo.  Latif Bhai is a very old singer. They are singing Buddhist songs, but they are Muslims. Mohideen Beg, and Karthiv Bhai, A. J. Kareem… they are all Muslims.

First record, yes… When I was in campus, university, I got the chance to get the records from Colombo. More than four hundred I have. Pavement also I got records (Laughter). My favorite record is Mother India. (Laughter). That’s my first collection.

Because my uncle had a very good collection of old records. Jim Reeves and…( Laughter) I can’t remember names also! Jim Reeves and…

At that time I very like to hear these songs and then I came to collect many records.

(Sri Lankan anthem plays)

Our great teacher Buddha also appreciated the sing…the favourite singer… Martal is his name. In front of the Buddha, he sing a song. The Buddha has appreciated his song. “Oh, how nice is it!” Like that. Me also no problem, then. If Buddha also appreciated things, why me? I can also enjoy the sing and….But I am not attached to that. I listen to it and can enjoy it at that instant only.

People not criticise me. “The monk… the chief monk of the temple, he’s listening songs!” And… They are not criticise because I am devoted to my life for the Buddhism.  They are not criticising me because… They know what I am doing here. I always chanting pirith and listening to Dhamma also. It’s also part of my life.