Danister Thomas Fernando is a pioneer Sri Lankan lyricist. Some of the pioneers, whose names most people could not even remember were honoured. The oldest lyricist, D. T. Fernando, was a forgotten name.
He first wrote the lyrics to "Shanthame Rathriye" for the film Asokamala in 1947. Later he wrote the famous songs: "Pem kekula pipi enavita mahade", "Premalokaya nivigiya", "Pemrella nagi gal thalle vadi", "Prema gange menik vage", "Jeewana gamana me sansare", "Somibara pamreli mahada nege", "Mihira pennadee ale pe mahade", "Malpethi ralarela athare", "Oo Enna", "Parana thale ape seeyala", "Premaloke Rajabhiseke", "Thirasara Ale Amaraneeyave", and "Nayanaveni Sudo Oba ma".