'Route 1', the latest music outfit to emerge in the local music, is now ready to rock the scene. Thimilaka Tennekoon, Chinthake Gunasekera and Indusara Ranasinghe are three emerging names into the SL music arena. They are jointly known as 'Route 1'.

In fact they are a very unique band for a specific reason. Musically though they are in unison, geographically they thrive in three different parts of the globe. Indu, being based in London, Thimi in Dubai and Chinthake both in Bahrain and London but wherever they may be, their music always magnetizes them back to SL. Their debut single, 'Oba Wenuwen' is on release at the moment.

A singing prodigy would be the best way to describe Thimilaka. Being the elder son of well known guitarist and lead vocalist Rohan Tennekoon and Priyani Tennekoon, he has been blessed with a charming, juvenile, gospel voice. Thimi has that extraordinary and rare talent of creating an instantaneous harmony for any song simultaneously with the melody still playing. Beginning his early vocal career at school in Kandy, he was a member of two famous hill capital bands, 'Ashtake' and 'Safe Handz'. His role is well defined as he adds the extra vocal variation and harmonic flavour to Route 1's catchy melodies. Being an airline employee at the Abu Dhabi airport, when asked what he thinks is in store for him, he shyly replies that his sole intention is to serve SL music with all his heart.

Nicknamed at school as 'Mr. Magic Fingers' for his everlasting trademark of trills and arpeggios, Chinthake started playing the grand piano and electronic keyboard at the tender age of five. Accoladed in 1997 as the best keyboardist in Oman, he is the son of classical violinist and Sri Palian Lakshman Gunasekera and Dhammika Gunasekera. Having performed in Sri Lanka, India, Singapore, Oman, Dubai, Bahrain, London and Switzerland, Route 1 is his brainchild. The whole saga began in cold London when, as an Aerospace Engineering student of Kingston University he formed the band 'Sapthswara' along with Indusara in London. Today, 'Sapthswara' is a household name amongst the SL community in the UK, backing many renowned SL artists. Being able to play many instruments, Chinthake is also a trained chorister. Although music is his life, he works as an aerospace engineer in a Swiss aircraft engineering company based in the UK and Bahrain.

Indusara eats drinks and sleeps music. Hailing from Moratuwa, a town that has contributed many greats to Sri Lankan music, he is a case of yet another exceptional contribution. Born hereditarily with an ardent talent for song writing, he is the nephew of the doyen lyricist, Professor Ajantha Ranasinghe. He was a member of the youth band 'Blue Shine' in Moratuwa. As a vivacious, nippy rhythm guitarist and drummer, he has performed in numerous high profile national and international concerts in Sri Lanka, the UK and Switzerland.

Along with Chinthake, he formed the musical backbone of the popular UK Lankan band 'Sapthswara' providing backup music for artistes of the calibre of Sunil Edirisinghe, Uresha Ravihari, Champa Kalhari, Asanka Priyamantha and so on. His future plan is to complete his Business Management Degree and become a management professional in the UK.