B. R. Dassanayake is the Head of the Music Department of the Visual and Performing Arts University. He is a Senior Lecturer and has worked at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Since he had an understanding about the vitality of both classical and western music contribution for the local music field he took the initiative and founded the Western Music Department of the Visual and Performing Arts University with the aim of building a generation of teachers, music composers and individuals who embody the passion to experiment in music and take it to a new level.

During his stint as the section head he brought the genres of music as a secondary subject and began with the piano, classical guitar and violin, and it expanded through the years and the department now teaches students to handle the western violin, flute, saxophone, clarinet, cello, viola, classical and flamenco guitar. Vocal training is also a part of the subject.