Dr. Nanda Malini, one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated vocalists and a singer whose work carried the honorific “Jathiye Yashoraawaya” — the Voice of the Nation — has died at the age of 82.
She died at her home, Ada Derana reported, citing family sources, which placed it in Nawala. Hiru News gave the address as Nawala Road, Nugegoda. Her death came three days before her 83rd birthday.
Sri Lanka Singers Association President Keerthi Pasquel confirmed the death to Daily Mirror, saying arrangements for her final rites would be announced later. Hiru News reported that family members would make that announcement.
From a poetry contest to Radio Ceylon
Nanda Malini was born on August 23, 1943, in Lewanduwa, Aluthgama, and showed her singing ability early. She moved to Kotahena in Colombo as an adolescent and was admitted to Sri Gunananda Vidyalaya, where she studied under T. N. Margaret Perera.
After winning a poetry contest, Perera took her to Radio Ceylon, where she sang “Budu Sadu” on Karunaratne Abeysekara’s programme Lama Mandapaya, according to Ada Derana.
She continued formal training after achieving fame — under B. Victor Perera, then for a year at Heywood, before moving to the Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow, India, in 1963. She returned to obtain a Visharada degree in 1984.
Back in Sri Lanka, she appeared on Amaradeva’s programme Madhuvanthi singing “Sannaliyane” and “Ran Dahadiya Bindu Bindu.”
Songs as social commentary
What distinguished her, NewsFirst wrote, was not vocal ability alone but her willingness to give voice to the struggles of ordinary people. Her songs functioned as reflections and social commentaries rather than melodies alone, carrying across changing political eras.
Her choice of lyrics dwelt on realistic life situations, love, human relationships and emotion. Ada Derana cited “Pipunu Male Ruwa,” “Sudu Hamine” and “Kada Mandiye” as examples of her attention to the inner lives of women, and “Manda Nawa Karanawa” as a humorous, sensitive account of a young woman’s loneliness.
She won eleven Sarasaviya Awards and eight Presidential Awards for Best Singer over a career spanning decades.
