The legendary Sri Lankan vocalist Latha Walpola passed away today (27) at the age of 92, marking the end of an era in the country’s musical and cinematic history.
Born in Mount Lavinia in 1934, Latha Walpola began her illustrious career at a remarkably young age. She made her debut on Radio Ceylon in 1946, when she was just 12 years old, quickly captivating listeners with her powerful and distinctive voice.
Over the course of her career, she recorded more than 6,000 songs, including performances in several foreign languages—an achievement unmatched by many. She is widely revered as the eternal “Queen of Songs” in Sri Lankan cinema.
Latha Walpola made her playback singing debut in 1953 with the film Eda Ra. In the same year, she sang for three films alongside Dharmadasa Walpola. Over the decades that followed, she lent her voice to more than 600 films, shaping generations of Sri Lankan film music.
Her passing is mourned by music lovers across the country, as Sri Lanka bids farewell to one of its most iconic and influential voices.
