Deshamanya Matharage Rita Genevieve Fernando, better known by her stage name Latha Walpola, is a prominent Sri Lankan vocal artist.
11 Facts About Latha Walpola
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Latha Walpola was born on 11 November 1934 in Mt Lavinia Colombo, to Joseph Fernando and Elizabeth Muriel.
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Latha Walpola's mother, who was a teacher, encouraged her daughter to become a vocal artist.
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Latha Walpola received her primary education at St Anthony College in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, wherein she led the church choir.
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Latha Walpola married Dharmadasa Walpola in 1959, later becoming known as Latha Walpola.
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Latha Walpola was 12 years old when she was introduced to the country by Radio Ceylon as a member of Radio Ceylon's Choir in 1946.
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In 1947, Latha Walpola sang her first solo song, "Kandulu Denethe Vehena", with lyrics by Sarath Wimalaweera and music composed by Vincent de Alwis, the resident violinist at Radio Ceylon.
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Latha Walpola has recorded for both the Columbia and HMV record labels.
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Latha Walpola was able to make her debut in playback singing for three films with Dharmadasa Walpola during the same year.
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Latha Walpola was honoured by the Sri Lankan Government with the award of Kala Suri in 2005.
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Latha Walpola has won the Sarasaviya Award, the most prestigious award presented to distinguished individuals involved with the Sinhala cinema, four times.