Sri Lanka, July 14 -- When we first met in the mid 1970s as members of 'The Emeralds', Mariazelle, just a year older than me, was already well known (through a weekly radio programme) as the singer in 'The Junior Rhythmiers' - a band of teenagers.

Before she broke out in the early 1980s with Kandy Lamissi (composed by a band of our contemporaries 'The Blue Sapphires' and first sung by Sathya Perera - Umara & Umaria's mother), she was predominantly an OUTSTANDING singer of English songs. No frills, frills or riffs, her delivery and pitch were just pure.

I'm certain there'll be many to extol various aspects of her posthumously; so, I take a moment to speak about two special beings in Mariazelle's life.

One is Surgeon Prof. Srinath Cha...