COLOMBO, Aug. 21 -- Veteran Sri Lankan singer Nanda Malini, one of the country's most celebrated voices whose career spanned more than six decades, has died at the age of 82, family sources said.

Malini died at her home in Nawala on Thursday (20), the sources said.

Born on August 23, 1943, in Lewanduwa, Aluthgama, Malini demonstrated her vocal talent from an early age. She later moved to Kotahena, Colombo, and attended Sri Gunananda Vidyalaya, where her talent was recognized by her teachers.

Her breakthrough came after she won a poetry competition. Her teacher, T.N. Margaret Perera, introduced her to Radio Ceylon, where she performed the song 'Budu Sadhu' on the popular program 'Lama Mandapaya', hosted by renowned broadcaster and lyric...