Veteran Sri Lankan artist Daya Nellampitiya, one of the country’s senior-most practitioners of Sarala Gee and Viridu singing and a renowned dance teacher, has passed away at the age of 91.
Family sources said she passed away at her residence in Kalubowila.
Nellampitiya served for many years as a dance teacher at several leading schools across the country and taught the Kandyan dance tradition to thousands of children.
She was also the wife of veteran Viridu singer Sena Fonseka and served as the first teacher of many renowned artists currently active in Sri Lanka’s arts sector.
Her contribution to preserving Sri Lanka’s traditional folk arts, folk songs and dance traditions and passing them on to future generations is regarded as invaluable.
Her final rites are scheduled to be held tomorrow (15).
