Leela Asoka

Hewa Geeganage Leelawathi (7 July 1927 – 22 April 2019; ), popularly known as Leela Asoka, was a singer from Sri Lanka. She is known for being one of the four singers who sang the Sri Lankan national anthem for the first time during the 1948 Independence Celebrations.

Personal life Hewa Geeganage Leelawathi was born on 7 July 1927 in Thimbirigasyaya, Colombo, Sri Lanka. She was born to Hewa Geeganage Andoris and Jocelyn Perera as the second child of eight siblings and the only daughter. Her youngest brother, Sarath de Alwis, was a renowned musician in Sri Lanka.

Asoka married M. A. Kamaldeen, a Muslim who worked in a government trading company, Her funeral and burial was at Hokandara General Cemetery on 24 April 2019.

Career Her passion for music was supported by her uncle, V. M. Perera, who was the Secretary of Hela Havula in the 1940s. He recognised her singing ability and helped her sing at Hela Havula festivals, where she caught the attention of composer Sunil Shantha. She sang duets for Sunil Shantha's songs, including "Mewan Pitisare", "Kirilla Saha Kuduwa", "Hela Rate" and "Rella Nagenne". She also became a B-grade singer on Radio Ceylon.

In 1948, Asoka was selected to sing the National Anthem for newly independent Sri Lanka. She trained with three other girls under her school teacher Karunaratne and Fr. Marcelline Jayakody. The quartet sang the national anthem at the first Independence Day celebration in 1948.

Asoka taught art at a school in Dematagoda. She received an award in 2019 from the Women's Front of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to mark International Women's Day on 8 March.