Umaria Sinhawansa

Umaria Binti Aisyah Sinhawansa (; born 5 January 1991), known professionally as Umaria, is a Sri Lankan pop, R&B, and jazz singer. She began performing publicly at age 11 with her sister in 2005. Her playback singing debut was featured in the 2007 movie Asai Man Piyabanna. She has participated in international music competitions, receiving silver awards at the Pan Asia International Music Competition and the Crimea Music Fest. Umaria also won the Sarasaviya Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her song Ahi Pillamak Athara from the film Vijayaba Kollaya in 2019 and the SLIM-Nielsen People's Award for Song of the Year for Manda Pama in 2021.

Early life and education Umaria Sinhawansa was born on 5 January 1991 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Her parents, Tony Sinhawansa and Ayesha Sinhawansa, were both musicians. She studied at Muslim Ladies' College and Gateway International School in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in music. She has two older brothers, Subandrio, who is also a musician, and Hartono, a music producer and entrepreneur. Umaria's grandmother, Rani Perera, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema. She is also a granddaughter of the late songstress and actress Rukmani Devi.

Career At age 11, Umaria performed with her sister Umara for a public audience, marking the beginning of her professional music career. She performed a few songs with Sri Lankan music producer Sri Shyamalangan. She later joined with popular music duo Bathiya and Santhush (BnS) for a song of the Arabic genre called "Shaheena". After the song, she collaborated with BnS again for the Asai Man Piyabanna film playback "Pathu Pem Pathum". The song was a hit and became a turning point in her career.

In 2007, she became the youngest singer ever to be nominated for the Best Female Playback Singer at the Sarasaviya Awards. In 2009, she voiced the theme song for the television serial Gehenu Lamai. She also wrote "Gum Nade" for the movie Rosa Kele.

In 2010, aged 16, Umaria represented Sri Lanka in Pan Asia Music Festival, an international singing competition, which was held in Beijing, China. She later won first place from the semi-finals and the Silver medal from the whole competition. She was invited again to an international competition, this time in Turkey, where she was the only Asian contestant. In that competition, she won the bronze medal.

Later, she participated in the Crimea Music Fest with her sister. They both performed an original song titled "My Dreams", and covered the song "Halo" by Beyoncé. They won third place from that competition. After winning many international competitions, she returned to Sri Lanka, where she joined the Ashanthi School of Music conducted by Ashanthi De Alwis. During this period, she featured with Randhir Witana in the song Mal Madahasa.

In 2010, Sinhawansa performed on the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA Awards) with BnS.

In 2013, she performed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) opening ceremony. She recorded a duet with W. D. Amaradeva before his death.

In 2014, she featured with Dewasri de Silva for the song "Nidahase Inna", and took part in many BnS collaborations such as "Kavikariye", "Baila Gamuda Remix Karala", "Hinipeththata", and "Hitha Wawannema Na" .

In 2015, Umariya released her first original hit, Denuwan Piya, produced by BnS, which achieved commercial success. Meanwhile, she became a judge for the singing reality show, Sirasa Superstar. Then she joined the celebrity reality show "Hiru Mega Stars" for the team "Sooryans" along with Yureni Noshika, Himali Sayurangi, Asanka Perera, Pathum Rukshan, Piyumi Botheju and Akila Dhanuddara.

In 2017, she joined the reality program "Youth with Talent – Generation Next" as a guest judge.

In 2018, Umaria was complimented by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for her performance of the song "Vaishnav Jana To," a musical tribute for Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary.

In 2018 she released a single, Malak Nowe, and then featured with Ruwan Hettiarachchi for the song "Hiru Mal Kiniththak Dara". In the same year, she made playback singing for the film Bimba Devi alias Yashodhara. After that song, she became an A-Grade singer at Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. She is the youngest artist to have achieved this feat. She later collaborated with BnS for the album Oba Nisa and toured for the Oba Nisa concert.

In 2019, she was a playback singer for the blockbuster Vijayaba Kollaya, directed by Sunil Ariyaratne. In the same year, she premiered her single, "Rangume" on 9 August. On 11 December 2019, she collaborated with BnS and Sanuka Wickramasinghe for the song Saragi Asille. During the pandemic, she performed the first Drive-In Concert in Sri Lanka.

On 3 July 2020, she released the solo "Manda Pama" which was recorded in France.

In November 2020, she joined the coaching panel of the reality show "The Voice Sri Lanka". Umaria is also known for her role as a coach on the televised singing competition The Voice Sri Lanka, where she was the winning coach of the season 2021. While working on "The Voice Sri Lanka" competition, she released the song "Rathu Eli". She also made cameo appearances in the films Dancing Stars and Spandana.

On 4 February 2021, she released the single "Yuda Gini Dumaraya" as a tribute to war heroes.

Television shows

Discography Originals

Popular Music Videos

Collaborations Year Song Collaboration Ref. 2009 Shaheena Bathiya and Santhush 2009 Ra Pura Payana Tharuka Bathiya and Santhush 2010 Baila Gamuda Remix Karala Bathiya and Santhush 2010 Wassanayata Atha Wanala Umara Sinhawansa 2010 Sithale Tharu Dilena Madiyame Many artists 2012 Kavikariye Bathiya and Santhush 2013 Mal Madahasa Pidena Randhir Witana, Bathiya and Santhush 2013 Meena Daasa Asha Many artists 2013 Sthuthi Sri Lanka Many artists 2014 Nidahase Inna Devashrie de Silva 2014 Sihine Dushyanth Weeraman 2014 Lassana Dasak Bathiya and Santhush, Randhir Witana 2015 Seethala Sulaga Sunil Perera, Devashirie de Silva, Samitha Mudunkotuwa, Billy Fernando 2015 Denimak Wage Dewshan Perera 2015 Hanthana Sihine Pandith W. D. Amaradeva 2015 Senehe Ammage Shihan Mihiranga, Nirosha Virajini, Kasun Kalhara 2018 Vaishnav Jana To Bathiya and Santhush 2018 Hiru Mal Kiniththak Ruwan Hettiarachchi 2019 Ma Obei Dan Nalin Perera 2019 Mathakai Eda Billy Fernando 2019 Saragi Asille Bathiya and Santhush, Sanuka wickramasinghe 2020 Nim Him Sewwa (cover song) Bathiya and Santhush, Sashika Nisansala, Kasun Kalhara 2021 Me Kirula Amarasiri Peiris 2021 T20 Cricket World Cup Song various Artists 2021 4 Nations International Tournament Theme Song Sri Lanka Football ft. BNS, Randeer & Roy2021 Ekwa Jayagamu Lanka Premier League 2021 Official Theme Song Bathiya and Santhush, Yohani, ADK, Sanka Dineth, Sajitha Anthony

Playback singing Year Film Songs Ref. 2007 Asai Man Piyabanna Pethu Pem Pethum 2008 Rosa Kale Gum Nade 2008 Adaraye Namayen Feel My love 2009 Dancing Star Sinaha Ko 2015 Pravegaya Sihilel Wu 2015 Spandana Man Vinda, Oya Muwe Hasaral 2018 Sarungal Thanivee 2018 Bimba Devi alias Yashodhara Thurul Karan 2018 Ginnen Upan Seethala Ane Ganadura 2019 Vijayaba Kollaya Ahi Pillamak Athara

Awards and nominations Year Work Festival Award Result 2007 Pethu Pem Pethum Sarasaviya Awards Best Playback Singer 2008 Gum Nade Sarasaviya Awards Best Playback Singer 2010 International Music Competition Asia Song Festival Silver Award 2010 cover song Listen by Beyonce Asia Song Festival Best Solo Performance 2010 International Music Competition Izmir Turkey Bronze award at the original song contest 2011 International Music Competition Asian Youth Singing competition China Silver Award 2011 My Dreams- Original Crimea Music Fest Bronze Award 2016 Lassana Dasak Derana Music Video Awards Best Music Video 2016 Reality competition Hiru Mega Stars Champion Of The Competition 2020 Contribution To The Country Kala Keerthi Abhimani Appreciative Award 2020 contribution to the music TV Derana Aya Pranama Best Woman In Singing Category 2021 Manda Pama SLIM-Nielsen Peoples Awards Song Of The Year 2021 Contribution To The Country Vanithabimani Appreciative Award 2023 Ane Ganadura 20th Presidential Awards Best Playback Singer Woman Award 2019 2024 Ahi Pillamak Athara 35th Sarasaviya Awards Best Playback Singer Woman Award 2019

Milestones A grade award granted by Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Youngest artist to be nominated for the Best Singer Award in 2007 and 2008 at the Sarasaviya Film Awards Performed on 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2013) opening ceremony Performed on International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFAA Awards) in 2010 with BnS Silver Award winner at the 11th Pan Asia Music Festival Honorary title ‘Kala Keethi Abhimani’ by the All Ceylon Cultural Environment Protection Organization. Nominated for the Most Popular Sri Lankan Woman 'Vanithabhimana 2020'. Won the Most Popular Sri Lankan Woman 'Vanithabhimana 2021'

Other ventures Philanthropy and activism On May 14, 2020, Umaria was involved in a Sri Lankan Government effort to promote COVID-19 Prevention among people in Sri Lanka. She sang the song Itukama to educate the people about how COVID-19 prevention works in Sri Lanka. She also performed with BnS in many apartment complexes while following health safety measures in order to improve resident's emotional wellbeing during the lockdown with the help of Sri Lankan Government.

She has opened up a social media page called one promise to talk to people who are struggling with depression and other mental issues.

Brand ambassadorships and endorsements 2015, Umaria signed up for SLTMobitel and voiced many songs promoting the networking brand. In 2018, she signed up as brand ambassador for Signal toothpaste and she voiced their brand's theme song, Sina Bo Wewa. Meantime she was a brand ambassador of Sunlight (cleaning product) and she voiced the song Manu dam Viyamana with various artists.

In 2020, beauty brand British Cosmetics sponsored her song, Manda Pama. After the huge success of the song, on 21 November 2020, they announced Umaria as their new, main brand ambassador. She endorses the product Discover the Power of Gold - Prevense Advanced Gold Therapy and many of British Cosmetics' products. Afterwards she was named as a brand ambassador for the food and drink brand, Nestlé Sri Lanka's Nestamolt campaign. The company released an advertisement showcasing a campaign between the company and Umaria with some of the proceeds going to "organizations that seek to improve people's health as well as mental and emotional well-being. Dialog Axiata signed Umaria as their brand ambassador for their Dialog Fun Blaster campaign and they collaborated with her song Manda Pama. On Mar 12, 2021, the phone brand Oppo announced Umaria as their brand ambassador; she is currently endorsing the OPPO F19 Pro.