The funeral of veteran singer Mariasel Gunathilaka was held at the Borella Cemetery today.
Her body was laid to rest at a private funeral home in Borella, and a large number of people, including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, were present to pay their last respects.
Mariasel, who entered the singing world in the 1970s, has been the lead singer of several popular music groups in the country of that era. Many of the songs she sang, such as Kandy Lamissi, Sihiyan Nelum Mal, Vatsala, and Kumaraneni, are still popular among fans. Mariasel, who showed great talent for fast-paced singing, sang many songs in both Sinhala and English.
Mariasel Gunathilaka, who had been ill for some time, passed away in the early hours of last Friday (10) while receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.