In the article "The voice of Sri Lanka’s Nightingale resonates thirty years after her demise" written in memory of Rukmani Devi by Walter Wijenayake and published in The Island of October 28, 2008, the author erroneously states that "This lady is an incomparable artiste, a superb songstress as well as the first Sinhala film actress in Sri Lanka. In her day, she ruled the Sinhala silver screen".

Rukmani Devi was not the first Sinhala film actress. She was ethnically a Tamil. In fact, Rukmani could not even read Sinhala and wrote all her song lyrics in English throughout her singing career.

The first Sinhala film actress was the late Emaline Dimbulane (nee Abeyratne), who played the role of Asokamala in the film of the same name.

It is in the public interest pertaining to Sinhala films that this error be corrected.

Dr. S. Abeyesundere