By Marlon Dale Ferreira
Former Sri Lanka Prisons Commissioner Chandana Ekanayake has shared a deeply personal memory of the late legendary Sinhala singer Nanda Malani, recalling an extraordinary occasion when her unmistakable voice echoed through the walls of the Welikada Prison.
Reflecting on the encounter following her passing, Ekanayake remembered the programme as one of the most meaningful moments of his career in the prison service.
The occasion was connected to his poetry collection, “Sipiri Ge Pāmula” — “At the Feet of the Prison” — a work born from his experiences within Sri Lanka’s prison system.
According to Ekanayake, the publication carried a special significance. It was the first poetry collection to be published in the history of Sri Lanka’s prisons and, he recalls, the first such collection in the world to be published by a serving prison officer.
What made the project even more memorable was the involvement of some of Sri Lanka’s most respected artistic personalities.
Several poems from the collection were set to music by renowned lyricist and academic Professor Sunil Ariyaratne, while Nanda Malani lent her celebrated voice to the compositions.
But this was no ordinary recording.
The songs were performed inside the Welikada Prison itself, creating a rare meeting of literature, music and a place more commonly associated with confinement and punishment.
For Ekanayake, the presence of an artist of Nanda Malani’s stature within those prison walls represented something much larger. Her music brought a moment of humanity, reflection and beauty into an environment where such experiences were often scarce.
The programme was subsequently broadcast by the National Television Network, with musical arrangements by the late musician Jayantha Ratnayake and narration by Lakmali Welagedara.
Remembering the occasion, Ekanayake said:
“I feel a humble joy, pleasure and pride that I was able to organise programmes of this nature within a prison. Even at this moment, I continue to feel that same happiness and pride.”
For a prison administrator, the event demonstrated that rehabilitation could extend beyond regulations and institutional routines. Literature, poetry and music could also reach individuals living behind prison walls and offer moments of dignity, contemplation and emotional connection.
Nanda Malani’s participation made that particular occasion unforgettable.
Her contribution to Sinhala music stretched across generations, but for Chandana Ekanayake, one of the memories that will remain closest is of hearing her voice resonate within Welikada Prison, transforming poems inspired by prison life into music.
As he remembered the celebrated singer, Ekanayake concluded with a simple but emotional farewell:
“May she attain a peaceful soul. She is unforgettable.”
For those who witnessed that unique performance within Welikada, Nanda Malani will be remembered not only as one of Sri Lanka’s greatest voices, but also as an artist who was willing to take that voice beyond conventional stages and into a place where music could carry an entirely different meaning.
