Sri Lankan singer Upendra Siriwardena has become an international sensation after her remarkable performance on The Voice of Finland, setting a historic record in the competition’s 14-year history. Her breathtaking rendition of Mamini Maa Deiya, composed by Shelton Premaratne with lyrics by Wimal J. Sagara from the film Hithaka Pipunu Mal, won the admiration of all four judges in record time. The audition video has already been viewed over 1.1 million times on the official Voice of Finland Facebook page, bringing Sri Lankan folk music to the global stage.
Speaking about her achievement, Upendra Siriwardena said, “I think this is not just a victory for me, but for the entire Sri Lankan music industry. Because the musicians of that country learned about the folk music style of Sri Lanka through it. They also appreciated that style of music a lot. I am very happy about that.”
Her performance set a new record on The Voice of Finland, with one of the judges turning around within just five seconds of her starting to sing—an unprecedented moment in the show’s history.
Born in Monaragala, Upendra was raised in a musically inclined family, with her father leading a music group and her mother being a homemaker. Inspired by her father, she began learning music at the age of three and pursued it academically, earning a Special Degree in Performing Arts from the University of Fine Arts in 2016. She later became a music teacher, first at Athimale Central College and then at Maggona St. Mary’s College after her marriage.
Her move to Finland was prompted by her husband’s higher education, and it was there that she found the opportunity to audition for The Voice of Finland. She had long dreamed of becoming an international singer and saw the competition as her chance to step onto the global stage.
“Becoming an international singer has been a dream of mine since I was a child. I worked hard for it since I was a child. I started studying music when I was three years old. I worked very hard to get to this point. After coming to Finland, I felt that now that I am in another country, I should apply for it. I thought I should take the first step to continue my journey. That is how I applied for the Voice of Finland competition,” she explained.
Her performance left the judges stunned. Recalling their reactions, Upendra said, “One of the judges said that she could not find words to describe my singing. She said that my singing was so excellent.”
Another judge expressed interest in learning more about Sri Lankan folk music and collaborating with her. “Another said that he turned around because he wanted to see who I was. He didn’t know about this style of music, so he said he wanted to join me and learn our music and work together.”
A third judge praised the uniqueness of her performance, stating, “Another judge said that different musical styles were created through my singing.”
Upendra considers their appreciation a significant victory for Sri Lankan music. “I consider their appreciation and acceptance of my singing as a great blessing. They liked my singing ability and the style of music enough to appreciate and enjoy our music. They appreciated it very much. I think it is a great victory for me as well as for the Sri Lankan musical tradition. Since Sri Lanka has a series of folk songs, it is worth singing that song.”
However, as she progresses in the competition, she faces new challenges. The upcoming rounds may require her to sing in Finnish or English, and winners will be determined through SMS voting, which could pose difficulties as she competes against local Finnish contestants.
“I am currently studying Finnish. It is a very difficult language. Anyway, I have learned enough to understand about 30% now,” she said.
Despite these obstacles, she remains determined to continue her journey. “In the upcoming rounds, the winner will be decided through SMS. So there is a challenge of whether someone from another country will express their interest. No matter what, the Sri Lankans in Finland are helping me a lot. I will not give up.”
Her success has sparked immense pride among Sri Lankans worldwide, who view her as an ambassador of the country’s rich musical heritage. While her fate in The Voice of Finland remains uncertain, Upendra Siriwardena has already achieved something extraordinary—bringing Sri Lankan folk music to an international audience and proving that dedication, perseverance, and cultural pride can pave the way to global recognition.
