Ashanthi
Encyclopedia
Ashanthi de Alwis is a female Sri Lankan music artist. She is the only Sri Lankan female R&B / hip-hop artist to be signed to an international record label, Universal Records
in 2003 and Sony Entertainment in 2006. She began as a singer with Bathiya and Santhush
, and continued that role after achieving solo success.
Ashanthi has toured internationally in countries throughout Europe, North America, Australasia and Asia. In 2006 Dialog Telekom
, Sri Lanka's flagship telecommunications company signed up Ashanthi to be a brand ambassador
for their pre-paid brand KIT.
At the 2008 Derana
Music Video Awards, Ashanthi won the award for 'Best Hip Hop Video' for Alawanthiyak
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
in 2003 and Sony Entertainment in 2006. She began as a singer with Bathiya and Santhush
Bathiya and Santhush
Bathiya & Santhush are one of the biggest names in the Sri Lankan music industry who were pop/rap duo composed of Bathiya Jayakody and Santhush Weeraman, who met while at Mary Anne David's school for singing in Colombo .Bathiya Jayakody was educated at Ananda College Colombo while his partner,...
, and continued that role after achieving solo success.
Career
Ashanthi's first major label album was as half of the duo Ashanthi'n'Ranidu, with the album Oba Magemai released in 2003. Her debut solo album Sandawathuren was released in 2006. This was the first R&B hip hop, solo album to be released by a Sri Lankan woman. Her general style of music is ethnic R&B and hip-hop coupled with pop & soul ballads of mass market appeal. Sandawathuren was sung in the Sinhala language, with the exception of two English songs.Ashanthi has toured internationally in countries throughout Europe, North America, Australasia and Asia. In 2006 Dialog Telekom
Dialog Telekom
Dialog Axiata PLC is Sri Lanka's largest telecommunications service provider, which operates Dialog Mobile, the country's largest mobile phone network with over 6 million subscribers...
, Sri Lanka's flagship telecommunications company signed up Ashanthi to be a brand ambassador
Brand ambassador
A Brand Ambassador is a person employed by a company to be the sales rep and physical representative of the company with respect to sales and marketing. The Brand Ambassador is meant to embody the corporate image in appearance, demeanor, values, and ethics....
for their pre-paid brand KIT.
At the 2008 Derana
Derana
Derana TV is a Sri Lankan Free-to-air Television channel which was launched on 11 October 2005.Derana broadcasts contemporary content that upholds Sri Lankan values on its “Ape De Rakagena, Aluth De Aragena” platform....
Music Video Awards, Ashanthi won the award for 'Best Hip Hop Video' for Alawanthiyak
Albums
- Oba Magemai (with Ranidu), Sony, 2003
- Sandawathuren Sony Entertainment, 2006
- Daas Panawa Universal Music, 2011