Lanka musician who composed Maldivian national anthem dies

Sri Lankan musician, Pandith Amaradeva, who composed the melody of the Maldivian national anthem “Qaumii Salaam” passed away during the early hours of this Thursday morning.

Amaradeva died at the age of 88 years at Sri Jayewardenepura Teaching Hospital, to where he was rushed to when his condition deteriorated.

He was taken to the hospital this morning, and died shortly afterwards.

Amaradeva composed the melody to the lyrics made by Mohamed Jameel Did in the year 1972, at the behest of former Maldivian President Ibrahim Nasir.

The national anthem had been sung to the melody of “Auld Lang Syne” prior to that.

It was changed to the current melody just prior to Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Maldives.

Amaradeva was one of the most legendary musicians to be born in Sri Lanka.