Having an equal passion for singing as well as a melodious voice, she was Sri Lanka's foremost female singer in the gramophone era.

[3] Rukmani Devi was born as Daisy Rasammah Daniels to a Tamil Colombo Chetty Christian family on January 15, 1923, at Ramboda in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka.

She was married to veteran dramatist, actor, and singer Eddie Jayamanne, whom she fell in love with as a result of her close association with him when performing in dramas produced by "Minerva Dramatic Club," founded by B.

Impressed with her ability to sing, dance, and also act, she was selected to perform a main role in a Christmas play, 'The Shoemaker's Wife'.

As her performances were highly appreciated by the packed audience, well-known dramatist Dick Dias chose her for two of his stage plays, "Jana Kiharanaya" and "Mayawathie".

Her unique voice attracted many music directors as her singing career moved from the stage to the silver screen.

That is, she had not studied Hindustani classical music properly and had to compete with renowned singers of that year such as Lakshmi Bai, Annie Boteju, and Susila Jayasinghe.

A. W. Jayamanne, founder of "Minerva Dramatic Club" of Negombo has taken Rukmani to perform remarkable roles in his dramas, such as 'Apparition', 'Broken Promise', 'Changing Fate, 'Defeated Aim', 'Evasive Denial', 'Fanatic Faith', 'Grisly Guardian', 'Hasty Decision', and lastly, 'Irangani'.

637–638), written by Nuwan Nayanajith Kumara, from Kadawunu Poronduwa in 1947 to Ara Soyza in 1984, Rukmani Devi had played different roles in 99 films, up to the time of her death.

Rukmani Devi won first place in the "Popular Singing Series" in the 1953 Radio Artists Classification Test.

[2] An equally talented singer, some of the immortal songs she sang for films are Sandyave Sriya for 'Kadawunu Poronduwa', Pinsara Mage Soyura for 'Kapati Arakshakaya', Gala Kandeni, and Moranawa Preme Hade for 'Weradun Kurumanama', Nindede Rathri Yahane for 'Peralena Iranama', Mavila Pena vi Rupe for 'Kela Handa', Pem Sihina Loke Maya for 'Mathabhedaya', Melavi Yanna Hada Mage for 'Daiva Yogaya', Suva dena Sita Sanasum for 'Ladalu' and Doi Doi Puta for 'Ahasin Polavata'.

Rukmani has made duets with amateur singers since the 1960s, such as "Ada Handapana Paya Hari Lassanai" with Sujatha Perera (Attanayake), "Gang Ivuru Paduru Gane" with Sidney Attygalle, "Kokilaya Keviliya", "Denna Piriye Dethata Oya Detha" with H. R. Jothipala, and "Ithin Palak Nehe Kumariya" with J.

Her funeral ceremony was attended by a very large gathering: film makers and dramatists, friends, politicians, relatives, and her beloved fans.