Early life Walpola's father Charles Appuhamy aka "Palis Ayya" worked with costumes for the Tower Hall theater, where his mother Karunawathie was a housewife. Walpola had to forgo his education at a young age to support his family and for a time built masks for the
Sri Lankan army. At that time he won a role in
Sirisena Wimalaweera's play
Amma singing a virindu. He subsequently acted and sang in the play
Wessanthara as well. To master the flute, Walpola began taking lessons from Eddie Master and then attended
R. A. Chandrasena's Academy. Chandrasena was impressed by Walpola's ability to sing and after auditioning several songs with harmonium accompaniment, sent a good word to the
Radio Ceylon broadcaster
Thevis Guruge. Guruge gave Walpola a sarala gee programme with a duet partner
G. S. B. Rani Perera. Around 1956, Walpola married Fernando who subsequently adapted the name Latha Walpola. From his debut to the early 1960s, Walpola dominated male playback singing in
Sri Lankan cinema providing a counterpoint to the harsh
Carnatic style of
Mohideen Baig with his softer more melodic voice which lends itself to love songs. His best known work from this period include "Seeya Manamalaya" from
Asoka (1955), "Amu Pitisareyeki" from
Seda Sulang (1955), "Upatha Labaa" and "Suba Aasiri (Hanika Yamang)" from
Mathalang (1955), "Surathalee" from
Surathalee (1956), "Katey Kiri Suwanda" from
Sandesaya (1960), "Oya Belma" and "Waththe Wetunu Pol Athu" from
Kurulu Bedda (1961) and "Man Mula Wela" from
Deepashika (1963). Walpola's dueting partners included
Vivienne de Silva Boralessa,
Chitra Somapala ("Pem Suwandai") and
Rukmani Devi in addition to Latha.
Later life Walpola successfully returned to Radio Ceylon with "Uthama Muni Dalada" (lyrics by
Ajantha Ranasinghe and music by
Sanath Nandasiri). Walpola served as a music teacher later on in his life. He died on 25 December 1983. == Personal life ==