Ashanthi De Alwis, known as Ashanthi, is a Sri Lankan rapper, singer, and songwriter. She began her career as part of the duo Ashanthi n' Ranidu, releasing their first album, Oba Magemai, in 2002 through M Entertainments. Her debut solo album, Sandawathuren, was released in 2006 under Universal Music, marking it as the first hip-hop solo album by a Sri Lankan female artist. Ashanthi's music is characterized by an ethnic hip-hop style with broad market appeal. She has toured internationally across Europe, North America, Australasia, and Asia. In 2013, she won the 'Best Hip Hop Video' award at the Derana Music Video Awards for "Alawanthiyak."
