Famed ballet dancer and the founder of Oosha Garten of Ballet, Oosha Saravanamuttu has passed away at the age of 87.

She was honoured with the Kalasuri national award by the Sri Lankan government for her yeoman service to Sri Lankan arts and culture.

Apart from being one of the leading ballet dancers in Sri Lanka, she was also a well-known choreographer, pianist and violinist.

Being one of the pioneers in teaching ballet in Sri Lanka since 1964, the number of pupils she has taught is countless.

With a rich history of over 55 years, her school has seen thousands of students dance through their doors. The Oosha Garten of Ballet re-branded in 2016 as The Ballet School of Colombo.