Kala Keerthi Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka was a Sri Lankan film actor, film director and politician. Often considered as the greatest actor in Sinhala cinema, Fonseka dominated the industry in 1960s and 1970s and won several Best Actor and Popular Actor awards throughout his career. Apart from acting, he also served as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 1989 to 1994 and the Governor of the North Eastern Province from 1995 to 1998.
Getawarayo is a 1964 Sri Lankan drama film co-directed by Mike Wilson and Tissa Liyanasuriya and produced by Shesha Palihakkara. The film starring Gamini Fonseka in lead role along with Sobani Amarasinghe, Joe Abeywickrema, Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya and Tony Ranasinghe made supportive roles.
![<i>Sandesaya</i> 1960 [[Dominion of Ceylon|Sri Lanka]] film](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/64/Sandesaya1.jpg)
Sandesaya is a 1960 film. The film based on the war between the Sinhalese people and the Portuguese invaders in Sri Lanka. It was directed by Sri Lankan film director Lester James Peries. It was produced by K. Gunaratnam on behalf of the Cinemas Company on the request of Raj Kapoor.
Ranmuthu Duwa was the first colour full-length Sinhalese language film to be produced in Sri Lanka in 1962. It was co-produced by Shesha Palihakkara, Arthur C. Clarke and directed by Mike Wilson, who also made his debut as a feature director. The film stars some of those who would go on to become big names in the Sinhala Cinema, such as Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrema and Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya in the leading roles. Playback singing was by Nanda Malini, Narada Disasekara and W.D. Amaradeva. The lyrics were written by Chandraratne Manawasinghe.
Akkara Paha is a 1970 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries, with the screen play dialogue and script by Tissa Abeysekara. The film stars Milton Jayawardena as Sena, Anoma Wattaladeniya as Sadha and Malini Fonseka as Kumari.
Dharmadasa Walpola (1927–1983) was the most prominent Sri Lankan male playback singer of the 1950s and 1960s. Walpola was an accomplished musician adapt at playing the flute, harmonium, violin and tabla.
Jayasinghe Arachchige Milton Perera, popularly known as Milton Perera, was a singer, composer and playback singer of Sri Lankan cinema. One of the most respected artists in Sri Lanka, Milton Perera rendered his voice to diverse array of artists as a playback singer for many films in a career spanned for more than three decades. He was the leading playback singer of Sri Lankan cinema during the 1960s and 1970s.
Dheewarayo is a 1964 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama film directed by M. Masthan and produced by K. Gunaratnam. It stars Gamini Fonseka and Sandhya Kumari in lead roles with Vijitha Mallika and Hugo Fernando in supportive roles. Music for the film is done by M. K. Rocksamy.
Ahas Gauwa (One League of Sky) is a 1974 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Dharmasena Pathiraja. It stars Amarasiri Kalansuriya and Swarna Mallawarachchi in lead roles along with Vijaya Kumaratunga, Wimal Kumara de Costa and Cyril Wickramage. Music composed by Premasiri Khemadasa.
Kanupulage Ugo Singho, popularly known as Hugo Master or Hugo Fernando, was an actor and composer of Sri Lankan cinema. Debuting in the first Sinhalese film Kadawunu Poronduwa, Fernando had an over 50-year career also as a lyricist, assistant director and music director.
Jayasuriya Arachchige Dona Mary Yvonne Perera, better known as Sandhya Kumari was a popular Sri Lankan actress who frequently played femme fatale roles in early Sinhala cinema.
The Kala Keerthi is a Sri Lankan national honour awarded "for extraordinary achievements and contributions in arts, culture and drama". It is the highest national honour for arts, culture and drama in Sri Lanka. It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the awardee's name. Kala Keerthi ranks lower than Vidya Jyothi.
Bajjala Walawwe Gretien Ananda Abeykoon, also as Gration Ananda or Greshan Ananda, was a Sri Lankan singer, composer, songwriter and a lyricist. Considered as the best Sinhalese film score musician to have emerged in the country since the veteran artist the Late H.R. Jothipala, Ananda sang for more than 400 films with a musical career that spanned nearly three decades.
Gamamathige Vijitha de Silva [Sinhala]), popularly as Vijitha Mallika, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema. One of the most popular film actresses in early Sinhala cinema, Mallika appeared in more than 40 films including popular films, Suvineetha Lalani, Sengawunu Menika, Dheewarayo, London Hamu and Sweep Ticket.
Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya [Sinhala]), is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. One of the most popular actresses in early Sinhala cinema, she played the main role in Sri Lanka's first Sinhala color film Ranmuthu Duwa.
Kala Keerthi Madurawela Arachchilage Christy Leonard Perera [Sinhala]), popularly known as Christy Leonard Perera, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a musician and comedian.
Alfred Edirimanne [Sinhala]), was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a film enthusiast, social activist and politician. He was one of the main pioneers for the establishment of the State Film Corporation and also a member of the Indian Film Protest Movement.
Sri Lanka cinema family is the largest artistic family tree known in the world spanning over a sixty years in the Sinhala film industry. Many members of the family, both direct biological descendants and those married into the family, have had prolific careers as actors, film directors, producers, singers, scriptwriters, journalists and lyricists which included more than six generations at present.
Joseph Peter Moraes Fernando, popularly as Premnath Moraes, was an actor, film director and scriptwriter in Sri Lankan cinema as well as appeared in versatile forms: singer, lyricist, film production executive, weightlifter, athlete, gymnast, journalist and sports administrator.
