Wanniarachchige Malini Senehelatha Fonseka, popularly known as Malini Fonseka is a Sri Lankan actress, theatre artist and director. Often considered the "Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema", Fonseka first became widely known when she won the 'Best Actress Award' at the 1969 National State Drama Festival, followed by Sarasaviya Best Actress Awards for Hingana Kolla in 1980, Aradhana in 1982 andYasa Isuru in 1983.
![<i>Nidhanaya</i> 1972 [[Dominion of Ceylon|Sri Lanka]] film](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/25/Nidhanaya.jpg)
Nidhanaya is a 1972 Sinhalese language film Dr. Lester James Peries, the screen play, dialog and script by Dr. Tissa Abeysekara, starring Gamini Fonseka and Malini Fonseka. The film stars Gamini Fonseka and Malini Fonseka in lead role along with Shanthi Lekha, Saman Bokalawela and Trilicia Gunawardena in supportive roles.
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.
Wasana is a 1976 Sinhalese language romance film directed by K.A.W. Perera. The film stars Geetha Kumarasinghe, Vijaya Kumaranatunga and Malini Fonseka made notable roles. Also this film was the cinema debut of popular Sri Lankan film actress Geetha Kumarasinghe.
Presidential Film Awards is a film award ceremony held in Sri Lanka. It is organized by the National Film Corporation along with the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. It was 1st awards in 1979 by President J. R. Jayewardene, and continue till 2004. The awards were not held from 2005 to 2014 when Mahinda Rajapakse was president. The award started to be presented again in 2015 by President Maithripala Sirisena, and last awarded by President Ranil Wickramasinghe in 2023.
![<i>Delovak Athara</i> 1966 [[Dominion of Ceylon|Sri Lanka]] film](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ef/Delovak_Athara.jpg)
Delovak Athara is a 1966 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Dr. Lester James Peries, with screenplay, dialogue, and script by Dr. Tissa Abeysekara. The film stars Tony Ranasinghe and Suvineetha Weerasinghe in lead roles, along with Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya and Wijeratne Warakagoda.
Amarasiri Kalansuriya, popularly known as Kalan, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. Kalansuriya made his first film appearance alongside Vijaya Kumaratunga in Hanthana Kathawa. His next film Ahas Gauwa won him a best actor award in 1974. He was born in Kandy, and was an alumnus of Dharmaraja College.
![<i>Welikathara</i> 1971 [[Dominion of Ceylon|Sri Lanka]] film](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/32/Gamini_Fonseka_in_a_scene_from_Welikathara.jpg/320px-Gamini_Fonseka_in_a_scene_from_Welikathara.jpg)
Welikathara, is a 1971 action thriller drama film made by Sri Lankan director D. B. Nihalsinghe. Screen play and script by Dr. Tissa Abeysekara. It is the maiden film directed by D. B. Nihalsingha. The film stars Gamini Fonseka and Suvineetha Weerasinghe in lead roles along with Joe Abeywickrama, Piyasena Ahangama and Kithsiri Perera made supportive roles.
Akka Nago is a 1968 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Vincent David.
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.
Adata Vediya Heta Hondai is a 1963 Sri Lankan film directed by Indian filmmaker M. Masthan and produced by producer K. Gunaratnam. The film starring Gamini Fonseka and Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya. It was a box office success in the country.
Deshabandu Tissa Ananda Abeysekara was a Sri Lankan filmmaker, actor, writer, director, screen playwright and political activist. He is better known as a script writer for the cinema as well as a film director. In 1996, his book Bringing Tony Home won the prestigious Gratiaen Prize for the new creative writing in English. He was the chief coordinator of FOSWAL in Sri Lanka and honoured awardee of SAARC Literary Award.
Nalin Jayawardena is a popular Sri Lankan singer and vocalist. He was the first Sri Lankan singer to release an internet based audio album in Sinhala allowing his fans from around the world to download the album free of charge. This album titled Kanda Paamule was released in 2004. Nalin Jayawardena lives in Perth, Australia.
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.
In November 2005 President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Kumaratunga awarded national honours to 231 individuals for distinguished services. The awards ceremony was held on 14 November 2005 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo.
Lionel Danthanarayana [Sinhala]), popularly known by his stage name Lionel Deraniyagala, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and theater. One of the most popular villain artists ever in Sri Lankan film history, he had a career for more than three decades as the antagonist.
Saaravita is a 1965 Sri Lankan Sinhala comedy thriller film directed by Tissa Liyanasuriya and produced by Shesha Palihakkara for Serendib Films. It stars Joe Abeywickrama in lead role along with Wally Nanayakkara, Thilakasiri Fernando and Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya. Music composed by W. D. Amaradeva. It is the 126th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
Thotagamage Shelton Perera, was a Sri Lankan musician and a singer. Beginning his career as a tabla player, Perera became one of the most influential singers in Sri Lankan classical music industry. He is also a prolific percussionist as well as a film composer.
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.
