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.
Deshabandu Gammana Patabendige Don John Abeywickrama, popularly as Joe Abeywickrama, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Initially famed as a comedic actor in early 1950s, Abeywickrama became one of the greatest film actors of alltime in Sinhala cinema with several critically acclaimed award winning dramatic performances.
Sath Samudura is a landmark Sri Lankan film directed by professor Siri Gunasinghe and released in 1967. This film was critically acclaimed and is considered a major work in Sri Lankan cinema.
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.
Beddegama is a 1980 Sinhala drama film directed by Lester James Peries that follows the lives of village people in British Colonial Sri Lanka. The film is based on the 1913 book The Village in the Jungle by Leonard Woolf. Sir Arthur C. Clarke also has a minor role in the film as an English Judge.
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>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.
Kala Keerthi Dr Bastian Koralage Henry Rudrigo Jayasena, popularly known as Henry Jayasena, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. With a career spanning more than four decades, Jayasena is considered one of the best dramatists in Sri Lankan drama.
Kala Suri Dona Georgina Meraya Denawaka,, popularly known as Denawaka Hamine, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television. Known as "The grand old lady" of Sinhala cinema, she appeared more than 300 films and teledramas in a career spanned more than four decades.
Deveni Gamana is a 1982 Sri Lankan film directed by H.D. Premaratne.
Mirihana Arachchige Nanda Malini Perera, popularly as Nanda Malini, is a Sri Lankan musician. One of the best known and most honoured singers of Sri Lanka, Malini's choice of singing themes are based on real life and social-cultural situations. Her songs intricate notional ideas of relationships, life-circumstances, and emotions that stem out of human realities.
Suddilage Kathaawa is a 1985 Sri Lankan film directed by Dharmasiri Bandaranayake and produced by Bandula Gunawardena. The film was based on the novel by reputed writer Simon Navagattegama, who later adapted the novel for the movie. The film stars Swarna Mallawarachchi in lead role along with Cyril Wickramage, Somy Rathnayake and Joe Abeywickrama in supportive roles. The film received critical acclaim and won the award for the Best Film at 1986 Sarasaviya Awards Ceremony.
The Sumathi Awards are awards bestowed to distinguished individuals involved with the Sri Lankan television industry. The Sumathi Award ceremonies are held each year by the Sumathi Group of Company in recognition of the contributions made to the Sri Lankan teledrama industry and television programs. The Sumathi ceremony is one of the most popular television program events in Sri Lanka. The awards were first introduced in 1995.
Veera Puran Appu is a 1978 Sri Lankan Sinhala epic biographical film directed by Lester James Peries and produced by former cabinet minister Tyronne Fernando for Shalanka Films. It stars Ravindra Randeniya and Joe Abeywickrama in lead roles along with Malani Fonseka and Tissa Abeysekara. Music composed by Premasiri Khemadasa. It is the 399th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
Thuiappuarachchi Don Daya de Alwis [Sinhala]), popularly known as Daya Alwis, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He was also a screenwriter and director. He directed about six teledramas. He was the first person in Sri Lanka to receive an award covering all three areas - Stage Drama, Cinema and Teledrama.
Cheriyo Doctor is a 1991 Sri Lankan Sinhala romantic comedy film directed by Roy de Silva and produced by Thilak Atapattu for TK Films. It is the first film of Cheriyo film series, which continued with three more films in 1995, 1996 and 2002. It stars Joe Abeywickrama, Sanath Gunathilake and Sabeetha Perera in lead roles along with Bandu Samarasinghe, Tennison Cooray and Freddie Silva. Music for the film is done by Somapala Rathnayake. It is the 734th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
Daya Bandara Tennakoon [Sinhala]), was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.
Thushara is a 1973 Sri Lankan Sinhala romantic film directed by Yasapalitha Nanayakkara and produced by Mohamed Omar Kareem Hassan. It stars Vijaya Kumaratunga and Malini Fonseka in lead roles along with Joe Abeywickrama and Sonia Disa. The music was composed by P. L. A. Somapala. The film was remade and screened in 2009 with the same title, where Saliya Sathyajith and Shalika Edirisinghe played the lead roles of 'Sampath' and 'Thushara' respectively.
Gonaduwahandunge Don Lakshman Perera, popularly as G. D. L. Perera, was an actor and filmmaker in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a journalist.
