Sri Lankan cinema encompasses the Sri Lankan film industry. It is a fledgling industry that has struggled to find a footing since its inauguration in 1947 with Kadawunu Poronduwa produced by S. M. Nayagam of Chitra Kala Movietone. Sri Lankan films are usually made in Sinhala and Tamil, the dominant languages of the country.
Sarasaviya Awards is an award bestowed to distinguished individuals involved with the Sinhala cinema, each year by the Sarasaviya weekly newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, Sri Lanka in recognition of the contributions made by them to the Sri Lankan film industry. The Sarasaviya ceremony is one of the oldest film events in Sri Lanka. The awards were first introduced in 1964. The Sarasaviya Awards have been often referred to as the Sinhala Cinema industry's equivalent to The Oscars.
Kumara Vidugalage Dona Geetha Samanmalee Kumarasinghe, popularly known as Geetha Kumarasinghe, is a Sri Lankan film actress & politician. She previously served as a Member of a Parliament as well as being the State Minister of Women and Child Affairs from 2022 to 2024.
Kaliyugaya is a 1981 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries; it was adapted from the novel Kaliyugaya by Martin Wickramasinghe, and follows the events of the film Gamperaliya. It was followed by the film adaptation of the third novel in Wickramasinghe's trilogy, Yuganthaya, in 1983.
![<i>Golu Hadawatha</i> 1969 [[Dominion of Ceylon|Sri Lanka]] film](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/46/Golu-hadawatha1.jpg)
Golu Hadawatha was a popular 1968 Sinhalese language romance movie directed by Maestro Lester James Peiris. Wickrama Bogoda and Anula Karunathilaka acted the lead roles of Sugath and Dhammhi. The movie's story is built on the novel Golu Hadawatha written by Karunasena Jayalath in 1962, based on his school time experiences and memories. Regi Siriwardena wrote the screenplay and Veteran Sinhala musician Premasiri Khemadasa composed the music. Golu Hadawatha is acclaimed as a movie that set a milestone in Sinhala moviemaking. It introduced a new cinematic format to the romance and love movie genre. The movie departs from the then traditional movie style; no hero, heroine, no enemy or villain, Joker, no songs, and fights etc. Based on a romantic and emotional attachment between a teenage boy and a girl who study in the same class of their school, Golu Hadawatha is regarded as one of the landmarks in Sri Lankan Cinema.
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.
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.
Deshabandu Tony Ranasinghe was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in Sinhala cinema of all time, Tony is highly praised for his unique facial expressions, voice, the variety of body languages & some of the hard - tensioned roles which were extremely difficult to act, such as Sarath's role in Ahasin Polowata, Nissanka's role in Delovak Athara etc. According to critics, he is the last Crowned king in Sri Lankan cinema to die after Gamini Fonseka and Joe Abeywickrama.
Sikuru Tharuwa is a 1963 Sri Lankan drama directed by L. S. Ramachandran and written by P. K. D. Seneviratne. It was developed by the Kurulu Rana group that attempted to make original movies pertaining to Sinhalese culture.
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.
Heendeniya Vidanaralalage Punya Heendeniya, popularly as Punya Heendeniya, is a former Sri Lankan cinema actress who resides in England.
Randiya Dahara (Golden Water) (Sinhala: රන්දිය දහර) is a 2004 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama film directed by Udayakantha Warnasuriya and produced by Neil Ranjth Palliyaguruge for R.J Films. It stars Geetha Kumarasinghe and Kamal Addararachchi in lead roles along with Jackson Anthony and Mahendra Perera. Music composed by veteran musician Premasiri Khemadasa. It is the 1045th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
The Sumathi U.W. Sumathipala Memorial Award is presented annually by the Sumathi Group of Companies associated with many commercial brands for the artists who devoted their life to the improvement of Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television in every aspect. The award named in honour of U. W. Sumathipala, the father of current Sumathi Group owner and the founder of Sumathi Awards, Thilanga Sumathipala.
Anula Karunathilaka is a Sri Lankan film actress and theatrical performer. Her work is noted during the 1970s film and cinema history in Sri Lanka. One of the most popular actresses in Sinhala cinema in 1960s, she is best known for the popular role 'Dammi' in the blockbuster film Golu Hadawatha.
Wassanaye Sanda is a 2018 Sri Lankan Sinhala romantic drama film directed by Udayakantha Warnasuriya and co-produced by the director along with Mahesh K. Bandara and H. D. Premasiri. It stars Oshadi Himasha, Piumi Hansamali and Angelo Sanjeev Barnes with Anuj Ranasinghe in lead roles along with Anula Karunathilaka and Ravindra Randeniya. The music was composed by veteran musician Rohana Weerasinghe.
Visharada Alahakoonge Don Jayatissa [Sinhala]), popularly as Jayatissa Alahakoon, was a prolific music director and composer in Sri Lankan cinema and theater.
Pathirajawasam Kudahitige Don Seneviratne was a prominent Sri Lankan poet, journalist and a scriptwriter in Sinhala cinema. Considered as foremost independent screenwriter in Sri Lankan cinema, Seneviratne wrote several popular films such as Kurulu Bedda, Sikuru Tharuwa, Parasathu Mal and Ran Salu. He was a popular poet of the Colombo period.
Sujatha Chandradasa Paramanathan, is a former beauty queen and actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. She is the first Sri Lankan actress turned politician, where she won the Yatawatta Gam Sabha council from Matale district in 1960.
