Kovilage Anton Vijaya Kumaranatunga, popularly known as Vijaya Kumaratunga, was a Sri Lankan actor, playback singer and a politician, regarded as one of the most popular icons in Sri Lankan cinema of all time. He was married to former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaranatunga from 1978 until his assassination in 1988. He was the Founder of Sri Lanka Mahajana Party.
Kala Keerthi Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka was a Sri Lankan film actor, film director and politician. Often considered one of the greatest actors in Sinhala cinema, Fonseka dominated the industry in 1960s and 1970s and won several Best 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.
Wanniarachchige Malini Senehelatha Fonseka, popularly known as Malini Fonseka is a Sri Lankan actress, theatre artist and a 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.
The Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival. This award is decided solely on popular vote and is chosen based on the verdict given by the readers of the weekly Sarasaviya. Although the Sarasaviya Awards Ceremony began in 1964, this award was introduced two years later, in 1966. Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya was chosen as the most popular actress, that year. Anula Karunathilake, Malini Fonseka, Geetha Kumarasinghe, Sabeetha Perera, Dilhani Ekanayake and Sangeetha Weeraratne were the actresses who were eventually crowned as the Most Popular Actresses.
Addararachchige Gunendra Kamal, popularly as Kamal Addararachchi, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television, as well as a singer and presenter.Widely regarded as one of the greatest Sinhala actors of all time, Addaraarachchi made his debut as an actor in Gamini Fonseka's 1981 film Sagarayak Meda, whilst he was a still a student at school. Since the late 1970s, he has appeared in a variety of roles in many films and teledramas. He has acted in over 40 films, 20 teledramas and 6 stage plays, and won the Sarasaviya Best Actor Award for his role of Sobana in Jayantha Chandrasiri's film Agnidahaya in 2002.
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.
Dian Hemamali Sangeetha Weeraratne (born December 13, 1973, as is a Sri Lankan film actress in the Sri Lankan cinema. She made her debut as a sixteen-year-old with Roy de Silva's It's a Matter of Time opposite Kamal Addararachchi in 1990. However, she earned immense popularity only after performing in H.D. Premaratne's Saptha Kanya, also opposite Kamal Addararachchi in 1993. It was a huge success and she won the Sarasaviya Best Newcomer Award that year. She has acted in over 50 movies.
Aba is a 2008 Sinhalese film directed by Jackson Anthony and co-produced by Justin Belagamage and Rajindra Jayasinghe for Chandrakini Creations. The title is derived from Pandu Aba, another name for the title character. Anthony’s son, Sajitha Anthony, portrays Pandukabhaya. The film also features Malini Fonseka, Ravindra Randeniya, Sriyantha Mendis, Sabeetha Perera and many other popular actors.
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.
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.
Merengnnage Edward Tennyson Cooray was an actor and comedian in Sri Lankan cinema and theater. One of the most popular comedians ever in Sinhala cinema with a career spanned more than three decades, Cooray was best known for comedy roles in several blockbuster film franchises such as Re Daniel Dawal Migel, Cheriyo, Peralikarayo, Wada Bari Tarzan as well as Somy Boys. In addition to acting, he also worked as a director and scriptwriter, singer, and lyrics writer.
Nommara 17 is a 1989 Sri Lankan Sinhala action thriller film directed by Hemasiri Sellapperuma and produced by Preethiraj Weeraratne for Weeraratne Enterprises. It stars Vijaya Kumaratunga, Sanath Gunathilake and Jeewan Kumaranatunga in lead roles along with Mervyn Jayathunga, Wilson Karunaratne, Sabeetha Perera, Menik Kurukulasooriya and Freddie Silva. The music was composed by Ernest Soysa. It is the 691st film in the Sinhala cinema.
Vijaya Ramanayake is a Sri Lankan film and music producer, songwriter, journalist and author. He was the founder and producer of Tharanga Music and Film. Ramanayake was the first to introduce compact cassette tapes to Sri Lanka.
Mary Felicia Perera [Sinhala]), popularly as Sonia Dissanayake or known professionally as Sonia Disa, is a former actress in Sri Lankan cinema. Starting her career in 1962, Disa became one of the most popular film actresses in Sri Lanka in the 1970s and 1980s. Apart from acting, she also produced 17 films and worked as a costume designer.
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.
Joseph Manuel Alexander Fernando was a Sri Lankan actor and stunt director in Sinhala cinema. Considered one of the best villains in Sinhala cinema, Fernando acted in over 120 Sinhala films, six Tamil films, and one English film.
Lionel Danthanarayana [Sinhala]), popularly as 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.
Sarungale (The Kite) (Sinhala: සරුංගලේ) is a 1979 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama thriller film directed by Sunil Ariyaratne and produced by Y.M. Karunathilake. It stars Gamini Fonseka and Farina Lai in lead roles along with M. Abbas] and Wimal Kumara de Costa. Music composed by Victor Ratnayake. It is the 413th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
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.
Hathara Denama Soorayo is a 1971 Sri Lankan Sinhala action romantic film directed and produced by Neil Rupasinghe for Samudra Films. The four protagonist roles are played by Gamini Fonseka, Vijaya Kumaratunga, Anthony C. Perera and Senadeera Rupasinghe in lead roles along with Malini Fonseka and Sriyani Amarasena. Music composed by P. L. A. Somapala. It is the 230th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema. It is the first film in Sinhala cinema to be screened for 100 consecutive days in a single cinema hall. The film also witnessed as the first film in which Gamini Fonseka, Malini Fonseka and Vijaya Kumaratunga act together.
