Daisy Rasammah Daniels, known popularly as Rukmani Devi was a Sri Lankan film actress and singer, who was often acclaimed as "The Nightingale of Sri Lanka". She made it to the silver screen via the stage and had acted in close to 100 films, at the time of her death. Having an equal passion for singing as well as a melodious voice, she was Sri Lanka's foremost female singer in the gramophone era. After her death, she was awarded the Sarasaviya 'Rana Thisara'- Life Time Achievement Award at the 1979 Sarasaviya Awards Festival.
Wanniarachchige Malini Senehelatha Fonseka, popularly as Malini Fonseka is a Sri Lankan film actress and former member of Sri Lanka Parliament, who became known as the "Queen of Sinhalese cinema". Her cinema career that has spanned seven decades began with Tissa Liyansooriya's Punchi Baba in 1968.
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.
The Sarasaviya Best Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival.
The Sarasaviya Best Supporting Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival. Although the Sarasaviya Awards Ceremony began in 1964, this award was introduced in 1969. Following is a list of the winners of this title since then.
The Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor 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. Gamini Fonseka was chosen as the most popular actor, that year. During the two decades from 1962 to 1982 Gamini Fonseka managed to retain this title marking the period from Ranmuthuduwa in 1962 to Sakvithi Suvaya in 1982 most appropriately as the Gamini Fonseka era. In the aftermath of 1983 for full five years continuously, the actor-turned politician, the late Vijaya Kumaratunga held the position of the most popular actor which devolved on Sanath Gunatilake, Jeevan Kumaratunga, and Ranjan Ramanayake successively after his demise.
The Sarasaviya Best Emerging Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival. Although the Sarasaviya Awards Ceremony began in 1964, this award was introduced much later. Following is a list of the winners of this title since then.
Dilhani Ashokamala Ekanayake is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. One of the most popular film actresses in Sinhala cinema, Ekanayake has won several awards as the most popular actress in multiple times.
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.
Rita Irene Koys, better known as Shanthi Lekha, was a Sri Lankan Film actress. She played the role of mother in more films than any other actress in Sinhala cinema.
Rita Philomina Ratnayake was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema. She became very popular in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s early Sinhala cinema particularly with the role 'Daisy Attanayake' in the blockbuster Kele Handa in 1953.
Baminnahennadige Dinakshie Priyasad is a Sri Lankan actress and television presenter. Priyasad made her acting debut at the age of two in the film Apaye Thathpara 84,000 directed by her father Dinesh Priyasad.
Hemal Sachindra Ranasinghe ) is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and television. He earned the critics' award for 'Best Actor' and 'Most Popular Actor' at the Derana Film Awards in both 2016 and 2018 becoming one of Sri Lanka's most popular actors of modern cinema. Ranasinghe started his career as a model, appearing in several advertising commercials. He made his cinema debut in 2012 appearing in Super Six. In 2016 he won Most Popular Actor, and Best Promising Actor at the Hiru Golden Film Award.
Gonakumbura Pangukarage Shalani Tharaka Wijayabandara, popularly known as Shalani Tharaka, is a Sri Lankan actress and model. One of the most popular television actresses in Sri Lanka, Tharaka holds the title for the Sri Lankan beauty pageant Sirasa Kumariya which she won in 2007. Apart from acting, she is also a dancer, lyricist and author.
Baminnahennadige Shanudrie Priyasad is a Sri Lankan actress, dancer, and singer, who appears in Sri Lankan films and television shows. She began her acting career as a child artist.
Raigam Tele'es is an award bestowed to distinguished individuals involved with the Sri Lanka's television screen, each year by the Kingdom of Raigam, Sri Lanka in recognition of the various contributions made by them to the Sri Lankan teledrama industry, television programs and media sector in the preceding year. The Raigam Tele'es is one of the most popular television program events in Sri Lanka. The awards were first introduced in 2005 and continuously undertaken with one interruption in 2021.
Anula Karunathilaka is a Sri Lankan film actress and theatrical performer. Her work is noted during the 70s 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.
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.
Leonie Ayuntha Weerasinghe, popularly as Leonie Kotelawala, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. In a career spanned more than seven decades, Kotelawala is best known for becoming the first Sri Lankan stage actress to win the 1962 Best Actress Award for her performance in the play Mehew Lokaya.
