Sri Lankan cinema encompasses the films made in Sri Lanka. 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 languages.
Kadawunu Poronduwa was the first film to be made in the Sinhala language; it is generally considered to have heralded the coming of Sinhala Cinema. The film was produced and filmed in India however, and was highly influenced by South Indian melodrama. It was first shown on January 21, 1947 at the Kingsley Cinema in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Kadawunu Poronduwa is a 1982 Sinhala drama film directed by Roy de Silva and produced by his wife Sumana Amarasinghe. It is a remake of the first Sinhala film Kadawunu Poronduwa. The film stars Vijaya Kumaratunga and Sumana Amarasinghe in lead roles whereas Eddie Jayamanne, Joe Abeywickrama and Ruby de Mel in suppiortive roles. It also marks the film debut of comedian Sunil Hettiarachchi as well as final appearance of Eddie Jayamanne in cinema.
Rabindra Coomaraswamy, popularly known by his stage name Robin Tampoe, was a film maker of Sri Lankan cinema. One of the earliest pillars in Sinhala cinema, Tampoe hailed from the Sri Lankan Tamil community but most of his movies were made in the Sinhala language. He is the son of another pioneering filmmaker, W.M.S Tampoe.
Wanniaarachchige Don David Victor Jayamanne KBE, popularly known as Eddie Jayamanne was a popular Sri Lankan comedian and actor of early Sri Lankan cinema.
Ramaya Muttusamy was a prolific Sri Lankan music director and singer. He handled the music for most of K. Gunaratnam's productions.
Bernard Aloysius Wanniarachchi Jayamanne who was better known as B.A.W. Jayamanne was a Sri Lankan playwright, director, producer and actor. He played a major role in the making of the first Sinhala film Kadawunu Poronduwa in 1947; Jayamanne achieved a level of popularity as a director with movies starring Rukmani Devi and Eddie Jayamanne in the 1950s.
Kanupulage Ugo Singho, popularly known as Hugo Master or Hugo Fernando, was a Sri Lankan film personality. Debuting in the first Sinhalese film Kadawunu Poronduwa, Fernando had an over 30 year career as a character actor, lyricist, assistant director and music director.
Sunil Edmund Hettiarachchi was a well-known Sri Lankan comedian and character actor known for his bald appearance with a full beard and skinny frame.
Chathurartha Devadithya Gardiyawasam Lindamulage Roy Aloysius Felix de Silva, popularly known as Roy de Silva, was a Sri Lankan actor and film director in Sri Lankan cinema and former acting president of the Olympic Council of Asia. He entered the film industry as an actor in 1964 with Sujage Rahasa directed by Palaniyaandi Neelakantan. He then moved towards cinema direction, becoming one of the most successful film makers in the Sri Lankan film industry. His blockbuster movies such as Re Daniel Dawal Migel series, Cheriyo series, Clean Out, and Sir Last Chance were economically successful and made hallmarks in the industry.
Darshan Dharmaraj is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema. He made his first television appearance through the Sidney Chandrasekara's teledrama A9. He was awarded Best Actor Awards at several Film festivals in Sri Lanka for his portrayal as ex-LTTE cadre in Asoka Handagama's movie Ini Avan (2012).
Niranjani Shanmugaraja also known as Niranjani Shanmugarajah is a Sri Lankan award-winning actress in Sri Lanka cinema. She also works as a television host in Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.
Sundaram Mathura-Nayagam was a pioneer of Sinhala cinema, producing the first ever Sinhala talkie, Kadawunu Poronduwa.
Meemanage Mary Magdalene Leticia Peiris [Sinhala]), popularly as Leticia Peiris, was an award-winning actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. One of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan film history, Peiris had a career that spanned more than five decades. She is the last acting link of the Jayamanne lineage.
M. S. Anandan (Tamil: எம். எஸ். ஆனந்தன்; Sinhala: එම්. එස්. ආනන්දන්; 26 April 1977
Emanuel Anthony Bertram Fernando, popularly known as Bertram Fernando, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and stage drama.
M.S. Parthasarathy or M.S.P. Sarathi was an Indian film editor, director, and producer. He was closely associated with H.M. Reddy and worked numerous movies with him as an editor. He directed telegu movie Errakota Veerudu (1973) with NT Rama Rao in the lead role. He edited Bhakta Kanakadasa (1960), with Dr. Rajkumar in the lead role which marked the official 100th film in Sandalwood (Kannada) film industry. He also edited Vaddante Dabbu with NT Rama Rao in the lead role.
Don Samuel Dudley Wanaguru, popularly known as Dudley Wanaguru was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema.
Kanagasabai Gunaratnam, popularly known as K. Gunaratnam was a prolific film producer in Sri Lankan cinema. Started his film producing career during post-independent Ceylon, Gunaratnam is the pioneer to establish two Sinhala film studios: 'Cinemas Limited' and 'Vijaya Studios', where he produced more than 20 blockbuster and commercial movies.
Richard Herbert Seneviratne, popularly as Herbie Seneviratne, was an actor and filmmaker in Sri Lankan cinema.
