Florida Jayalath

Jayathilake Arachchige Florida Cooray (born 1936 – died 2007 as ෆ්ලොරිඩා ජයලත්) [Sinhala]), popularly as Florida Jayalath, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema.[1][2] Apart from acting, Florida also worked as a filmmaker, choreographer and a film producer. She is the first female filmmaker in Sinhala film industry.[3]

Florida Jayalath
ෆ්ලොරිඩා ජයලත්
Born
Jayathilake Arachchige Florida Cooray

1936
Marawila, Sri Lanka
DiedApril 2007 (aged 71)
Melbourne, Australia
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationHoly Family Convent, Marawila
OccupationActress, Director, Choreographer, Producer
Years active1951–1966
Parents
  • D. K. Jayalath (father)
  • Merry Gald Jayalath (mother)

Personal life

Florida was born on 1936 in Marawila as the fourth child of the family. Her father was D. K. Jayalath and mother was Merry Gald Jayalath. She completed education from Holy Family Convent, Marawila. She has two elder sisters, Josapin Jayalath and Srima Murial Jayalath. Josapin was a dramatist at the Minerva Drama Team.

Florida died in April 2007 at the age of 71.[4] At the time of demise, she was in Melbourne, Australia with her daughter.

Career

Florida made her film debut with a minor role in the 1951 film Segawunu Pilithura.[5] Then in 1953, she made a major role in the film Sujatha with the titular character. The film was a blockbuster of that year and Florida became a sensation among the people. She appeared in many popular movies in the coming years such as Sada Sulang, Daruwa Kageda and Heta Pramada Wadi. In the film Seda Sulang, Indian playback singer Lata Mangeshkar played the background song Sri Lanka Ma Priyadara for Florida.[6] Her last film appearance came through 1966 film Sudu Duwa.[7]

In 1965, she directed and produced the film Sweep Ticket along with Raja Joshua.[4] This is the first time a woman in Sinhala cinema has directed a feature film.[8]

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
1951Segawunu PilithuraStage dancer
1952Umathu WishwasayaDancer
1953SujathaSujatha
1955Seda SulangSeetha
1957SaradamaSandhya / Kama
1958SepaliSepali
1959AwishwasayaLatha
1959Gehenu GetaDancer
1960Pirimiyek Nisa
1961Suwineetha Lalani
1961Daruwa Kageda..?Geetha
1962Deva Sundari
1963Wena Swargayak Kumatada..?
1963Sudu Sande Kalu WalaManike
1963Mangalika
1964Heta Pramada WadiLaxmi
1965Sweep Ticket
1966Sudu Duwa

References
  1. "Actresses in Sri Lankan cinema - Florida Jayalath". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  2. "Florida Jayalath filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  3. "Our female filmmakers". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  4. "Florida Jayalath - Appreciation". The Island. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  5. "Florida Jayalath remembrance". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  6. "Florida Jayalath posts". Facebook. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  7. "Florida Jayalath films". IMDb. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  8. "Movie stars who acted in their first directorial role". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
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