Rathna Lalani Jayakody

Jayakodige Dona Rathna Lalani (born 8 January 1964 as රත්නා ලාලනී ජයකොඩි [Sinhala]), popularly as Rathna Lalani Jayakody, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television.[1][2] She is a teacher by profession.

Rathna Lalani Jayakody
රත්නා ලාලනී ජයකොඩි
Born (1964-01-08) 8 January 1964
Colombo
NationalitySri Lankan
OccupationActress, teacher
Years active1986–present
Spouse(s)Sampath Tennakoon
RelativesGeetha Kanthi Jayakody (sister)
Paboda Sandeepani (Sister's daughter)
Bimal Jayakody (brother's son)
Sujani Menaka (Bimal's wife)

Personal life

Rathna Lalani Jayakody was born on 8 January 1964 as the youngest of the family. His father is an Ayurvedic doctor.[3] She went to Siddhartha Maha Vidyalaya, Sedawatta and then attended to Kolonnawa Balika Vidyalaya.[4] She has two elder brothers, two elder sisters – Geetha Kanthi and Sriyani.[5] Geetha Kanthi is also a renowned award-winning actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. Popular actor Bimal Jayakody is the son of Rathna's elder brother. Bimal is married to fellow actress Sujani Menaka. Popular actress Paboda Sandeepani is the daughter of her sister Geetha Kanthi.[6]

Rathna Lalani is married to fellow actor Sampath Tennakoon.[2] They first met during a stage drama Puthra Samagama and then in Suba Sandewak. They have acted more than 50 stage dramas together.[7]

She is currently working as a teacher in Sri Rajasinghe Madya Maha Vidyalaya.[8]

Acting career

Before starting acting career, Jayakody joined with Sri Lanka Broadcasting Coorporation for Lama Pitiya program with her sister Geetha Kanthi.[9] In 1985, she acted in the stage play Julius Caeser produced by Tony Ranasinghe where she became the one and only Gamini Fonseka's only girlfriend on stage.[10] She was selected for many dramas due to her voice best suited for Noorthi and stage drama songs. She acted under the prominent directors such as Ananda Sirisena, Agnes Sirisena, Mahinda Algama, Ashoka Tillakaratne and Piyadasa Ranasinghe to polish her abilities.[8] Her maiden television acting came through Parakrama Niriella's Laa Hiru Dahasak.[4] Her role as Ranjani in the teledrama Yashorawaya was critically acclaimed.[11] She also acted in Verona,[12] and Hathara Wate[13]

In 1991, a drama festival named Ratna Lalani Drama Festival was held.[2] In 2013, Rathna and Sampath organised a drama festival titled Abhinayana Sampath-Rathna Rangabhumika to celebrate their 30 years in stage drama career. They staged seven popular dramas from 17–23 December 2013 at New Town Hall, Colombo 7, which they together acted.[8]

Selected stage dramas
  • Vaneesiye Welenda[4]
  • Thunmansala[4]
  • Suba Sandewak
  • Maname
  • Mayadevi[14]
  • Puthra Samagama[15][16]
  • Guru Tharuwa
  • Jagan Ma[17]
  • Romaya Gini Gani
  • Thalamala Pipila[18]
  • Andarela[19]
  • Deseeya Thunseeya[20]
  • Mala Walalu[21]

Filmography

Her maiden cinematic experience came through a minor role in 1986 film Pooja, directed by Dharmasiri Gamage.[22] Some of her popular films are Awaragira, Randiya Dahara and Pooja.[23]

YearFilmRoleRef.
1986Pooja
1989Siri MeduraKamala
1992Malsara Doni
1995AwaragiraSeetha[24]
2002Punchi SuranganaviAbandoned Nurse[25]
2003Sudu KaluwaraMargaret Fernando[26]
2004Randiya DaharaLionel's wife[27]
2008Siri Raja SiriClass teacher[28]
2011GamaniMurder victim[29]
2016SarigamaSister Rita[30]
2019President Super StarSamanthika[31]
TBDThanapathilage Gedara[32]

References
  1. "Rathna Lalani Jayakody bio". Rate your music. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  2. "My drama school was the SLBC". methinksatnation. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  3. "Took to the stage from the Lamapitiya and got all family involved in the arts". Silumina. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  4. "Chat with Rathna". Hiru FM. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  5. "Chat With Geetha Kanthi Jayakody". gossiplankahotnews. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  6. "Pabodha : 'I'll quit after marriage'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  7. "Sampath – Rathna 30 Not Out". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  8. "Abhinayana Sampath-Ratna Rangabhumika' Drama festival". Lanka Help. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  9. "පිරිමි එක්ක වැඩවලට යද්දී කතා හදුනා – Geetha Kanthi Jayakody". lankahotnews. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  10. "Gamini's only girlfriend on stage". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  11. "Rathna's family". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  12. "Sriyani starts "Verona"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  13. "'Hatara Wate' deals with routine events". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  14. "Mayadevi". rangahala. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  15. "Puthra Samagama". rangahala. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  16. "Puthra Samagama at Lionel Wendt". Daily News. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  17. "Jagan Ma". Time Out. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  18. "Thalamala Pipila". rangahala. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  19. "'Andarela' celebrates silver jubilee". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  20. "දෙසීය තුන්සීය වේදීකාව". Saaravita. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  21. "Mala Walalu: European debut for Mano's new drama". Daily News. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  22. "Geetha Kanthi Jayakody filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. 8. Retrieved 9 August 2018. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. "Ratna Lalani Jayakody filmography". IMDb. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  24. "Sinhala screened films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  25. "Punchi Suranganavi (Little Angel) – 2002". somadissa.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  26. "Reflecting back on post colonial Sri Lanka". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  27. "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  28. "Coronation of 'King Siri'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  29. "Gamani (2011)". IMDb. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  30. "Sarigama movie". National Film Corporation.
  31. "The presidential stage where four people are competing". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  32. "Plot of Thanapathilage Gedara". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
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