Sriyani Amarasena

Kalasuri Palamakumbura Herath Mudiyanselage Sriyani Weerakoon Kumarihami (born 14 June 1944 as ශ්‍රියානි අමරසේන), popularly as Sriyani Amarasena, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television as well as a producer.[1] Sriyani has appeared in several critically acclaimed Lester James Peries' movies including Golu Hadawatha, Desa Nisa and Ahasin Polawata.[2]

Sriyani Amarasena
ශ්‍රියානි අමරසේන
Born
Palamakumbura Herath Mudiyanselage Sriyani Weerakoon Kumarihami

(1944-06-14) 14 June 1944
Meethotamulla, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationMusaeus College
OccupationActress, producer
Years active1966–present
Spouse(s)Arthur U. Amarasena
ChildrenInoka Amarasena
AwardsBest Actress

Personal life

She was born on 14 June 1944 in Meethotamulla. Her father worked at Colombo Municipal Council. She had her education from three schools, primary education from Meetotamulla College, and then from Musaeus College and Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo.

She is married to former journalist Arthur U. Amarasena.[3][4] The couple has one daughter, Inoka Amarasena. Inoka also acted in few films such as Kristhu Charithaya and Gehenu Lamai.

Acting career

During school time, she acted few dramas like Hathara Beeri Kathawa and Koheda Yanne Rukmani.[5] Then, she met Siri Perera and entered to Lama Mandapaya program in the SLBC. Amarasena first appeared on stage drama with P.D.L Perera's Thammanna, and then gain popularity with the role daughter of Dayananda Gunawardena's stage drama Naribana. Some of her other stage dramas include Hitha Honda Ammandi and Ves Muhunu.[5]

Her maiden cinematic appearance came through a feature film Wings Over Ceylon directed by Pagngnasoma Hettiarachchi. Then she acted in a minifilm Keti Kathawa directed by D.B. Nihalsinghe. This film is recorded as the first cinemascope film produced in Sri Lanka.[5]

After the marriage, Amarasena entered mainstream cinema, where her maiden acting came through in the blockbuster film Golu Hadawatha in 1968. This in turn opened door to enter popular cinema industry.[6] Some of her notable dramatic roles came through the film such as Desa Nisa, Ahasin Polawata, Viragaya and Mahagedara.[7] Apart from dramatic roles, Amarasena also acted many commercial films of many genre, such as Kalyani Ganga and Raththaran Amma, which earned her positive critical responses.[5] In 1993, she was awarded the Sarasaviya award for the film Kulageya.[8]

Her maiden teledrama production came through Dath Kekulu Pala. Then she produced three television serials, Ira Bata Taruwa,[9] Hemanthaye Wasanthayak [10] and Hangi Muttham where they made partly in London for England-based Sri Lankan audiences.[11] In 2003, she directed and produced the tele series Peraliya, which was shot in Australia.[12] In 2005, she directed the serial Thusharaye Chaya which was shot in USA.[13] In 2011, she directed the serial Mayura Asapuwa.[14]

Filmography

As actress
YearFilmRoleRef.
1968Golu HadawathaChampa
1970Penawa Neda
1970Priyanga
1971Hathara Denama SoorayoSomey[15]
1971Seeye Nottuwa
1973Aparadaya Ha Danduwama
1974Kalyani GangaKalyani
1974Sagarika
1974Sihasuna
1975Obai MamaiNanda
1975TharangaAnoma
1975Raththaran AmmaKalyani
1975Lassana DawasakPriyanthi
1975Desa NisaSundari[16]
1976Ran Thilaka
1976Mangalaa
1977Hithuwoth HithuwamaiSumali[17]
1977Yali Ipade
1977Sikuru Dasawa
1977Niwena GinnaNanda
1978Asha Dasin
1978Hitha MithuraJuliet
1978Selinage WalawwaViolet
1978Kumara KumariyoAchala Weerawardena
1978Sandawata Rantharu
1978Ahasin PolawataVineetha
1978Veera Puran AppuKuda Manike
1979SarungaleSoma, Simon's wife[18]
1979Raja KolloSriyani / Chandrawathi
1979Eka HithaAchala
1979Rosa Mal ThunakAnusha
1979Akke Mata AwasaaAnuja
1980Mal KekuluPalika[19]
1980KanchanaShanthi
1980ParithyagayaAnula
1980Bambara PahasaSeetha
1980Muwan Palessa 2Mali
1980Mage Amma
1981Senasuma
1981SooriyakanthaMayuri
1981Ridee Thella
1981RangaRanga's mother
1981Sathara Pera NimithiSudath's mother
1982Hello Shyama
1982Maha GedaraAnula Malwanna[20]
1982Pethi GomaraSudhira
1982Jeewithayen Jeewithayak
1982Rahasak Nathi Rahasak
1982Situ DiyaniyaSomawathie 'Soma' Madiwaka
1982PaaramithaChamari
1982Yahalu YeheliIskola Hamine
1983Ran Mini Muthu
1983ChandiraSeethamma
1983Niliyakata Pem KalemiChintamani
1983Subodha
1983Menik Maliga
1983Sister MarySumali
1984Binari Saha SudubandaBinari
1984Rana DeranaNamali
1985Wathsala Akka
1985Obata Diwura KiyannamShanthi
1985Doo Daruwo
1986Yali HamuwennaiPriyanthi Abeysinghe
1986PrarthanaLoku Hamine
1987Raja WadakarayoNandani
1987ViragayaSarojini[21]
1987Dhonkara
1987AhinsaParty guest
1988Amme Oba Nisa
1988Satana
1988Angulimala
1990Dese Mal PipilaSumali
1990Madu Sihina
1991Bambara Kalapaya
1991Golu Muhude Kunatuwa
1992KulageyaEdna Dias
1993Saagara Thiina
1993Lassanai Balanna
1994Sudu PiruwataMrs. Rathnayake
1994Vijaya GeethaShelterer's mother
1995Edath Chandiya Adath ChandiyaKaruna
1996Obatai Me Aradhana
1996Sebe Mithura
1997Duwata Mawaka Misa
1997Tharanaya
1997Vijayagrahanaya
2000Chakrayudha
2000Indrakeelaya
2003Le Kiri KanduluNethalie
2003Sepata Dukata SunnySilawathi
2005One ShotVijaya's aunt
2005SulangaJudge
2006Double Game
2008Adara Meena
2013Bomba Saha Rosa
2013Raja HoruMahesh's mother
2017NilanjanaSamantha
2017Dr. NawariyanCharitha Senanayake
2017Dedunu AkaseVajira
2017Seema Na AkaseIsuru's mother

As producer
YearFilm
1990Dese Mal Pipila
1992Kulageya
1997Tharanaya

References
  1. "Actresses in Sinhala cinema - Sriyani Amarasena". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  2. "The romance lingers on". Daily News(Sri Lanka). 24 March 2007.
  3. "50th anniversary". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  4. "Home Sweet Home". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  5. "All about Sriyani". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  6. "Sriyani Amarasena - ශ්‍රියානි අමරසේන films". films.lk. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  7. "Sriyani Amarasena: The Fragile Female". Daily News. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  8. "Sriyani's birthday coincides with 50th year in movies". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  9. "'Irabata Taruwa': special screening in London". Daily News. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  10. "'Hemanthe Wasanthayak': A tale with a difference". Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  11. "Face2Face with Sriyani Amarasena". infolanka. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  12. "Peraliya : A story of dramatic suspense". Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  13. "Sriyani's Shadows in the Snow". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  14. "'Mayura Asapuwa' on ethnic issue". Sunday Times. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  15. "Hadata Wadata Hari Soorayo: Hathara Denama Soorayo film". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  16. "Lester-Sumithra cinema on mini-screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  17. "All about "Hithuwoth Hithuwamai"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  18. "All about Sarungale". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  19. "All about the film "Mal Kekulu"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  20. "All about Maha Gedara". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  21. "Viragaya, the review". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
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