Sriyani Amarasena

Sriyani Amarasena
ශ්‍රියානි අමරසේන
Born
Palamakumbura Herath Mudiyanselage Sriyani Weerakoon Kumarihami

(1944-06-14) 14 June 1944
Meethotamulla, Sri Lanka
EducationMusaeus College
OccupationsActress, Producer, Director
Years active1961–present
SpouseArthur U. Amarasena (m. 1964)
ChildrenInoka Amarasena
Sampath Amarasena
AwardsBest Actress

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

Personal life

She was born on 14 June 1944 in Meethotamulla, Kolonnawa, Sri Lanka.[3] 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.[4]

She is married to former journalist Arthur U. Amarasena.[5][6] The couple has one daughter, Inoka Amarasena and one son, Sampath 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.[7] 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.[4] Some of her other stage dramas include Hitha Honda Ammandi and Ves Muhunu.[7]

Her maiden cinematic appearance came through a feature film Wings Over Ceylon directed by Pagngnasoma Hettiarachchi.[4] 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.[7]

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.[8] Some of her notable dramatic roles came through the film such as Desa Nisa, Ahasin Polawata, Viragaya and Mahagedara.[9] 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.[7] In 1993, she was awarded the Sarasaviya award for the film Kulageya.[10]

Her maiden teledrama production came through Dath Kekulu Pala. Then she produced three television serials, Ira Bata Taruwa,[11] Hemanthaye Wasanthayak [12] and Hangi Muttham where they made partly in London for England-based Sri Lankan audiences.[13] In 2003, she directed and produced the tele series Peraliya, which was shot in Australia.[14] In 2005, she directed the serial Thusharaye Chaya which was shot in USA.[15] In 2011, she directed the serial Mayura Asapuwa.[16]

In 2019, he was honored with Janabhimani Honorary Award at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.[17] In 2021, he was honored with the 'Deshabhimani Keerthi Kalabushana' award.[18]

Selected Television Serials

  • Ayomi
  • Dath Kekulu Pala
  • Gini Weluma
  • Girikula (Cameo appearance)
  • Mayura Asapuwa
  • Natath Ayek Sura Mathin
  • Rangira
  • Ran Samanalayo
  • Swayanjatha
  • Udu Sulanga

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

As actress

YearFilmRoleRef.
1968Golu HadawathaChampa
1971Hathara Denama SurayoSomey[19]
1975Desa NisaSundari[20]
1977Hithuwoth HithuwamaiSumali[21]
1978Ahasin PolawataVineetha
1978Veera Puran AppuKuda Manike
1979SarungaleSoma, Simon's wife[22]
1980Mal KekuluPalika[23]
1982Maha GedaraAnula Malwanna[24]
1987ViragayaSarojini[25]
2003Le Kiri KanduluNethalie
2003Sepata Dukata SunnySilawathi
2005One ShotVijaya's aunt
2005SulangaJudge
2013Bomba Saha Rosa
2013Raja HoruMahesh's mother
2017NilanjanaSamantha
2017Dr. NawariyanCharitha Senanayake
2017Dedunu AkaseVajira
2017Seema Na AkaseIsuru's mother
TBAYathra †[26]
TBAAbheetha †[27]

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. ↑ "Sriyani Amarasena deceived by Perera and Silva". Silumina. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  4. 1 2 3 "Sriyani Amarasena career". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  5. ↑ "50th anniversary". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  6. ↑ "Home Sweet Home". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "All about Sriyani". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  8. ↑ "Sriyani Amarasena - ශ්‍රියානි අමරසේන films". films.lk. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  9. ↑ "Sriyani Amarasena: The Fragile Female". Daily News. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  10. ↑ "Sriyani's birthday coincides with 50th year in movies". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  11. ↑ "'Irabata Taruwa': special screening in London". Daily News. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  12. ↑ "'Hemanthe Wasanthayak': A tale with a difference". Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  13. ↑ "Face2Face with Sriyani Amarasena". infolanka. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  14. ↑ "Peraliya : A story of dramatic suspense". Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  15. ↑ "Sriyani's Shadows in the Snow". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "'Mayura Asapuwa' on ethnic issue". Sunday Times. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  17. ↑ "Presented Janabhimani to veteran legends". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  18. ↑ "Cletus and Sriyani receive two awards". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  19. ↑ "Hadata Wadata Hari Soorayo: Hathara Denama Soorayo film". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  20. ↑ "Lester-Sumithra cinema on mini-screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  21. ↑ "All about "Hithuwoth Hithuwamai"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  22. ↑ "All about Sarungale". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  23. ↑ "All about the film "Mal Kekulu"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  24. ↑ "All about Maha Gedara". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  25. ↑ "Viragaya, the review". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  26. ↑ "වෙරළ ඉමේ විසිර ගිය ජීවිත". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  27. ↑ "අභියෝගයට, අභියෝගයක්". Sarasaviya. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
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