Veena Jayakody

Veena Jayakody
වීණා ජයකොඩි
Scene of Bahuchithawadiya Film
Born
Virginia Sandhya Peiris

(1952-11-27) November 27, 1952
Sri Lanka
EducationHoly Family Convent, Bambalapitiya
OccupationsActress, Dramatist
Years active1968–present
Children3
ParentRohini Jayakody (mother)
AwardsBest Actress

Virginia Sandhya Peiris (born 27 November 1952), better known as Veena Jayakody (Sinhala: වීණා ජයකොඩි), is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[1][2] Jayakody started as a child artist and has played critically acclaimed roles in films Sagarayak Meda, Ra Manamali and Sarungalaya.

Personal life

Veena Jayakodi was born on 27 November 1952. Her mother, Rohini Jayakody, was a well-known Sri Lankan actress and film director.[3] She received her education at Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya.[4] Jayakodi has three children: one daughter and two sons. Her eldest child, Anjana Ramachandran, was previously married to Srini Ramachandran, and they have two children, Waishya and Kaushik. Her eldest son, Chandu Doolwela, is married to Melanie Dolivera, and the couple has three children: Jason, Tharaa, and Joshua. Her youngest son, Sanjay Khan, has a daughter named Lilaah.

Acting career

Jayakody started her film career with Ahankara Sthree back in 1954, directed by A. B. Raj as a 5-month-old child with her mother.[5] At the age of 12, Jayakody acted in 1968 film Hangi Hora directed by her mother Rohini Jayakody, where she acted as a dancer. At the age of 14, she acted in a Vesak drama Kohomada Wade.[5] In the meantime, she studied dance under Pramila Kuruppu, Daya Nellampitiya and Rudrani Liyanage. Later she learned Kathakali dance from Sirimathi Rasadari. When she was a child, she acted as the daughter in the Vijaya Kuveni stage drama when her mother was 'Kuveni'. At school, she also played the role of 'Kisa' in the play 'Kundala Keshi'.[6]

The she played the role of 'Gunapali' in the stage play Sivamma Dhanapala. After the tragic death of lead actress Rukmani Devi, Venna got the role of 'Sivamma'. After that she acted in plays such as Siripala Saha Ran Menika and Dwithwa. Later she won an award for the play Uruvisi. But in time and on long journeys, she had to retired from the stage when she got sick because of the lack of facilities.[6]

Then she moved to television serials, started with the serial Aththa Bidei directed by Henry Jayasena. She later made a popular role 'Sudharma' in the critically acclaimed serial Doo Daruwo.[6]

Notable teledramas

Year Teledrama Role Ref.
2022 Ahanna Kenek Na Erin [7]
2011 Amarapuraya [8]
Bhavana - Akala Rathriya
Bopath Sakkiya [9]
Eth Kanda Lihini [10]
2010 Ganga Addara Nimali's Mother [11]
Giri Shikara Meda [12]
Hirusanda Maima [13]
1988 Kande Gedara Mayura [14]
Kota Uda Mandira
Kulavilokanaya [15]
Laabai Apple [16]
2020 Kele Handa [17]
2007 Oba Mageya [18]
1983 Manik Nadiya Gala Basi Sarada [19]
Nadeeladiya [20]
Ruwata Ruwa [9]
Samanala Sihinaya [21]
Sanda Mudunata Veena Menon [22][23]
2012 Sasandara [24]
2009 Sihina Kumari [25][26]
Sudu Kapuru Pethi [27]
2009 Wahinna Muthu Wassak [28]
2019 Yuga Wilakkuwa [29]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Ref.
1954Ahankara SthreeChild Sukumal
1968Hangi HoraDancer
1969Kohomada Wade
1978Deepanjali
1978Apsara
1979GeheniyakRupa
1979Minisun Athara MinisekVajira
1979Chuda ManikyaSheryn Kodikara
1979SarungaleSusheela[30]
1979Muwan PalessaKekuli
1980Miyurige KathawaMiyuri
1981ThawalamaKhema
1981Sagarayak MedaDeepa Moladanda
1981Bandura MalUma
1982Re ManamaliAsha
1982Miss Mallika
1984Shirani
1987SathyagrahanayaRamani[31]
1988Gedara Budun AmmaSamanthi's mother
1991Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya
1991Keli MadalaSamara Tennekoon
1991Suwandena Suwandak
1992Sisila Gini GaniKumari Makalanda[32]
1992KulageyaRamya
1993Yasasa
1993Till Death Do Us Part
1993Sargent NallathambiJuliana 'Julie'
1993SurabidenaSaama[33]
1994Nohadan Landune
1994Pawana Ralu Viya
1994AragalayaTamil dancer[34]
1995MaruthayaGeetha Wickramaratne
1996Soora Daruwo
1996Anantha RathriyaLoku Amma[35]
1996Loku Duwa[36]
1997Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's PoorCharu Ma
1997Vijayagrahanaya
1997Sudu Akka
1997Savithrige Rathriya
1998Vimukthi
1998Dorakada MarawaPriyantha's mother
1999Salupata Ahasata 1Prema[37][38]
1999Sura Yahana[39]
1999Theertha YathraGrace Sooriyabandara[40]
2000Salupata Ahasata 2Prema[41]
2001Kinihiriya MalBrothel receptionist[42]
2001Kalu Sudu MalPushpa
2002Rosa Patikki
2002Surapurata Kanyaviyak[43]
2003Madre TeresaMunicipal Inspector Aoura
2005Asani WarshaGranny
2006Nilambare
2007Sikuru HatheOIC's wife
2008Ai Oba Thaniwela
2009JuliyaMrs. Lewke Bandara[44]
2009AlimankadaKamala's Mother[45]
2010Ira Handa Yata
2011GamaniDead rebel's mother
2011Dheewari
2011Putha Mage Sooraya
2012A Common ManVegetable vendor
2012Kusa PabhaQueen Seelawathi
2012Wassane SenehasaPradeep's mother
2012Kurumittek Awilla[46]
2012Sihinaya Dige EnnaShanthi "Sakunthala" de Silva
2012PrathirooParwathi
2013Peeter OneElizabeth Briganza
2015Bora Diya PokunaDoreen
2016Motor BicycleRangana's Mother
2016WeerawarnaSuriyasingha's mother
2018Eka Dawasaka ApiVimukthi's mother
2019SangilePunchi malli's wife
2020SuparnaSuparna's mother
2020Sheleena
2023GuththilaKing Brahmadutta's queen consort[47]
2023Kandak Sema
2024Minnu[48]
2024Buffalo Travels[49]
2025Ice Cream[50]
2025BahuchithawadiyaIranganie
TBAMonara Vilak †[51]
TBAThe Wife †[52]

Awards and accolades

She has won several awards at the local film festivals and television festivals.[2]

Presidential Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1982Ra ManamaliBest ActressWon

References

  1. ↑ "Veena Jayakody bio". Rate your music. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Sri Lankan actresses – Veena Jayakody". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  3. ↑ "First lover was Gamini Fonseka". Hiru FM. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  4. ↑ "No cheating in cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  5. 1 2 "First lover was Gamini Fonseka". Hiru FM. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "No cheating in cinema". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  7. ↑ "'Ahanna Kenek Na' by Sunil Costa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 26 September 2019". සරසවිය. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Amarapuraya (The Immortal City) – 2011 by Bertram Nihal". YouTube. 17 December 2024.
  9. 1 2 ""Ruwata Ruwa is the tale of a look alike". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 September 2019". Archived from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Eth Kanda Lihini': Return of the aristocrats". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019". Archived from the original on 4 August 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  11. ↑ ""'Ganga Addara' released". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019". Archived from the original on 12 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  12. ↑ ""Tale of a tea estate". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 May 2019". Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  13. ↑ ""Hirusanda Maima : Sinhala Tamil love tale". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019". Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  14. ↑ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/277933739075780/posts/1319022344966909/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ ""Treble teledrama treat from Swarnavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019". Archived from the original on 12 March 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  16. ↑ "'Laabai Apple' underway". Sunday Times. Retrieved 7 May 2019". Archived from the original on 10 August 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  17. ↑ "'Kele Handa' glitters on mini-screen". Archived from the original on 2025-10-16. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  18. ↑ ""'Oba Mageya' : a tale of crime and punishment". Sunday Times". Archived from the original on 2025-11-06. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  19. ↑ "Manik Nadee". Archived from the original on 2026-04-09. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  20. ↑ ""'Nadeeladiya': Tale of revenge". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019". Archived from the original on 19 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  21. ↑ ""Sins of father visits on son". Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 December 2018". Archived from the original on 12 March 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  22. ↑ ""Story of 'Sanda Mudunata'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 May 2019". Archived from the original on 4 August 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  23. ↑ ""A director with a mission" - Samy Pavel". Archived from the original on 2024-12-07. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  24. ↑ ""සසඳරා පුංචි තිරයට පායයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019". Archived from the original on 19 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  25. ↑ "Sihina Kumari becomes a reality". Archived from the original on 2023-07-15. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  26. ↑ "'Sihina Kumari' awakes". Archived from the original on 2025-10-15. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  27. ↑ "'Sudu Kapuru Pethi' : Another tale of war". Archived from the original on 2024-12-03. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  28. ↑ "Roshan unfurls a rain of pearls".
  29. ↑ "Watch Siyatha | Yuga Wilakkuwa – යුගවිලක්කුව | Episode 10 | 14 – 12 – 2019 | Siyatha TV". Facebook.
  30. ↑ "All about Sarungale". Sarasaviya. 9 October 2019. Archived from the original on 20 November 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  31. ↑ "All about Sathyagrahanaya". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  32. ↑ "Fire on Ice 1991 'Sisila Gini Gani'". Letterboxd Limited. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  33. ↑ "සිතූ පැතූ සම්පත් දුන් සුරබි දෙන‍". Sarasaviya. 13 May 2020. Archived from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  34. ↑ ""Aragalaya". christysf. Retrieved 25 May 2019". Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  35. ↑ ""Anantha Rathriya" – a study of a man's conscience". The Island. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  36. ↑ "Loku Duwa appears on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  37. ↑ "Ban lifted on 'Salupata Ahasata'". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  38. ↑ "'Salupota Ahasata': a rare theme". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  39. ↑ "Two women in fatal attraction". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  40. ↑ "'Theertha yatra' goes in search of family roots". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  41. ↑ "Life of a 'comfort woman' on screen". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  42. ↑ "Kinihiriya Mal – කිනිහිරියා මල්". Sinhala Cinema Database. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  43. ↑ "'Surapurata Kanyaviyak': Mario's new film". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  44. ↑ "Enter Julia". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  45. ↑ "'Alimankada' journey of arch-rivals". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  46. ↑ "Junaideen journeys for a united cinema". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  47. ↑ "Tale of Guththila becomes a cinema". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  48. ↑ "තුන්පත් රෑනක සොඳුරු අනන්තය "මින්නු"". www.sundaytimes.lk. Archived from the original on 2024-02-18. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  49. ↑ Mahesh (9 October 2024). "සංචාරයක අනපේක්ෂිත ගමනාන්තය". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 4 November 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  50. ↑ ""අයිස්ක්‍රීම්" ළඟදීම". "Ice Cream" coming soon. July 2020. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  51. ↑ "Malini with Sanath after 14 years". Sarasaviya. 21 August 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  52. ↑ "'වයිෆ්' ගැහැනියකගේ හෘදය සාක්ෂිය". www.sarasaviya.lk. Archived from the original on 2026-02-13. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
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