Sangeetha Weeraratne
Encyclopedia
Sangeetha Weeraratne is an award-winning actress in the Sri Lankan cinema
. She made her debut as a sixteen-year-old with Roy De Silva 's It's a Matter of Time opposite Kamal Addararachchi
in 1990. However, she earned immense popularity only after performing in H.D. Premaratne's Saptha Kanya
, also opposite Kamal Addararachchi
in 1993. It was a huge success and she won the Sarasaviya Best Newcomer Award
that year. Since then she has acted in over 50 movies and is regarded as one of the most successful stars of the Sri Lankan film industry.
She has an elder sister, Nayanatara Weeraratne who currently lives in Australia
.
Sangeetha married to a businessman, Roshantha Kariyapperuma in 2001.
, Vijaya Kumaratunga
, Gamini Fonseka
and Roy De Silva.
She was only a teenager, when director Roy De Silva got a glimpse of her talent and encouraged her to join films.
In 2001, Weeraratne won the Sarasaviya Best Actress Award
for her role as Guneris's wife in Aswesuma
directed by Bennet Ratnayake. She was also crowned the Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress
for three consecutive years from 2001-2003.
Some films where she played memorable roles include Saptha Kanya
, Nomiyena Minisun, Maruthaya, Duwata Mawaka Misa, Dorakada Marawa
, Kinihiriya Mal, Aswesuma
, Salelu Warama and Dheewari.
She launched her first production with the film, Sewwandi directed by Vasantha Obeysekara in 2006.
Her latest film is Uppalawanna directed by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, where she plays the role of Upuli and later the bhikkhuni
, Uppalawanna.
Cinema of Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan cinema encompasses the films made in Sri Lanka. It is a fledgling industry that has struggled to find a footing since its inauguration in 1947 with Kadawunu Poronduwa produced by S.M.Nayagam of Chitra Kala Movietone.Sri Lankan films are usually made in the Sinhalese language, the...
. She made her debut as a sixteen-year-old with Roy De Silva 's It's a Matter of Time opposite Kamal Addararachchi
Kamal Addararachchi
Kamal Addararachchi is an award-winning Sri Lankan film and teledrama actor, singer and presenter. He made his debut as an actor in Gamini Fonseka's 1981 film Sagarayak Meda, when he was a still a student at school...
in 1990. However, she earned immense popularity only after performing in H.D. Premaratne's Saptha Kanya
Saptha Kanya
Saptha Kanya is a 1993 Sinhalese language film directed by late H.D. Premaratne. The film stars Kamal Addararachchi and Sangeetha Weeraratne in the leading roles. Playback singing was by Damayanthi Jayasooriya, Kamal Addararachchi, Rookantha Goonethilleke, Dhammika Valpola and Morris Wijesinghe....
, also opposite Kamal Addararachchi
Kamal Addararachchi
Kamal Addararachchi is an award-winning Sri Lankan film and teledrama actor, singer and presenter. He made his debut as an actor in Gamini Fonseka's 1981 film Sagarayak Meda, when he was a still a student at school...
in 1993. It was a huge success and she won the Sarasaviya Best Newcomer Award
Sarasaviya Awards
Sarasaviya Awards are the most prestigious awards presented to distinguished individuals involved with the Sinhala cinema, each year by the Sarasaviya weekly newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited , Sri Lanka in recognition of the contributions made by them to...
that year. Since then she has acted in over 50 movies and is regarded as one of the most successful stars of the Sri Lankan film industry.
Biography
Sangeetha Weeraratne was born as the second daughter of renowned cinematographer Timothy Weeraratne and his wife Daisy. She had her primary education at St. John's School, Panadura and then moved on to Methodist College, Colombo for her secondary studies.She has an elder sister, Nayanatara Weeraratne who currently lives in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Sangeetha married to a businessman, Roshantha Kariyapperuma in 2001.
Career
Sangeetha made her debut in to the silver screen through the renowned director Roy De Silva with his film Its a Matter of Time in 1991. She had the rare fortune of mingling with some of the popular stars of the time, such as Malini FonsekaMalini Fonseka
Malani Senehelatha Fonseka is an award-winning Sri Lankan film actress, also known as the "Queen of Sinhalese cinema". Her cinema career which has spanned many decades began with Tissa Liyansooriya's Punchi Baba in 1968...
, Vijaya Kumaratunga
Vijaya Kumaratunga
Kovilage Anton Vijaya Kumaranatunga was a popular Sri Lankan film actor and politician, married to former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga from 1978 to his assassination in 1988.- Family life :In 1978, Kumaratunga married Chandrika Bandaranaike, daughter of the...
, Gamini Fonseka
Gamini Fonseka
Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka was a Sri Lankan film actor and politician.Fonseka was born on March 21, 1936 in Dehiwela the third child of William and Daisy Fonseka. Starting school at a Presbyterian institution, Gamini moved on to S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia...
and Roy De Silva.
She was only a teenager, when director Roy De Silva got a glimpse of her talent and encouraged her to join films.
In 2001, Weeraratne won the Sarasaviya Best Actress Award
Sarasaviya Best Actress Award
The Sarasaviya Best Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival.The award was first given in 1964...
for her role as Guneris's wife in Aswesuma
Aswesuma
Aswesuma is a 2001 Sri Lankan crime drama film starring Joe Abeywickrama, Sangeetha Weeraratne, and Jackson Anthony. The film was directed by Bennett Rathnayake and won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Bombay International Film Festival.-Cast:...
directed by Bennet Ratnayake. She was also crowned the Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress
Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award
The Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival. This award is decided solely on popular vote and is chosen based on the verdict given by the...
for three consecutive years from 2001-2003.
Some films where she played memorable roles include Saptha Kanya
Saptha Kanya
Saptha Kanya is a 1993 Sinhalese language film directed by late H.D. Premaratne. The film stars Kamal Addararachchi and Sangeetha Weeraratne in the leading roles. Playback singing was by Damayanthi Jayasooriya, Kamal Addararachchi, Rookantha Goonethilleke, Dhammika Valpola and Morris Wijesinghe....
, Nomiyena Minisun, Maruthaya, Duwata Mawaka Misa, Dorakada Marawa
Dorakada Marawa
Dorakada Marawa is 1998 Sri Lankan film directed by Wasantha Obesekara is about the death of a newly-wed couple in a car crash....
, Kinihiriya Mal, Aswesuma
Aswesuma
Aswesuma is a 2001 Sri Lankan crime drama film starring Joe Abeywickrama, Sangeetha Weeraratne, and Jackson Anthony. The film was directed by Bennett Rathnayake and won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Bombay International Film Festival.-Cast:...
, Salelu Warama and Dheewari.
She launched her first production with the film, Sewwandi directed by Vasantha Obeysekara in 2006.
Her latest film is Uppalawanna directed by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, where she plays the role of Upuli and later the bhikkhuni
Bhikkhuni
A bhikkhuni or bhikṣuṇī is a fully ordained female Buddhist monastic. Male monastics are called bhikkhus. Both bhikkhunis and bhikkhus live by the vinaya...
, Uppalawanna.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Director | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | UPPALAWANNA | SUNIL ARIYARATHNA | |
| 2007 | SANKRANTHI | ANURUDDHA JAYAINGHA | |
| 2006 | SEWWANDI | WASANTHA OBESEKARA | |
| 2006 | NILAMBARE | KELUM PALITHA MAHIRATHNA | |
| 2005 | GUERILLA MARKETING | JAYANTHA CHANDRASIRI | |
| 2004 | MILLE SOYA | VISHWANATH BUDDHIKA KEERTHISENA | |
| 2003 | SAPATA DUKATA SUNNY | ROY DE SILVA | |
| 2002 | SALELU WARAMA | WASANTHA OBESEKARA | |
| 2002 | LOVE 2002 | ROY DE SILVA | |
| 2002 | ONNA BABO | DINESH PRIYASAD | |
| 2001 | ASWESUMA | BENNET RATHNAYAKA | |
| 2001 | JOHNSON AND GONSON | ROY DE SILVA | |
| 2001 | KINIHIRIYA MAL | H.D.PREMARATHNA | |
| 2000 | RE DANIYEL DAWAL MIGUEL-2 | ROY DE SILVA | |
| 2000 | UNDAYA | K.A.W.PERERA | |
| 1999 | AYADIMI SAMA | HEMASIRI SELLAPPERUMA | |
| 1999 | BAHU BHARYA | UDAYAKANTHA WARNASOORIYA | |
| 1999 | PAVURU WALALU | PRASANNA VITHANAGE | |
| 1998 | DORAKADA MARAWA | WASANTHA OBESEKARA | |
| 1998 | SATHUYA KIRULA APE | SUNILSOMA PEIRIS | |
| 1998 | RE DANIYEL DAWAL MIGUEL | ROY DE SILVA | |
| 1997 | NINJA SRI LANKA | ROBIN FERNADO | |
| 1997 | MAHA MERA USATA | UDAYAKANTHA WARNASOORIYA | |
| 1997 | SOORAYO WEDA KARAYO | HEMASIRI SELLAPPERUMA | |
| 1997 | PUTHUNI MATA WASANA | SUNILSOMA PEIRIS | |
| 1997 | DUWATA MAWAKA MISA | SUMITRA PEIRIS | |
| 1996 | HITHA HONDA NAM WARADINNE NE | W.RANJITH PERERA | |
| 1996 | NARALOWA HOLMAN | DINESH PRIYASAD | |
| 1996 | RATHTHARAN MALLI | SUNILSOMA PEIRIS | |
| 1996 | BODY GUARD | UPALI PIYARATHNA | |
| 1995 | CHANDIYAGE PUTHA | SUNILSOMA PEIRIS | |
| 1995 | MARUTHAYA | WASANTHA OBESEKARA | |
| 1995 | WASANA WEWA | SUNILSOMA PEIRIS | |
| 1994 | ARAGALAYA | CHRISTY SHELTON FERNANDO | |
| 1994 | RAJA WANSEN EKEK | HEMASIRI SELLAPPERUMA | |
| 1994 | NOMIYENA MINISUN | GAMINI FONSEKA | |
| 1994 | LANDUNI OBA DEVANGANAKI | JAYANTHA DAS PERERA | |
| 1993 | LASSANAI BALANNA | SUNILSOMA PEIRIS | |
| 1993 | SAPTHA KANYA | H.D.PREMARATHNA | |
| 1993 | YASASA | ANANDA WICKRAMASINGHE | |
| 1991 | IT'S A MATTER OF TIME | ROY DE SILVA |
Awards
- 2007 - Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress AwardSarasaviya Most Popular Actress AwardThe Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival. This award is decided solely on popular vote and is chosen based on the verdict given by the...
and Sarasaviya Best Actress AwardSarasaviya Best Actress AwardThe Sarasaviya Best Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival.The award was first given in 1964...
for Uppalawanna - 2006 - Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress AwardSarasaviya Most Popular Actress AwardThe Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival. This award is decided solely on popular vote and is chosen based on the verdict given by the...
- 2005 - Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress AwardSarasaviya Most Popular Actress AwardThe Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival. This award is decided solely on popular vote and is chosen based on the verdict given by the...
- 2003 - Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress AwardSarasaviya Most Popular Actress AwardThe Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival. This award is decided solely on popular vote and is chosen based on the verdict given by the...
- 2002 - Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress AwardSarasaviya Most Popular Actress AwardThe Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival. This award is decided solely on popular vote and is chosen based on the verdict given by the...
and Sarasaviya Special Award for Outstanding Performance - 2001 - Sarasaviya Best Actress AwardSarasaviya Best Actress AwardThe Sarasaviya Best Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival.The award was first given in 1964...
and Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress AwardSarasaviya Most Popular Actress AwardThe Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival. This award is decided solely on popular vote and is chosen based on the verdict given by the...
for Aswesuma - 2000 - Outstanding Young Personality - Junior Chamber Sri Lanka for the contribution to the arts
- 1999 - Best Supporting Actress Award for Pawuru Walalu (Presidential Award)
- 1998 - OCIC Best Actress Award for Dorakada Marawa
- 1996 - Critic Award for Best Actress in Dorakada Marawa
- 1995 - Sarasaviya Merit Award for Maruthaya
- 1994 - Sarasaviya Best Actress AwardSarasaviya Best Actress AwardThe Sarasaviya Best Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival.The award was first given in 1964...
for Nomiyena Minissu - 1993 - Sarasaviya Best Newcomer Award for