Sureni Senarath

Sureni Senarath
සුරේනි සෙනරත්
Born(1959-06-17)17 June 1959
Died26 May 2021(2021-05-26) (aged 61)
Maharagama, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationKalutara Balika National School
Rosmead Balika Vidyalaya
Occupation(s)Actress, film producer, politician, film executive
Years active1975–2018
Parents
  • Piyaratne Senarath (father)
  • Iranganie Senarath (mother)
RelativesNavaratne Senarath (uncle)

Sureni Senarath (17 June 1959 – 26 May 2021: Sinhala: සුරේනි සේනරත්) was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television.[1]

Family background

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She was born on 17 June 1959 in Colombo, Sri Lanka as the eldest of the family. She completed education from Kalutara Balika National School and Rosmead Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 8.[2] She was unmarried in her life.[3]

Her father Piyaratne Senarath was a film actor. Her mother Iranganie was a film producer. Sureni had one sister: Gayani and two brothers: Harsha, Prabhath, all are involved in film coordination. Piyaratne was born in 1925 and later worked in the Department of Immigration and Emigration. As an actor, Piyaratne starred in the films Vædibima, Ruhuṇu Kumāri, Dehadaka Duka, Pickpockeṭ, Kēsara Sinhayō, Ada Mehemayi and Siril Mallī. He died in 2001. Piyaratne's younger brother Navaratne Senarath was a member of the Sarasaviya Awards Jury when he was the Director General of Sri Lanka Customs.[4]

Career

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Sureni made her film acting debut in the 1975 film Amaraneeya Adare produced by her mother and directed by Dayananda Jayawardena.[5] She was the producer of the 1986 film Mal Warusa where she also played a supportive role in it.[4] She acted in more than 25 films in her career limited career. The turning point in her film career was her self-produced 1983 film Loku Thaththa directed by K. D. Dayananda. Sureni played the role of a circus performer in this film and later won the Lux Award for Best Upcoming Actress at the 1984 Sarasaviya Awards.[6]

Some of her other notable performances as an actress came in Chandi Raja (1990), Dalulana Gini (1995), Salupata Ahasata 2 (2000), Yalu Malu Yalu 2 (2018).[7][8] As a teledrama actress, she acted in the television serials: Kaḷu Kapā Eḷi, Bhumarangaya and Kindurangana.[9] As a theatre actress, she also starred in the plays Valākuḷu, Yakaḍa Sapattu and Naralovaṭa Væḍa. During this time, she was in charge of the Kataragama Resort.[4]

Apart from acting, she served as the Working Director of the Sri Lanka National Film Corporation.[4] For a time she was a member of the United National Party and was also an active member of the Arts Organization.[5]

Death

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She died on 26 May 2021 at the age of 61 at the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama after suffering from severe cancer.[8][10] Her remains were laid to rest at the Jayaratne Funeral Home, Borella.[5] The final rites took place at the General Cemetery in Borella at 5.00 pm on 27 May 2021.[11][12]

Filmography

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Year Film Roles Ref.
1975 Amaraneeya Adare
1980 Doctor Susantha
1983 Loku Thaththa
1984 Binaree Saha Sudu Banda
1986 Mal Varusa Producer, Jagath's sister
1987 Kavuluva
1988 Rasa Rahasak
1989 Badulu Kochchiya
1990 Chandi Raja
1991 Uthura Dakuna
1994 Nohadan Kumariye
1994 Pavana Ralu Viya
1994 Handana Kinkini
1994 150 Mulleriyawa Sujatha's relative
1994 Vijaya Geetha Shelterer's wife
1995 Chitti
1995 Hitha Honda Surayo
1995 Dalulana Gini
1998 Sathutai Kirula Ape
1999 Akunu Pahara
1999 Anduru Sevaneli
1999 Sathya Devi Sumanawathie
2000 Salupata Ahasata 2
2002 Surapurata Kanyaviyak
2005 Samantha
2005 Alu Yata Gini
2006 Rana Hansi
2015 Aathma Warusha
2017 Dharmayuddhaya Principal
2018 Yalu Malu Yalu 2

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Sureni Senarath - සුරේනි සෙනරත් - Sinhala Cinema Database". www.films.lk. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Sureni Senarath bids farewell". Hiru FM. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Men are an unbelievable group: Popular actress Sureni Senarath". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Sureni Senarath, the friend who lost to cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Actress Sureni Senarath's final rites today". Divaina. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Sinhala Cinema Database". www.films.lk. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Actress Sureni Senarath has passed away". Nation Today: Sri Lankan News. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Actress Sureni Senarath has passed away". NewsWire. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Veteran actress Sureni Senarath passes away". saaravita. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  10. ^ "රංගන ශිල්පිනී සුරේනි සෙනරත් දිවි රඟමඩලෙන් බැසයයි". www.lankadeepa.lk (in Sinhala). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Popular actress Sureni Senarath passes away". Ada Derana. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Sureni Senarath leaves the life stage". Silumina. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
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