Jayathilake Arachchige Florida Cooray (born 1936 – died 2007 as ෆ්ලොරිඩා ජයලත්) [Sinhala]), popularly as Florida Jayalath, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema.[1][2] Apart from acting, Florida also worked as a filmmaker, choreographer and a film producer. She is the first female filmmaker in Sinhala film industry.[3]

Florida Jayalath
ෆ්ලොරිඩා ජයලත්
Born
Jayathilake Arachchige Florida Cooray

1936
DiedApril 2007 (aged 71)
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationHoly Family Convent, Marawila
Occupation(s)Actress, Director, Choreographer, Producer
Years active1951–1966
Parents
  • D. K. Jayalath (father)
  • Merry Gald Jayalath (mother)

Personal life

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Florida was born on 1936 in Marawila as the fourth child of the family. Her father was D. K. Jayalath and mother was Merry Gald Jayalath. She completed education from Holy Family Convent, Marawila. She has two elder sisters, Josapin Jayalath and Srima Murial Jayalath. Josapin was a dramatist at the Minerva Drama Team.

Florida died in April 2007 at the age of 71.[4] At the time of demise, she was in Melbourne, Australia with her daughter.

Career

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Florida made her film debut with a minor role in the 1951 film Segawunu Pilithura.[5] Then in 1953, she made a major role in the film Sujatha with the titular character. The film was a blockbuster of that year and Florida became a sensation among the people. She appeared in many popular movies in the coming years such as Sada Sulang, Daruwa Kageda and Heta Pramada Wadi. In the film Seda Sulang, Indian playback singer Lata Mangeshkar played the background song Sri Lanka Ma Priyadara for Florida.[6] Her last film appearance came through 1966 film Sudu Duwa.[7]

In 1965, she directed and produced the film Sweep Ticket along with Raja Joshua.[4] This is the first time a woman in Sinhala cinema has directed a feature film.[8]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Ref.
1951 Segawunu Pilithura Stage dancer
1952 Umathu Wishwasaya Dancer
1953 Sujatha Sujatha
1955 Seda Sulang Seetha
1957 Saradama Sandhya / Kama
1958 Sepali Sepali
1959 Awishwasaya Latha
1959 Gehenu Geta Dancer
1960 Pirimiyek Nisa
1961 Suwineetha Lalani
1961 Daruwa Kageda..? Geetha
1962 Deva Sundari
1963 Wena Swargayak Kumatada..?
1963 Sudu Sande Kalu Wala Manike
1963 Mangalika
1964 Heta Pramada Wadi Laxmi
1965 Sweep Ticket
1966 Sudu Duwa

References

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  1. ^ "Actresses in Sri Lankan cinema - Florida Jayalath". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Florida Jayalath filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Our female filmmakers". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Florida Jayalath - Appreciation". The Island. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Florida Jayalath remembrance". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Florida Jayalath posts". Facebook. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Florida Jayalath films". IMDb. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Movie stars who acted in their first directorial role". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
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