Dian Hemamali Sangeetha Weeraratne (born December 13, 1973, as (Sinhala:සංගීතා වීරරත්න) is a Sri Lankan film 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. She has acted in over 50 movies.

Sangeetha Weeraratne
සංගීතා වීරරත්න
Weeraratne at Kidney Walk - 2019
Born (1973-12-13) 13 December 1973 (age 50)
NationalitySri Lankan
OccupationActress
Years active1991–present
SpouseRoshantha Kariyapperuma
Children1
Awards

Personal life edit

Sangeetha Weeraratne was born the second daughter of renowned cinematographer Timothy Weeraratne and his wife Daisy. She had her primary education at St. John's Girl'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. Sangeetha married to a businessman, Roshantha Kariyapperuma in December 2002.[1][2] Her husband Roshantha Kariyapperuma & his older brother Priyantha Kariyapperuma owns and jointly operates the company Voice of Asia Network (Pvt) Ltd which is the largest Media Network in Sri Lanka.[3][4]

Career edit

Sangeetha made her debut in to the silver screen through the renowned director Roy de Silva with his film It's a Matter of Time in 1991.[5] She had the rare fortune of mingling with some of the popular stars of the time, such as Malini Fonseka, Vijaya Kumaratunga, Gamini Fonseka and Roy de Silva.

In 2001, Weeraratne won the Sarasaviya Best Actress Award for her role as Guneris' wife in Aswesuma directed by Bennet Ratnayake. She was also crowned the Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress for three consecutive years from 2001 to 2003.[5]

Some films where she played memorable dramatic roles include Saptha Kanya, Nomiyena Minisun, Maruthaya, Duwata Mawaka Misa, Dorakada Marawa, Kinihiriya Mal, Aswesuma, Salelu Warama and Dheewari.[6] She also appeared in few blockbuster comedy movies such as Dawal Migel Ra Daniyel series and Sapata Dukata Sunny as well.[5]

In 2000, she presented the television documentary program Gedara Dora, which was based on Architecture, Interior Design and Landscaping. It was telecast Rupavahini - 1 at 9.30 p.m. on every Tuesday.'[7] In 2003, after a lay-off of seven years, Weeraratne acted in a television serial Theertha Tharanaya directed by Bermin Lylie Fernando.[8]

She launched her first production with the film, Sewwandi directed by Vasantha Obeysekera in 2006. Her latest dramatic film is Uppalawanna directed by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, where she plays the role of Upuli and later the bhikkhuni, Uppalawanna was also critically acclaimed.

In 2021, she appeared in the Raffealla Fernando Celebrity Calendar along with many other Sri Lankan celebrities.[9][10]

Filmography edit

Since her first film in 1991, she has acted more than 40 films that were are commercially successful.[11]

  • No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[12]
List of Sangeetha Weeraratne film credits
Year No. Title Role
1991 It's a Matter of Time Sheril
1993 781 Yasasa
1993 782 Saptha Kanya Deepthi [13]
1993 788 Lassanai Balanna Inspector Menaka
1994 812 Aragalaya Achala
1994 793 Landuni Oba Devaganaki Teacher
1994 794 Nomiyena Minisun
1994 795 Rajawansen Ekek Missy
1995 821 Wasana Wewa Kanchana
1995 831 Maruthaya Elder daughter
1995 833 Chandiyage Putha Vishaka
1996 846 Bodyguard
1996 847 Raththaran Malli Rani
1996 849 Naralowa Holman Durga 'Baby' Madanayake 'Shiromala' / Donna Juliana 'Julie'
1996 853 Hitha Hondanam Waradin Na Lawyer
1997 908 Pavuru Valalu Lily
1997 871 Puthuni Mata Wasana Rupika
1997 873 Surayo Wedakarayo
1997 880 Mahamera Usata
1997 Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's Poor Sunitha
1997 888 Ninja Sri Lanka
1998 894 Re Daniel Dawal Migel 1 Mudhuri
1998 895 Sathutai Kirula Ape Piumi
1998 904 Dorakada Marawa Subhasini 'Subha' Fernando
1999 917 Ayadimi Sama Namali
1999 912 Bahu Bharya Theja[14]
2000 930 Undaya Sarala Paliwardhana [15]
2000 932 Re Daniel Dawal Migel 2 Madhuri[16]
2001 953 Kinihiriya Mal Sanduni / 'Jean'[17]
2001 959 Jonsun and Gonsun Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Dingiri Menika and Durga
2001 957 Aswesuma Menika
2002 990 Salelu Warama Priyanka
2002 989 Onna Babo Shanu's mother
2002 991 Love 2002
2003 Mother Teresa Sister Christina
2003 1006 Sepata Dukata Sunny Sempamutti Arachchige Tara Kumarihami
2005 1050 Guerilla Marketing Rangi
2006 1069 Nilambare Madhu
2006 1080 Sewwandi Damayanthi / Kumari
2007 1083 Mister Dhana Rina [18]
2007 1086 Sankranthi Pam
2007 1090 Uppalavanna Uppalavanna maniyo
2010 1136 Kshema Bhoomi Younger Daughter
2011 1154 Challenges Competition organizer
2011 1163 Dheewari Valli
2013 1199 Doni Malathi Gunawardena
2013 1186 Anithya Sherine
2016 1263 Hero Nero Herself
2017 1277 Nimnayaka Hudekalawa Thaaraka
2018 1310 Gharasarapa Dr. Vidya Doraiappa
2021 Kawuruth Danne Na Politician Theja Madugalle
TBD Adventures of Ricky Deen Lady Godiva
TBD Jeewa [19]

Awards edit

She is a recipient of many state awards in many times for many categories.[20]

Sarasaviya Film Festival edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1993 Saptha Kanya Best Newcomer Won
1994 Nomiyena Minissu Best Actress Won
1995 Maruthaya Merit Award Won
2002 Maruthaya Most Popular Actress Won

Presidential Film Festival edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1999 Pawuru Walalu Best Supporting Actress Won

Critic Awards edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1996 Dorakada Marawa Best Actress Won

OCIC Awards edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1998 Dorakada Marawa Best Actress Won

Other Festivals edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2000 Junior Chamber of Arts of Sri Lanka Outstanding young personality Won
2001 Aswesuma Best Actress Won
2001 Aswesuma Most Popular Actress Won

References edit

  1. ^ "Sangeetha set to wed". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Spectrum | Sundayobserver.lk - Sri Lanka". www.sundayobserver.lk. Archived from the original on 2007-12-21.
  3. ^ "Voice of Asia Network". Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  4. ^ "Armed mob sets fire to Sri Lankan TV/Radio station".
  5. ^ a b c "Contemporary genre of complex acting". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Sangeetha fashions new interest". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  7. ^ "'Gedara Dora': All about homes". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Mission to find parents". Sunday Times. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  9. ^ "Rafaela's calendar changed by art stars". Sarasaviya. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  10. ^ "A photo taken from the water without moving for three hours: -Sangeetha Weeraratne-". Sarasaviya. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  11. ^ "Sangeetha Weeraratne". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Unmada Wu Premadara: Saptha Kanya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  14. ^ ""Bahu Bhariya" cleared for adults". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  15. ^ "KAW sheds no tears". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  16. ^ "Daniel and Migel appear again". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  17. ^ "Kinihiriya Mal - කිනිහිරියා මල්". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  18. ^ "'Dhana Rina' is Roy's latest". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  19. ^ "Jeewan turns director". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  20. ^ "Sangeetha in producer's role". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.

External links edit