Gamini Fonseka


Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka , was a Sri Lankan film actor, film director and politician.Versatile actor with many talents and he was often considered to be the Greatest Actor in the Sinhala Cinema alltime. He is widely regarded as the King of Sri Lankan cinema history and first Crowned King out of three to die.

Personal life

Fonseka was born on 21 March 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. As a youngster, he gained repute for imitating administrative figures at school. Gamini also prospered in the study of the Sinhala language and literature and placed in the upper fourth for a Sinhala literature prize. The award for this achievement was presented to him by S. Thomas' graduate and Sri Lankan Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake. Gamini was also an accomplished cricket player.
Fonseka was married to his longtime girlfriend Dorothy Margaret Valencia also known as "Tina" in 1962 and had four children Chamila, Thanuja, Dammith and Ishara. Many years later he also fathered Kaushalya and Poornima. He remained married to Tina until his death in September 2004.
His son Damith was a popular film actor in 1990s. He acted in many commercially successful films such as Chandi Rejina, Ira Handa Illa, Chandiyage Putha, Cheriyo Darling and Raththaran Malli.
Fonseka died on 30 September 2004 at the age of 68 at his residence in Ja-Ela.

Film career

Fonseka abruptly ended his secondary education and dove into the film industry. He originally wanted to be a cameraman and in this line worked as the second Assistant Director on David Lean's Bridge on the River Kwai and Lester James Peries's Rekava. Fonseka was first on-screen in Rekava as part of a crowd. He also did some work on an English television series filmed in Sri Lanka.
Fonseka's first credited acting role was in Daiwa Yogaya in which he played a small role. Lester James Peries Sandesaya first established him in a leading role. With films like Adata Wediya Heta Hondai, Ranmuthu Duwa, Getawarayo and Dheevarayo Fonseka achieved popularity and became a box-office draw.
Seeking to not play just commercial roles, Fonseka appeared as Jinadasa in the groundbreaking Gamperaliya working again with Peries. In Titus Thotawatte's Chandiya, Fonseka played the first anti-hero role in Sri Lankan cinema and in Mike Wilson's Sorungeth Soru, he played the role of Jamis Banda, the Sinhala James Bond.
Fonseka also tried out directing many accolades. His debut directorial work Parasathu Mal was warmly received. He directed a political satire Sagarayak Meda. The other films that were directed by him include Koti Waligaya and Nomiyana Minissu. He entered television as well and became the best teledrama actor for the role he played in Kalu Saha Sudu.
Fonseka's role as Willie Abeynayake in Nidhanaya and as ASP Wicrema Randeniya in "Welikathara" are considered his crowning achievement. Both films have been recognised with Presidential awards among the 10 best Sri Lankan film. In 1980 Fonseka played Jaffna Tamil clerk Nadarajah in Sunil Ariyaratne's Sarungale. He has also has written some songs for the movies Sarungale and Mayurige Kathawa.

Political career

In 1989, Fonseka entered politics after he joined the United National Party. He was elected to Parliament in 1989 as a representative of the Matara District with the highest number of preferential votes and was appointed Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Sri Lanka. He was later appointed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga as Governor of the former North-East Province.

Awards

YearAwardFilm
1964Best ActorGamperaliya
1965Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardDeewarayo
1966Popular Actor –
1967Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardParasathu Mal
1967Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1968Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardSorungeth Soru
1968Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1969Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1972Popular Actor –
1976Popular ActorKasthuri Suwanda
1980Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardSarungale )
1980Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1981Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardUthumaneni
1981Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1982Sarasaviya Best Director AwardSagarayak Mada
1982Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1986Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardYuganthaya
1986Sarasawiya Rana Thisara Award–
1986Best Actor Yuganthaya
1987Reviewers Award–
1995Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardNomiyena Minisun
1997U.W Sumathipala Commemorating Award–

Filmography

As director

He has directed 10 films across many genre.
Until his death, Fonseka acted on 108 films, where 86 of them as lead actor and 19 more as a supporting actor. He directed 10 films and produced 2 films.

As Film Producer