G. D. L. Perera

Gonaduwahandunge Don Lakshman Perera (26 June 1935 – 14 February 2021 as ), popularly known as G. D. L. Perera, was an actor and filmmaker in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a journalist.

Early life He was born on 26 June 1935 in Thiruvanaketiya, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. He received his primary education at a mixed school in Thiruvanaketiya. Since childhood, he suffered from asthma. His parents chose to relocate him to Colombo because of its moderate climate rather than a colder village. Then he entered St. Benedict's College, Colombo for his secondary education and later entered Prince College, Kotahena. Later, he was admitted to the Technical College in Maradana by his parents.

In 1954 he joined the government clerical profession and formed the Zonal Cultural Association with his office colleagues. In 1962, he worked in the Department of Labor. His elder brother was a regional politician. His mother died in 1960.

Career During his life in Prince College, Kotahena, he met the teacher Edwin Hewa Kapuge who turned GDL's future towards drama. In 1953, still as a student, he produced a short play titled Okkoma Pisso which was performed under the 'Kumara Ranga', the college's year-end concert. Its founding members were Amitha Mallawarachchi, Karunaratne D. Philip, S. Karunaratne, Victor Wickramage. During this time an institution called the National Drama Arts Corporation was established and held a drama festival. GDL's play was also staged at the festival with critics acclaim. Later he has made several stage dramas such as Sakkara Vaṭṭam (1961), Mehev Lōkeka (1962), Hevanæli, Ihaṭa Vahala Nil Ahasayi, Sansāra Gamanak, Magul Mathē and Rathurōsa (1962).

During this period, Sugathapala Senarath Yapa proposed that the production of the play Sama should be made into a film. It is the first co-operative film produced in Sri Lanka as well as the first time that a Sinhala film was shown in an air-conditioned cinema hall. Due to economic difficulties, GDL was able to get only three copies of the film Sama where they were screened at Lasa in Kandy, Odeon in Galle, New Olympia in Colombo and Odeon in Mount Lavinia. The film won the Special Jury Prize at the 1966 Sarasaviya Film Awards for the best cinematic creation. In the same year, the film entered competition section of the Commonwealth Film Festival in England. The film was also screened at the Cine-Stud Amsterdam (Student Film Festival), as well as in London, Lancaster, Italy, Germany and France. In addition, the Sri Lanka Critics and Writers' Association presented four awards for the film: Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography (for D. B. Nihalsinghe), Best Script and Best Character (for Henry Jayasena). In the meantime, the film was also represented at the Berlin Film Festival in Germany, the Locarno Film Festival in Italy, and the New Delhi Film Festival in India. Apart from Sinhala films, he also made several English films.

Filmography Year Film Roles Ref. 1948 Weradunu Kurumanama uncredited role 1965 Sama Director, screenwriter 1967 Sadol Kandulu Co-director, Assistant Film Editor 1968 Dahasak Sithuvili Director, screenwriter 1969 Romeo Juliet Kathawak Director, screenwriter 1983 Peter of the Elephants Director, producer 2000 Chakrayudha Director, producer, screenwriter, Film Editor, lyricist