Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya

Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya (born 2 December 1941 as ජීවරාණි කුරුකුලසූරිය) [Sinhala]), is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. One of the most popular actresses in early Sinhala cinema, she played the main role in Sri Lanka's first Sinhala color film Ranmuthu Duwa.

Personal life Jeevarani was born on 2 December 1941 in Aluthgama, Kalutara as the eldest of the family. Her father was Kurukulasuriyage Venus Anthony Fernando. When three years old, Jeevarani used to dance, sing lullabies, poems and do various mimics in front of parents and relatives. She completed education from Good Shepherd Convent, Colombo and Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena.

She has three younger sisters - Shirani, Janaki and Menik, all are actresses. She also has one brother, Vivek, who currently lives in Australia. Youngest sister, Menik is a popular actress who acted in many commercial films including, Ahas Gawwa, Biththi Hathara and Nommara 17.

Jeevarani is married to Lanka Wijeratne, who is a doctor. They married in 1968. They moved to Australia after spending five years of marriage in Sri Lanka. The couple has three daughters - Sajeewani, Senani and Lankangani. Elder daughter, Sanjeewani is a nutritionist and a first-class singer. Younger daughters are doctors.

Career At very small stage, her father took her to Radio Ceylon. Then she became a "Lama Mandapaya" singer. Under the guidance of Thilakasiri Fernando, Jeevarani became an “A” grade artist. Along with Fernando, she sang the popular songs Maala Manamaaliya Wu Daa and Naaga Lowin Gena A Bulath. During this period, she met Vajira Chitrasena and started to learn Kandyan dancing. Some of her popular films include Bicycle Hora, Adata Wediya Heta Hondai, Okkoma Hari, Horungeth Horu.