Mercy Edirisinghe

Donna Mercy Nalini Edirisinghe (18 December 1945 – 17 March 2014) was a Sri Lankan actress in cinema, theater and television as well as a singer. She is also notable for her roles in numerous comedic television shows and radio dramas, such as the Vinoda Samaya radio program. She began her singing career in 1964 with the Nawaka Madala song contest and became a stage actress in 1966. Her most notable stage appearance was in Tharavo Igilethi, a musical by Lucien Bulathsinhala. Composed by Gunadasa Kapuge, "Made Lagina Tharawan", from the soundtrack of the play, became her most successful single.

Personal life She was born on 18 December 1945 in Wellahenawatte, Issanpita, Ambepussa as the third child in a family of nine siblings. Her father Don Lorenzo Elvin Edirisinghe, worked as a typesetter at the printing press of the Department of Examinations. Her mother Grace Perera was a housewife. She was first educated at Ambepussa Sarasavi College, later at Pamunuwila Roman Catholic College and at St. Joseph's College, Rambukkana Parakrama Mixed School in Kegalle. She had one elder sister: Gert, one elder brother: Leo, four younger sisters: Ranjani, Nimal, Lathika, Raaji and two younger brothers: Nimal and Sunil.

Her late husband, Lalith Kotalawela was a Buddhist from Kalutara. The couple had no children. Her devotion to her fans was such that just after her wedding she acted in the stage drama 'Muthu Kumari' at the Lumbini Theater on her way to her honeymoon. Lalith died in 2002 by a tragic accident. Mercy once started a restaurant in Warakapola with Lalith in the year 2000. After his death she became ill, unable to sustain the restaurant. She then underwent a surgery to remove a tumor that had formed in the abdomen. She had heart disease as well as diabetes. In addition developed a kidney infection. She died at a private hospital in Gampaha on 17 March 2014, aged 68. Her remains were laid to rest at the Art Gallery from 4 pm on 17th to 12 noon on 18th. In the afternoon, a special motorcade took her to her residence in Ambepussa, Warakapola. Funeral services were held at 3.00 pm on 19 March 2014 at the Ambepussa Roman Catholic Cemetery.

Career Her first stage performance was in the play Maria Kurenthi performed while at the Pamunuwila Catholic Mixed School at the age of 7. Under the guidance of Father Ernest Poruthota, she participated in the church choir team, where she became an activist in the movement. Father Poruthota invited her to perform in the play Eldiyen Midi Rasata. Mercy entered the public stage in 1967 with Welikadaratne's plays Aluth Dawasak and Ugurata Hora. Meanwhile, she mastered the singing and playing by musician Jayatissa Alahakoon and Kandyan dance by mastering theatrical dance. Then she sent a postcard to a drama acting vacancy advertisement in the 'Visithura' newspaper. With that, she was selected for the play Nil Katarolu produced by Sugathapala de Silva, particularly due to her loud screamy voice. After a brilliant performance in the play, she was later invited to play a role of Japanese-Chinese woman in the play 'Thaththa' produced by Gunasena Galappaththi. According to Mercy, the most difficult play she acted in was Nalin Wijesekera's play Tikki Tikiri Tikirilia. However, her most notable stage drama acting came through the plays Tharavo Igilethi by Lucien Bulathsinhala and Ran Kanda by Chandrasena Dassanayake.

In 1976, she made her maiden cinematic appearance with the film Walmathwuwo directed by Vasantha Obeysekera. Then she acted in many comedy and dramatic roles in the films: Diyamanthi, Paḷagæṭiyō Sakvithi Suvaya, Nuvan Rēṇu, Mutu Mæṇikē, Okkoma Rajavaru, Hondīn Nættam Narakin, Hita Honda Puthek, Asayi Bayayi and Dhavala Puṣhpaya.

Mercy was a very popular voice in Sri Lankan radio drama. She was the "Doolittle" on the radio drama Handiya Gedara and was the sister of Jane in Vajira, "Ungu" on Samanala Bedda, "Ethana" in Muwan Palessa and "Bagalawathi Iskola Hamine" in Rasara. Mercy last played in Lilantha Kumarasiri's serial Amanda with the character "Podi Nona".

Stage drama Ugurata Hora Beheth Ran Kanda Seelavathi Vishwa Sundari Muthu Kumari Tharavo Igilethi Idama Dunna Dunu Gamuwe Allapu Gedara Dewlo Doni

Radio Muwanpelassa Vajira Samanala Bedda Handhiye Gedara Vinoda Samaya

Music albums Gayay Mercy Gee Mala Watakara Bambara Rena

Filmography

No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.

Year No. Film Role 1976 342 Diyamanthi Gune's wife 1979 417 Palagatiyo Soma Akka 1979 435 Nuwan Renu Convent nun 1984 606 Muthu Menike 1989 688 Okkoma Rajawaru 1990 704 Hodin Naththam Narakin 1990 714 Hitha Honda Puthek 1991 725 Asai Bayai 1994 801 Dhawala Pushpaya Boarding owner 1994 808 Mawubime Weerayo 1995 828 Deviyani Sathya Surakinna June 1996 847 Raththaran Malli 1997 871 Puthuni Mata Wasana Nalika 2017 1286 Sellam Nethnam Lellam Posthumous release