Punya Heendeniya

Heendeniya Vidanaralalage Punya Heendeniya (born 31 July 1938: ), popularly known as Punya Heendeniya, is a former Sri Lankan cinema actress who resides in England.

Personal life Punya Heendeniya was born on 31 July 1938 in Mirigama, Sri Lanka as the fifth child in a family with seven siblings. Her father M. A. Hindeniya was a land owner and planter in Mirigama. Her mother, D. L. Kahawitage was from Panadura. She was first educated at Mirigama Primary School (currently known as Dudley Senanayake College). She went to Mirigama Maha Vidyalaya after the age of six to study in English medium. She was also a member of the school netball team. Poet P. K. D. Seneviratne is a paternal relative of Punya. Although she gave up acting in 1968, at the peak of her career, she made comeback in the film Kaliyugaya in 1983 for which she received a merit award at Presidential Film Awards. In 2013 Sumathi Awards, she was honored with U.W. Sumathipala Memorial award.

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref. 1955 Asoka dance item 1958 Suneetha 1958 Deyyange Rate Katherina 1959 Sri 296 Leela 1961 Kurulu Bedda Ranmenike 1963 Sikuru Tharuwa Anula 1963 Gamperaliya Nanda 1966 Parasathu Mal Kamala 1967 Ran Salu Sujatha 'Suji' Ratnasooriya 1968 Ranwan Karal 1983 Kaliyugaya Nanda

Awards

1964- Eksath Rasika Sangamaya Best Actress Award, Gamperaliya 1964- Sarasaviya Film Awards- Best Actress Award, Best film, Gamperaliya 1964- Best Actress Proficiency Award, Sikuru Tharuwa 1965 Gamperaliya won "Golden Peacock Award" Grand Prix International Film Festival of India, New Delhi 1965 Gamperaliya won "Golden Head of Palenque", Resena Mundial Film Festival in Acapulco, Mexico 1965- Punya Heendeniya represented Sri Lanka on World Human Rights Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. 1966 Swarana Sankha Award, Best Actress Award, Parasathumal 1968- Sarasaviya Film AwardsSarasaviya Best Actress Award- Best Actress Award, Ran Salu 1985- Presidential Award- Kaliyugaya. 1998- to Celebrate 50 years of Sri Lankan Cinema a Rs10 stamp depicting Gamperaliya was issued. 2000-Lifetime achievement, President's Golden Lion Award 2008-Gamperaliya (Changement au village) shown in Cannes Film Festival as restored Classics. 2013-U.W.Sumathipala Lifetime Achievement Award 2015- Special Signis Salutation Award, -the highest award given by Signis Sri Lanka for a person who has contributed much for the development of media in Sri Lanka. 2016 - Sarasaviya Abhimani (Legendary) Award.