Rathna Sumanapala

Podirathna Manike Abeygunasekara (born 10 June 1940 as රත්නා සුමනපාල) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Rathna Sumanapala, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. One of the most popular television actresses in Sri Lanka with a career spanning more than five decades, Rathna is notable for her role as Kopi Kade Hamine in the television serial Kopi Kade.

Personal life She was born on 10 June 1940 in Lellopitiya, Ratnapura as the second of the family with four siblings. Rathna has one elder brother, one younger sister and one younger brother. Her father was a school principal. However, his salary was not enough for maintaining the family, where he quit from the job and became a government contractor. She started education from Ratnapura Baranduwa Junior School and then entered to Pelmadulla Central College (currently known as Gankanda Central College, Pelmadulla).

She was married to popular actor Raja Sumanapala. The couple has two daughters - Waruni, Manjula - and two sons - Prabash and Mahesh. She was the mother of many in films even in her young age. The role of the mother-in-law was only for the film Uthura Dakuna.

In 2011, she wrote a short story novel, which won a prize. In 2012, Rathna won third place in the Sahithya Visharadha Competition.