Sonia Disa

Mary Felicia Perera (born June 7, 1944, සෝනියා දිසා) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Sonia Dissanayake or known professionally as Sonia Disa, is a former actress in Sri Lankan cinema. Starting her career in 1962, Disa became one of the most popular film actresses in Sri Lanka in the 1970s and 1980s. Apart from acting, she also produced 17 films and worked as a costume designer.

Personal life Disa was born on 7 June 1944 in Kotahena, Colombo as Mary Felicia Perera. Disa lives in Australia with her two children, Udaya and Harshani, and her three grandchildren.

Career Disa was introduced to cinema by Anthony C. Perera at the age of 19. He brought Sonia into Titus Thotawatte and she acted as "club girl" in his 1962 film Chandiya. Her major cinematic breakthrough came through a supporting role in the 1964 film Heta Pramada Wadi, directed by Shantha Kumar Senevirathna. Some of her most popular films are Soorayangeth Sooraya, Thusara, Sadahatama Oba Magai and Janaka Saha Manju.

During the shooting of 1976 film Nedeyo, Sonia was severely injured when acting a scene in a car. She was admitted to the hospital in a comatose state and relieved after seven days. One of her eyes was severely damaged and the vision was lost in that eye. It took one year and six months for her to recover completely.

Disa acted with Gamini Fonseka in 15 films, which enabled her to play in different levels in Sinhalese cinema. She acted in many villainous roles opposite Malini Fonseka. She then started to act in more dramatic roles which commenced with Jeewana Ganga directed by Dayananda Rodrigo. Finally, she was acted in many motherly roles in blockbuster movies such as Thaththai Puthai, Raja Wadakarayo, Hitha Honda Chandiya and Mamai Raja. With many western roles, her name was transferred to stage name Sonia Disa by Tissa Abeysekara.

In 2004, Disa celebrated 40 years of her cinema career with a grand ceremony at the BMICH. After 20 years, she acted in Dayaratne Ratagedara's poya day single episode teledrama Mudukku.

Arrest 16 February 2015, Disa was arrested by the Slave Island police for trespassing on the Nava Sama Samaja Party office premises at Barrack road Colombo 2. She charged that her house was unlawfully acquired by Wickramabahu Karunaratne. She also stated that the building was given to former minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara twenty years ago. However, six people including Disa, were produced before the Fort Magistrate Court. She was released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on 18 February 2015.

Filmography As actress Year Film Role Ref. 1964 Heta Pramada Wadi Garjana Kumara's Daughter 1965 Chandiya 1966 Oba Dutu Da 1968 Bicycle Hora 1969 Kohomada Wede 1969 Mee Masso 1969 Prawesamwanna Sonia 1969 Paara Walalu 1969 Hari Maga Samanthi 1969 Soorayangeth Sooraya 1970 Ohoma Hondada Kanthi 1970 Suli Sulan 1971 Poojithayo Item song 1971 Abirahasa Opening bargoer 1971 Sahanaya 1972 Miriguwa 1972 Edath Sooraya Adath Sooraya Jiggie 1973 Sadahatama Oba Mage 1973 Hondai Narakai 1973 Hondata Hondai Ramani 1973 Thushara Sonia 1973 Hondama Welawa 1974 Sahayata Danny 1974 Mehema Harida 1974 Jeewana Ganga 1974 Onna Babo Billo Enawa Joe's lover 1975 Hitha Honda Minihek Sriya 1975 Amaraneeya Adare 1975 Gijulihiniyo 1976 Pradeepe Ma Wewa 1976 Harima Badu Thunak Monica Kulatilaka 1976 Hariyata Hari Punchi Nona 1976 Nedeyo Kumuduni 1976 Kawuda Raja Sudha 1977 Deviyani Oba Kohida? Mother in Urban Area 1977 Chin Chin Nona 1977 Aege Adara Kathawa Sudu Manike 1978 Janaka Saha Manju Champika Nandadeva 1978 Sasara Kanthi 1978 Sandawata Ran Tharu 1979 Monarathenna Sriya 1979 Sawudan Jema Nokki 1979 Geheniyak Sirimali 'Mali' 1979 Hingana Kolla Marian Samarasinghe 1979 Subhani 1980 Uthumaneni Siripala's lover 1980 Tak Tik Tuk Nilanthi 1980 Anuhasa 1980 Adara Rathne Nirmala 1980 Doctor Susantha 1980 Raktha Thara 1980 Miyurige Kathawa 1981 Bangali Walalu 1981 Sathweni Dawasa Wanrakka 1981 Amme Mata Samawenna Sheela 1981 Jeewanthi Priyanga 1982 Wathura Karaththaya Mother 1982 Thakkita Tharikita 1982 Miss Mallika 1982 Rail Paara Rail Guard's wife 1982 Rahasak Nathi Rahasak 1982 Kele Mal 1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa Tekla 1983 Ran Mini Muthu 1983 Monarathenna 2 1983 Chuttey Sumana 1983 Senehasaka Kandulu Selli 1983 Loku Thaththa 1983 Mal Madhu 1983 Sister Mary Sister Mary 1984 Ammai Duwai 1984 Thaththai Puthai Saliya's mother 1984 Hadawathaka Wedana 1985 Channai Kello Dennai 1985 Raththaran Kanda 1985 Aeya Waradida Oba Kiyanna 1985 Obata Diwura Kiyannam Silawathie 1986 Dushyanthi Seeta Kumari 1986 Devduwa 1986 Jaya Apatai 1987 Raja Wadakarayo Ramesh's mother 1987 Hitha Honda Chandiya Jinney's mother 1987 Ahinsa Party guest 1988 Amme Oba Nisa 1988 Ko Hathuro 1989 Mamai Raja Nanda Ranatunga 1989 Obata Rahasak Kiyannam 1989 Sinasenna Raththaran 1989 Randenigala Sinhaya Raju's mother 1990 Yukthiyata Wada Sujatha 1990 Veera Udara 1990 Chandi Raja 1991 Raja Sellan 1991 Esala Sanda 1991 Uthura Dakuna 1991 Raja Kello 1991 Ran Hadawatha 1991 Alibaba Saha Horu 40 1991 Bambara Kalapaya 1992 Ranabime Veeraya 1992 Oba Mata Wiswasai Veerabahu's wife 1992 Sakwithi Raja 1992 Chandi Rejina 1993 Ottui Beruwata 1993 Lassanai Balanna 1993 Lassanai Balanna 1995 Wasana Wewa 1995 Chandiyage Putha Manamperiyage Silawathie Perera 1995 Aege Wairaya 1995 Edath Chandiya Adath Chandiya 1995 Dalulana Gini 1995 Inspector Geetha Nalika 1995 Dewiyani Sathya Surakinna Shanthi 1996 Raththaran Malli 1997 Aege Wairaya 2 1998 Aege Wairaya 3 1998 Sexy Girl 1999 Unusum Rathriya 1999 Koti Sana Koti Sana's mother 2000 Aege Wairaya 4 2000 Salupata Ahasata 2000 Kauda Bole Alice Hilda Nona 2001 Hai Baby Hai 2002 Sansara Prarthana 2009 Thushara Sampath's mother

As producer Year Film 1986 Jaya Apatai 1988 Ko Hathuro 1989 Mamai Raja 1990 Chandi Raja 1992 Chandi Rejina 1992 Sakwithi Raja 1993 Lassanai Balanna 1995 Wasana Wewa 1995 Chandiyage Putha 1995 Edath Chandiya Adath Chandiya 1995 Dalulana Gini 1996 Raththaran Malli 1997 Aege Wairaya 2 1997 Aege Wairaya 3 1998 Sexy Girl 1999 Koti Sana 1999 Unusum Rathriya

As costume designer Year Film 1996 Raththaran Malli