Sugathapala Senarath Yapa

Kala Suri Sugathapala Senarath Yapa (සුගතපාල සෙනරත් යාපා) [Sinhala], 10 November 1935 – 25 August 2024) was a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter, producer and lyricist. His career in Sri Lankan cinema spanned from 1960 to 1984.

Personal life Sugathapala Senarath Yapa was born in Eraluwa, Akuressa on 10 November 1935, as the eldest child of his parents, David Senarath Yapa and Pallewattakoralage Biatrice Yapa. He started primary education from Rakwana Maha Vidyalaya and then completed secondary education from Pelmadulla Central College. He has one younger sister. After the death of parents, Grandmother took care of him and his sister.

He worked as a ticket salesman at Ariyapala Theater. He died on 25 August 2024, at the age of 88.

Career Yapa acted in school plays and produced the school plays Sudo Sudu and Pinbath. Yapa acted in Perera's maiden cinema direction Saama.

After few years, he became the Secretary and Treasurer of Kala Pela Cultural Society from 1963 to 1968. However he resigned from the post in few years to make the pathway to cinema direction. He was also the president of Art Circle from 1968 to 1974. In 1969, Yapa made his maiden cinema direction Hanthane Kathawa which made a hallmark in Sinhala cinema. This incident led to a huge criticism. The film screened for more than 100 days.

In the same year, he won Silver Peacock Award at the New Delhi Film Festival for his first docudrama Minisa saha Kaputa. In 1977, he directed his second feature film Pembara Madhu and then third film Induta Mal Mitak in 1981. made a complete naked appearance for the first time Sinhala cinema. However Induta Mal Mitak was not popularized as first two films. He made the short film Piya Saha Daruwo afterwards. On 27 July 2019, he was awarded Swarna Sankha Sinha Award for Lifetime Achievement at 19th Presidential Cinema Awards Ceremony. A tribute to his career was made at 4th Agenda 14 Short Film Festival in 2015. In 2021, he was honored with lifetime achievement award during the ceremony held for 21 artists who made an invaluable contribution to Sinhala cinema in the early decades of Sinhala Cinema.

Filmography

Year Film Roles Ref. 1962 Daskon Actor 1965 Saama Actor, Lyricist 1969 Hanthane Kathawa Director, screenwriter 1977 Pembara Madhu Director, Lyricist 1981 Induta Mal Mitak Director 1984 Deveni Gamana Lyricist