Sumana Amarasinghe

Denipitiya Vithanage Sumana Amarasinghe (; 21 February 1948 – 5 June 2022) was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television. Performing in drama to comedy, she is usually known as the Sweet girl in Sinhala cinema. She also worked as an assistant director, production manager, costume designer and as a producer. She was also the only actress to contribute to the production, singing, co-directing, and co-editing of Sri Lankan cinema.

Personal life Sumana was born on 21 February 1948 in Ranawana, Katugastota, Kandy, Sri Lanka, as the second child in a family with six siblings. Her father worked in the Inland Revenue Department. Since her family could not stay in Kandy, they came to Colombo and stayed in a rented house in Mt. Lavinia. She first went to the Mount Lavinia Buddhist Girls' College and later to Kalubowila Buddhaghosha Maha Vidyalaya. She has one sister and four brothers.

Amarasinghe was married to Roy de Silva, who was also a renowned actor and director. She met de Silva during the 1969 film Hathara Peraliya. The wedding was celebrated on 30 August 1975. The couple had no children.

De Silva died on 30 June 2018 while treated for a heart attack at Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital. His remains were buried on 2 July 2018 at Borella Cemetery.

In 2014, Amarasinghe was admitted to the hospital due to sudden illness. During her tour to India for a film, she is known to have had a drink which contained a germ. It has affected her liver as well as her heart. At one point her heart even stopped but she was able to recover slowly.

She was the owner of two beauty salons.

Amarasinghe died on 5 June 2022 at the age of 74 while receiving treatment at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital due to a sudden illness.

Acting career She contested the beauty pageant "Lassana Muhuna", while she was in school times and won the title. Then she acted in the film Hathara Peraliya directed by L.M. Perera. Her maiden cinematic experience came through 1967 film Pipena Kumudu, directed by Ruby de Mel. Her father allowed Sumana to go only for that movie due to Ruby de Mel. However, she lied to her father and later played a lot of other movies such as Rena Giraw, Dahasak Sithuvili, Samanala Kumariyo and Hathara Peraliya. Her first major breakthrough came through 1975 film Sukiri Kella, which earned her nickname "Sweet girl in Sinhala cinema".

She acted in a few films with her real husband, which made a cult in Sinhala cinema. Then she joined Tissa Wijesurendra in many popular films screened for more than 100 days which include Sudu Paraviyo and Sithaka Suwanda.

After the July 1983 riots, many producers left the film industry, however Sumana contributed to the production of films such as Tom Pachayā, Thaṇa Giravi, Sudu Piruvaṭa and Jonsan hā Gonsan. In addition, she has been a Production Executive, Line Producer, Local Coordinator, Singer, Editor, Assistant, Hairstylist and Costume Designer. She excelled in her artistic career and was one of the pioneers in founding the corporation "Hela Nalu Nili Coalition" in 1969 and fought for the establishment of a state corporation for the film industry for the manifesto of Sirimavo Bandaranaike's policies in the 1970 general election.

Filmography As actress Year Film Role Ref. 1967 Pipena Kumudu 1967 Rena Giraw Dissa's sister 1968 Dahasak Sithuvili Sagara's office receptionist 1969 Hathara Peraliya 1969 Binaramalee Sobani 1970 Sumudu Bharya 1970 Den Mathakada Somawathie 1971 Samanala Kumariyo Samaga Api Kawadath Soorayo 1972 Singappuru Chali 1972 Hathara Wate 1972 Me Desa Kumatada Mala 1972 Lokuma Hinawa Renuka 1973 Suhada Pathuma 1973 Sinawai Inawai 1973 Sunethra Sunethra 1974 Duleeka Mano 1974 Sheela Anula Karunaratne 1975 Mage Nangi Shyama 1975 Sukiri Kella Geetha / Sujee Gunathilake 1975 Obai Mamai Samanthie 'Saman' Jayasinghe 1975 Ranwan Reka 1975 Sadhana 1975 Hadawathaka Wasanthaya 1976 Mangala 1976 Ran Thilaka 1977 Pom Pachaya Kalyani 1977 Sudu Paraviyo Kumari 1977 Niwena Ginna 1977 Honda Hitha 1977 Neela 1978 Sithaka Suwanda Surekha Samson 1978 Mage Ran Putha 1978 Geethanjali 1979 Nuwan Renu Amitha 1979 Samanmalee Nithinda's wife 1979 Anusha Asha 1980 Jodu Walalu Sumana 1980 Silva 1981 Hondama Naluwa 1981 Ajasaththa Kosala Devi 1981 Bamba Ketu Hati Menika's Akka 1982 Mihidum Sihina Rajini 1982 Pethi Gomara Purnika 1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa Ranjani Jayasena 1982 Rahasak Nathi Rahasak 1982 Thana Giravi Nayana Kulasekara / Daisy 1983 Sumithuro 1984 Hadawathaka Wedana 1984 Birinda 1984 Hitha Honda Kollek 1985 Sudu Mama 1985 Aya Waradida Oba Kiyanna 1987 Thaththi Man Adarei 1987 Ahinsa Indu 1988 Gedara Budun Amma Menike 1988 Angulimala 1989 Okkoma Rajawaru 1990 Christhu Charithaya Herodias 1990 Hitha Honda Puthek Manike 1990 Madhu Sihina 1991 Cheriyo Doctor Nayana Randenigala 1992 Rumathiyai Neethiyai Lawyer 1992 Sathya 1992 Okkoma Kanapita 1993 Sasara Serisaranathek Oba Mage 1993 Mawila Penewi Roope 1994 Sudu Piruvata Sujatha Ediriweera 1994 Love 94 Mrs. Wickramasinghe 1994 Nohadan Kumariye 1995 Cheriyo Captain Teena 1996 Cheriyo Darling Madam 1997 Ramba Saha Madhu 1998 Re Daniel Dawal Migel Mrs. Kulawansha 2000 Sansara Prarthana 2000 Re Daniel Dawal Migel 2 Mrs. Kulawansha 2001 Jonsun and Gonsun Mrs. Ranasinghe 2002 Love 2002 2004 Clean Out 2004 Ra Daniel Dawal Migel 3 2004 Selamuthu Pinna 2007 Mr Dana Rina 2007 Hai Master Piyambika 2009 Sir Last Chance 2011 It's a Matter of Love

As producer Year Film 1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa 1977 Tom Pachaya 1982 Thana Giravi 1994 Sudu Piruvata 1996 Cheriyo Darling 2011 It's a Matter of Love

Awards Sarasaviya Awards

Signis OCIC Awards

Sumathi Awards