Wijeratne Warakagoda

Rajakaruna Navaratne Atapattu Mudiyanselage Wijeratne Banda Warakagoda (Born 21 November 1933; as ), popularly known as Wijeratne Warakagoda, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Career spanning more than six decades, Warakagoda is also a singer and a voice artist in Radio Ceylon. He is best known for the role "Korale Mahaththaya" in radio sitcom Muwan Palessa.

Personal life Wijeratne Warakagoda was born on 21 November 1933, in a small village in Kurunegala although his father's ancestry home town was Warakagoda in Harispattuwa, Kandy. His father Madduma Bandara was a police sergeant by profession. His mother was Basnayake Mudiyanselage Ran Menika, a housewife. His maternal grandfather was a Korale chief. Since his father worked for the police, he went to seven schools.

He studied at St. Anne’s College Kurunegala for nine years and ended up at Ananda College, Colombo. and Jananath born in 1977, is a musician, singer and a dancer.

Career In 1960 Warakagoda was selected as an A-Grade singer in Radio Ceylon. First he sang the song Yanawada Maa Dama Sundari by Sisira Senaratne. In, 1962, film director Robin Tampoe invited Warakagoda for his film Suhada Divi Piduma, which marked his cinema career. Then, he acted in few Tampoe's films such as Samaje Api Okkoma Samanai and Sudu Sande Kali Wala. He played the roles of John Mcwood, Arachchila and Korale, who became the only actor to have acted in 2700 episodes of a radio drama in the history. With that drma, Warakagoda became the only artist who has played a single role in the radio drama for over 55 years. Since Muwan Pelessa was only launched in late 1963, the SLBC has no record of it, and the only evidence to show that it was begun on March 12, 1964, was a photo of its founder Dr. Somaratne. The character started as "Arachchila" but later changed to "Korale" when Mudalinayaka moved to US when the JVP started its turmoil on April 5, 1971. During his peak time in acting career, Warakagoda went Saudi Arabia in 1982 to earn money. After return to Sri Lanka, he acted in the play Maha Giri Daba produced by Jayalath Manoratne. He also worked as Chief Security Officer of the Oruwala Steel Corporation for few years.

Theater works

Apata Puthe Magak Nathe Ajasaththa Arunata Pera Hora Police Hunuwataye Kathawa Kuveni Maname Manaranjana Wedawarjana Mandela Mandela Sinhabahu Suhada Divi Piduma

Television serials

Alli and Galli Amarapuraya Anne Chakraangee Dese Disnaya Haye Pahara Indrachapa Jeewithaya Lassanai Katu Kurullo Kele Handa Kinduru Adaviya Korale Mahaththaya Maada Eyama Wiya Mayaratne Mawathe Api Monaravila Pinkanda Simona Punchi Weerayo Puja Raja Bhavana Rathriya Raththarana Neth Sagare Se Man Adarei Sakisanda Suwaris Sanda Ginigath Rathriya Sathyaya Shoba Sidangana Situ Gedara Sive Diya Dahara Snehaye Daasi Sooriya Daruwo Sooriya Nayo Suddilage Kathawa Sujatha Sulang Kapolla Suwanda Obai Amme Three-wheel Malli Tikiri and Ungi Varanaya Wara Peraliya Yaddehi Gedara Yes Boss

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref. 1962 Suhada Divi Piduma 1963 Gamperaliya Rathnapura doctor 1964 Samaje Api Okkoma Samanai Mob member 1965 La Dalu 1965 Adarayay Karunaway 1966 Sithala Wathura 1966 Delovak Athara Police inspector 1966 Parasathu Mal Tabla player 1967 Hathara Kendare 1968 Golu Hadawatha Sarath 1969 Samaja Sathuro 1969 Binaramalee Heen Banda 1970 Akkara Paha Teacher 1970 Priyanga 1970 Thun Man Handiya Actor. also as playback singer 1971 Samanala Kumariyo Samaga Api Kawadath Surayo 1971 Maha Hene Riri Yaka Richard Perera 1972 Nidhanaya Silva 1980 Muwan Palessa 2 Korale Mahaththaya 1981 Beddegama 1981 Bandura Mal 1981 Anjana 1981 Aradhana 1982 Kale Mal 1982 Malata Noena Bambaru 1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa remake Psych ward nurse 1983 Chutte 1983 Senehasaka Kandulu 1983 Sister Mary Judge 1983 Rathu Makara Inspector 1984 Hitha Honda Kollek 1984 Ammai Duwai 1984 Arunata Pera Banda 1984 Batti 1985 Mihidum Salu Arachchi Mahaththaya 1985 Mawubima Nathnam Maranaya 1985 Rajina 1985 Rosy 1985 Du Daruwo 1985 Varsity Kella 1985 Kirimaduwal 1986 Dushyanthi 1986 Sura Saradiyel Ana Berakaru 1988 Chandingeth Chandiya 1994 Yuwathipathi Janaraja's father 1997 Punaruthpaththiya 1997 Maha Mera Usata Sarath 1997 The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo Engineer 1998 Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli Party singer 2001 Sundara Warada 2001 Rosa Wasanthe Hansamali's father 2003 Mother Teresa of Calcutta 2006 Samu Noganna Sugandika 2006 Double Game 2012 Wassane Senehasa Mayadunne 2012 Daruwane Father 2012 Prathiroo Bookstore owner 2013 Ira Laga Wadi Wijeratne 2014 Sathiyakata Mata Rata Baradenda also as playback singer 2016 Paththini Kovalan's father 2018 Raigamayai Gampalayai Arachchi 2022 CineMa Anora Gunananda Himi Migettuwatte

Awards Sarasaviya Awards - Merit Award for performance in Golu Hadawatha - 1969 President’s Merit Award for performance in Kele Mal - 1984 OCIC and President’s Best Actor Award for performance in Arunata Pera - 1985

Songs Although he doesn't sing often, some of his songs have been written into the hearts of many music lovers in Sri Lanka. Below are some of his most famous songs. Rangahala dan atha ada andure (රඟහල දැන් ඇත අඩ අඳුරේ) Hiru Payanawa / Manike hinahenawa (හිරු පායනවා) Mihiri Sihinayaka Dewatunu (මිහිරි සිහිනයක දැවටුනු) Yannem Dakna (යන්නම් දක්නා ඒ ලාලනී) Sihale Mal (සිහලේ මල්) Atharaman Wela Ma (අතරමන් වෙලා මා) - (Duet) Wandanawe Yamu (වන්දනාවේ යමු පේවීලා) Pama Wela Wahapan (පමා වෙලා වහපන් වැහි වලාවේ)