In the pre-dawn hours of a pilgrimage, Dona Emalin Wimalawathi Weerakoon was immersed in a dream. The dream seemed to transcend time and space. She found herself standing by a crystal-clear stream, its waters glimmering under the moonlight. The radiant moonbeams danced upon the surface. She gazed upon this spectacle, feeling a sense of peace and anticipation enveloping her.
This dream was more than a fleeting vision. Emalin knew that. But she had no tools to decipher the dream.
Emalin chose to visit the nearby temple the next day. The venerable monk listened to her attentively. After a thoughtful pause, he offered his verdict with gentle, yet straightforward, authority: “It is a sign of a fortunate daughter!”
The venerable Thera’s words filled the would-be mother with a hope she had almost abandoned after seven years of longing for a child. Since that point, almost every moment turned out to be a thing of joy for her. She was looking forward to the precious life that would soon be part of her world.
Sriyani Amarasena
A few months later, four score ago, in Colombo, Vimalawathi’s dream materialised. The beautiful baby girl was named Paalamkumbura Herath Mudiyanselage Sriyani Weerakoon Kumarihami. The happiness both Emalin and her husband Weerakoon Banda experienced could have been left unsaid. The couple waited seven long years for a child and her birth was nothing short of a miracle.
And the cute little girl grew up to prove the Venerable Thera’s prophecy correct.
Stellar figure
She came to be known as Sriyani Amarasena, a stellar figure in Sri Lankan cinema. She will celebrate her 80th birthday and the 60th anniversary of her career on July 9.
This seems to be the period of the octogenarians. It was just last month that Ravindra Randeniya celebrated his 79th birthday. Sarasavi Bookshop Chief HD Premasiri celebrated his 80th birthday a couple of weeks back. Both Randeniya and Premasiri have had biographies published in their honour. The existence of these biographies will undoubtedly provide immense inspiration and motivation for generations to come.
Sriyani will also launch her autobiography on July 9.
Sriyani has more than one reason to pen an autobiography. Each chapter of her acting career brims with vividness. Her glowing complexion and sparkling eyes made her stand out as ‘the’ presence in our cinema. One might even say she was the blonde bombshell of the silver screen, with her unique lip movements and distinctive mannerisms that became her trademark.
But she carried an aura that transcended the typical blonde stereotype. There was an enigmatic depth to her, a blend of grace and intelligence that captivated audiences. Her presence was not merely visual. It was the compelling blend of charisma and wisdom that made her an unforgettable figure.
Her portrayal of Sarojini alongside Aravinda (played by Sanath Gunathilaka, whose performance has previously been referred to in this space) in the film Viragaya is a case in point. Sriyani faced the toughest challenge of not only bringing Sarojini’s character to life but also infusing it with the deep-seated psyche conceptualised by Martin Wickramasinghe in his spiritual novel Viragaya.
Support and collaboration
Film directors often struggle to translate the rich imagery of literary works into visual form. What is conveyed through words can rarely, or hardly, be fully captured on screen. However, Dr Tissa Abeysekara, a wordsmith himself, who devoted his life to scripting outstanding cinematic works with eyebrow-raising wordplay, took on the challenge of adapting Wickramasinghe’s theme. He even had Sanath Gunathilaka undergo fasting to fully embody Aravinda’s character. Gunathilaka’s dedication paid off, resulting in a remarkable performance that did justice to the role. Yet, it was Sriyani’s support and collaboration that elevated his portrayal to new heights.
Acting, or any form of aesthetic performance for that matter, is no walk in the park. Many aspiring actors seem to believe otherwise. Starring the complex characters is the toughest challenge of any performer’s career. Sriyani proved what an actress is capable of, and she wants us to believe we can trust performers again. Her performance alongside Sanath has led us the viewers into a heartfelt introspection.
Weerakoon Banda was a diligent record keeper at the Colombo Municipal Council. His wife Vimalawathi gave her best to create a warm and nurturing home, cherish their only child. Sriyani’s parents came from different regions; her father from the upcountry region, known for its deep-rooted traditions, and her mother from the culturally rich low-country region. The couple settled in Meethotamulla, Colombo, providing the ideal backdrop for Sriyani’s childhood.
Sriyani’s early schooling began at Meethotamulla Central College. Her parents had best-laid plans though. They soon enrolled her at Musaeus College, Colombo. Here, she studied until the seventh grade before transferring to Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo, for her higher education.
Sriyani showed an inclination towards the arts from a tender age. She took part in school plays such as Hathara Biri Kathawa and Koheda Yanne Rukmani, where her talent began to shine. Her involvement in the children’s radio program Lama Pitiya, hosted by her distant relative Siri Aiya (UAS Perera), further nurtured her artistic talents. These early experiences instilled in her a profound appreciation for performance and creativity, which only grew stronger as she matured.
Professional theatre
While still a student, Sriyani had the opportunity to venture into professional theatre. She made a debut in GDL Perera’s musical drama Thammanna, based on the historical tale of Vijaya and Kuveni. However, it was her role as the daughter in Dayananda Gunawardena’s play Nari Bena that catapulted her into the limelight. Her portrayal of daughter was met with critical acclaim. It established her presence in the theatrical world.
Sriyani’s performances in other significant plays, such as Hithahonda Ammandi and Ves Muhunu, demonstrated her versatility as well as commitment to her craft. In Hithahonda Ammandi, her depiction of the character was so compelling that Dr. Tissa Abeysekara praised it in the Sarasi newspaper as an unparalleled portrayal on the local stage.
Sriyani’s transition from stage to screen was marked by her unique entry into the film industry through documentaries rather than feature films. Her first appearance was in the documentary Wings Over Ceylon, directed by Pragnasoma Hettiarachchi. This opportunity led to her role in the semi-documentary film Keti Kathawa, directed by DB Nihalsinghe. Notably, this film was the first CinemaScope production in Sri Lanka, showcased alongside the German film Three Yellow Cats, dubbed in Sinhala as Kaha Balallu.
Her debut in feature films came in 1964 with Golu Hadawatha, directed by Dr Lester James Peries. She starred Champa, the sister of Sugath, portrayed by Wickrama Bogoda. This role marked the beginning of a prolific career in both stage and cinema, highlighted by collaborations with many eminent directors.
Sriyani became a leading actress in films directed by KAW Perera, such as Siye Nottuwa and Aparadaya Ha Danduwa. Her striking appearance allowed her to excel in both commercial and artistic cinema, exploring a wide range of characters and narratives.
Her portrayal of Sundari, a visually impaired young woman, in Dr Lester James Peries’ Dasa Nisa, remains a standout in her career. In this role, Sriyani embodied a beautiful, innocent girl caught between a deformed husband and a handsome artist.
In a comprehensive ode to our veteran actress in Sarasaviya Cinema Weekly, Hemali Wijeratne notes that Sriyani transcends mere description as an actress. Sriyani’s first screenplay was for the movie Ridhee Thella, produced by her husband, Arthur U Amarasena, and directed by Siri Kularatne in 1981. Her first novel Ma Thurula was published in 1972. This was to be followed by several other novels named Pathuma and Kandukaraye Donkaraya. She is the local actress with the highest number of novels authored.
Not limiting herself to acting, she later ventured into film production. Her first film production was Dese Mal Pipila. Subsequently, she contributed to the production of films like Kulageya and Tharanaya. She also worked actively as a television drama producer and director.
Now, as Sriyani Amarasena prepares to celebrate her 80th birthday and the 60th anniversary of her career, let us reflect on the extraordinary journey she has undertaken. Sriyani lived a content life as an actress, novelist, producer, and director. Her life leads us to the belief that it is not merely the years we live, but the richness of what we do within those years that defines us.
Sachitra Mahendra