Duleeka Marapana
Wasala Kulathun Wijekoon Mudiyanselage Duleeka Kumari Wijekoon Marapana commonly as Duleeka Marapana, is an actress in Sri Lankan stage, television and cinema as well as a public speaker, director, producer and philanthropist. Marapana is best known for the role "Dingiri Amma" in Malee teledrama. Apart from acting, she is the Founder of 3rdbell Productions and Academy, the Chairperson CO CO productions and founder of Northwest films.
Career
Marapana started her acting career in 1997 while in university, starring in various stage dramas. Her most-notable dramas were Sapathnee, Swarnama, Katu Yahana, Sevanali Ha Minissu, House of Bernarda Alba ''Katu Yahana and Upanda Maranaya.In 2014 she appeared in her own production of Lawrencege Manamali, alongside her husband Sujeewa Priyal Yaddehige. Their wedding was celebrated during the stage drama performed on 13 and 14 August 2015. The play received huge popularity and has been staged more than 380 shows island-wide.
In Sumathi Awards, Marapana won the Best Actress Award for her role in Depath Nai, Himakatayam, Rathriya, Sudheera, Isuru Bawana, Ridee Ittankaraya, and Me Wasantha Kalayai. After that, her most-popular role "Dingiri Amma" came through the teledramas Malee and Aththamma. For both serials, she won People's Award two times. In 2019, she appeared in the popular Sudu Anguru and stage play Lawrencege Manamali. Recently, she appeared in the serials, Internasanal 1 and 2 and Pork Street.
The actress, who is also actively engaged in environmental conservation and activism, played a lead role in an environmental film Suparna directed by her husband. Apart from that, she acted with critics acclaimed roles in the films such as Sooriya Arana, Kosthapal Punyasoma, Samanala Thatu, Walapatala, Sinhaya and Daruwane''.
Notable works
AcidAmarabandu Rupasinghe Aththamma as Dingiri AmmaDangakara TharuDepath NaiDivithura as Deepika E Brain Ehala Maha Nikinna Eka Iththaka Mal as KanthiHeenayaki Me AdareHima Katayam as DamayanthiInternasanal 1 & 2 as Disna Isuru Bhawana as Violet NonaKaluwara AndunaKiyadenna Adare Tharam Malee as Dingiri AmmaNeela Palingu Diya as AriyawathiPipi PiyumPork Veediya Punchi Walauwwa as Mary MekhalaRathi VirathiRathriya as SangeethaRidee Ittankaraya as Punchi MenikaRoda Hatara ManamalayaSabba Sakala ManaSanda Amavakai as SandamaliSandawathaka WarunaSara as VeronicaSatharadenek SenpathiyoSihina Tawuma Sihinayak WageSihini as ThalathaSudeera as Shahini LellawalaSudu Anguru as Patta RaniThalaya Soyana Geethaya- ''Wes Benduma''
Awards
Marapana has won many awards in theater, cinema and television award ceremonies.- Nominated as best actress for her first tele drama " Sanda Amawakai"
- Best Actress in Inter-University Drama Festival 1997
- Best Actress inter-University Drama Festival 1998
- Best Actress National State Short drama festival 1999 – Sapathmee
- Best Actress National State Drama Festival 2000 – Swarnamali
- Best Actress Sumathi Awards 2004 – Depath Nai
- Best Actress Sumathi Awards 2005 – Hima Katayam
- Best Supporting Actress National Teledrama Festival "Rathriya"
- SIGNIS Best performance of the Year 2007 – Samanala Thatu film
- Best Actress Sumathi Awards 2010 – Ridee Itankaraya
- Best Actress in Raigam Tele'es 2010 – Isuru Bawana
- Best Supporting Actress 2011 – Me Wasantha Kalayai
- Best Supporting Actress National Drama Festival 2012 – The House of Bernada Alba
- Best Actress in 8th Mass Lanka Film Awards 2013
- SLIIM Nielson Peoples awards 2015 Best Actress
- SLIIM Nielson Peoples awards 2016 Best Actress
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Ref. |
| 2003 | Pura Sakmana | ||
| 2003 | Irasma | Paali | |
| 2004 | Sooriya Arana | Sediris's wife | |
| 2005 | Samanala Thatu | Batti | |
| 2006 | Udugan Yamaya | Mother | |
| 2008 | Hathara Denama Soorayo remake | Bath amma, Soma's mother | |
| 2008 | Walapatala | Nurse Sheela | |
| 2010 | Tikiri Suwanda | Samanmalee | |
| 2011 | Mahindagamanaya | Magani | |
| 2011 | Ethumai Methumai | Kusumsiri's wife | |
| 2012 | Super Six | Jude's mother | |
| 2012 | Daruwane | Anjula | |
| 2013 | Double Trouble | Duleeka | |
| 2014 | Kosthapal Punyasoma | Champa | |
| 2015 | Lantin Singho | Nurse | |
| 2015 | Sinhaya | Punchi akka | |
| 2016 | Puthandiya | Ajith's mother | |
| 2016 | Hero Nero | Mrs. Lionel | |
| 2017 | Ali Kathawa | Gomari | |
| 2020 | Suparna | Suparna | |
| 2020 | Miss Jenis | Mrs. Makalanda | |
| 2021 | Kawuruth Danne Na | ||
| 2022 | CineMa | Rupalatha | |
| 2022 | Rashmi | Mannakkara's wife | |
| 2024 | Weerya | Kohilawaththe Johana | |
| Education officer | |||