Gamini Fonseka


Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka was a Sri Lankan film actor, film director and politician. Often considered one of the greatest actors in Sinhala cinema, Fonseka dominated the industry in the 1960s and 1970s and won several Best Actor and Popular Actor awards throughout his career. Some critics and audiences regard Gamini Fonseka as the greatest actor in the Sri Lankan film industry, while others argue that title belongs to Joe Abeywickrama. Fonseka was the first to die among the three “crowned kings” of Sri Lankan cinema, followed by Joe Abeywickrama and then Tony Ranasinghe.
Apart from acting, he also served as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 1989 to 1994 and the Governor of the North Eastern Province from 1995 to 1998.He also worked as a Director of the Capital Maharaja Group from 1998 to 2003.
Fonseka died on 30 September 2004 at the age of 68 at his residence in Ja-Ela.

Early life

Fonseka was born on 21 March 1936 in Dehiwela as the third child of William and Daisy Fonseka. Starting school at a Presbyterian institution, he later transferred to S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. As a child, he gained a reputation for imitating administrative figures at school. Foneska also prospered in the study of the Sinhala language and literature and placed in the upper fourth for a Sinhala literature prize. The award for this achievement was presented to him by S. Thomas' graduate and Sri Lankan Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake. Foneska was also an accomplished cricket player.

Film career

Fonseka abruptly ended his secondary education and dove into the film industry. He originally wanted to be a cameraman and in this line worked as the second Assistant Director on David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lester James Peries' Rekava. Fonseka was first on-screen in Rekava as part of a crowd. He also did some work on an English television series filmed in Sri Lanka.
Fonseka's first credited acting role was in Daiwa Yogaya in which he played a minor role. Lester James Peries' Sandesaya first established Fonseka in a leading role. With films like Adata Wediya Heta Hondai, Ranmuthu Duwa, Getawarayo, and Dheevarayo, Fonseka achieved popularity and became a box-office draw.
Seeking to not play in only commercial roles, Fonseka appeared as Jinadasa in the groundbreaking Gamperaliya, working again with Peries. In Titus Thotawatte's Chandiya, Fonseka played his first anti-heroic role in Sri Lankan cinema and in Mike Wilson's Sorungeth Soru, he played the role of Jamis Banda, the Sinhalese James Bond. In 1964, at the first awards ceremony of the United Ceylon Fan Club held on 12 January at the Royal College Hall, Colombo, Gamini won the Best Actor award in 1963 for his role as Jinadasa in the film Gamperaliya. This was Fonseka's first acting award.
Fonseka also tried out directing many accolades. His debut directorial work Parasathu Mal was warmly received. He directed a political satire Sagarayak Meda. Other films directed by Fonseka include Koti Waligaya and Nomiyana Minissu. He entered television as well and became the best teledrama actor for the role he played in Kalu Saha Sudu.
Fonseka's role as Willie Abeynayake in Nidhanaya and as ASP Wicrema Randeniya in Welikathara are widely considered to be his crowning achievements. Both films have been recognised by Presidential Awards as amongst the 10 Best Sri Lankan films of all time. In 1979, Fonseka played Jaffna Tamil clerk Nadarajah in Sunil Ariyaratne's Sarungale. He has also written some songs for the movies Sarungale and Mayurige Kathawa.

Political career

In 1989, Fonseka entered politics after joining the United National Party. He was elected to Parliament in 1989 as a representative of the Matara District with the highest number of preferential votes and was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He was later appointed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga as Governor of the now-defunct Northeastern Province.

Personal life

Fonseka married his longtime girlfriend Dorothy Margaret Valencia also known as "Tina" in 1962, and the couple had four children: Chamila, Thanuja, Dammith and Ishara. Many years later he fathered Kaushalya and Poornima with his partner Angela Seneviratne.
Through his 6 children, Fonseka has 13 grandchildren: Yasara, Vivek, Indula,Daniel, Tarik, Janik, Hrithik, Ruveka, Isuru, Tiasha. Aria, Tyrese and Hazel Fonseka remained married to Tina until his death in September 2004.
His son Damith was a popular film actor in 1990s. He acted in many commercially successful films such as Chandi Rejina, Ira Handa Illa, Chandiyage Putha, Cheriyo Darling, and Raththaran Malli.

Awards

YearAwardFilm
1964Best ActorGamperaliya
1965Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardDeewarayo
1966Popular Actor –
1967Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardParasathu Mal
1967Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1968Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardSorungeth Soru
1968Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1969Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1972Popular Actor –
1976Popular ActorKasthuri Suwanda
1980Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardSarungale
1980Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1981Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardUthumaneni
1981Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1982Sarasaviya Best Director AwardSagarayak Mada
1982Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1986Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardYuganthaya
1986Sarasawiya Rana Thisara Award–
1986Best Actor Yuganthaya
1987Reviewers Award–
1995Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardNomiyena Minisun
1997U.W Sumathipala Commemorating Award–

Filmography

Until his death, Fonseka acted in 108 films, 86 of them as a lead actor and 22 more as a supporting actor. He directed 10 films and produced 2 films.

As a director

  • Parasathu Mal
  • Uthumaneni
  • Mayurige Kathawa
  • Sagarayak Mada
  • Bandura Mal
  • Ra Manamali
  • Sakwithi Suwaya
  • Koti Waligaya
  • Nomiyena Minisun
  • ''Anthima Reya''

    As an actor

As a producer