Jeewan Kumaranatunga facts for kids

Jeewan Kumaranatunga (born on November 7, 1958) is a famous actor from Sri Lanka. He has starred in many movies, plays, and TV shows. Later in his life, he became a politician. He was a member of the parliament and even served as a cabinet minister. He is related to former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and is the nephew of actor and politician Vijaya Kumaratunga.

About Jeewan's Family

Jeewan Kumaranatunga was born in Seeduwa on November 7, 1958. His father, Sydney Kumaranatunga, was also an actor. Jeewan's uncle, Vijaya, was a very well-known actor and politician. Jeewan went to school at Carey College, Colombo. His grandfather, Benjamin Ralahami, also acted in plays a long time ago.

Jeewan is married to Sherin, and they have three children. Their two daughters are Malsha and Maleesha, and their son is Harshamana. In 2014, his daughter Malsha was elected to the Western Provincial Council for the Colombo district.

Jeewan's Acting Journey

Jeewan started acting in school plays at Carey College. A teacher named Bermin Laili Fernando encouraged him to perform on stage. He acted in many school plays and even won first place in a national youth talent competition. After school, he started his own art group and performed plays in his village.

He began his professional acting career on stage. He performed in plays like Devlowa Yanakam and Nāyakayā. Later, he got a chance to act in a film called Thani Tharuwa. Even though he was supposed to be the main character, he ended up playing the villain. This film was released in 1982. His very first movie to be shown in cinemas was Ganga Addara, where he had a small role.

Jeewan Kumaranatunga became one of Sri Lanka's most successful actors. He often acted alongside his uncle, Vijaya. He has appeared in over 90 films. He started by playing bad guys in movies like Jaya Sikuruyi and Nævatha Hamuvemu.

He also became a film producer with his movie Hitha Honda Chandiya, which was a huge hit. Other popular films he starred in include Næva Gilūnath Bǣn Chūn and Mamayi Rajā. In 1984, he got his first romantic hero role in the film Hitha Honda Kollek. After that, he played many main heroic characters. He often acted with Anoja Weerasinghe, and they became a famous movie couple. Some of their popular films together were Mamai Raja and Randenigala Sinhaya. In 1990, he won an award for the Most Popular Actor.

Jeewan also acted in about ten TV shows, such as Rana Kahawanu and Sudu Paraviyo. He produced seven films, including Randeṇigala Sinhayā and Aesala Sanda. Many of the movies he acted in were very successful, with most of them running for over 100 days in cinemas. He also acted in serious films like Keḷi Maḍala, for which he won an award for best supporting actor.

Jeewan's Political Career

In 1991, Jeewan Kumaranatunga entered politics. He first ran in the Southern Provincial Council election. In 1993, he won first place in the provincial council election for the Colombo district. Then, in the 1994 general election, he was elected to parliament.

For 23 years, he served in various important government positions as a cabinet minister. He ran in five elections during this time and won every single one.

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref
1980	Ganga Addara	Liyana Mahaththaya
1981	Hondama Naluwa
1981	Saranga
1982	Bicycle	Voice Dubber, Ajith (voice - pool scene)
1982	Thani Tharuwa	Ranil
1982	Nawatha Hamuwemu	Jagath
1983	Rathu Makara	Jayantha
1984	Hitha Honda Kollek
1984	Jaya Sikurayi
1985	Puthuni Mata Samawenna
1985	Doringe Sayanaya
1985	Obata Diwura Kiyannam
1985	Du Daruwo
1985	Sura Duthiyo
1986	Prarthana
1986	Asipatha Mamai	Akalanka
1986	Peralikarayo	Sunny
1986	Jaya Apitai	Disable prisoner
1986	Sinha Pataw	Jeevan
1987	Hitha Honda Chandiya	Jinadasa, (also as producer of film)
1987	Ahinsa	Raj Ranathilaka
1988	Rasa Rahasak
1988	Gedera Budun Amma	Inspector Romesh
1988	Nawa Gilunath Ban Chun	Suresh Gunathilake
1988	Nawatha Api Ekwemu	Sanjaya/Vishwa
1988	Mamai Raja	Ruwan Ranatunga
1989	Okkoma Rajawaru
1989	Obata Rahasak Kiyannam
1989	Nommara 17	Inspector Mahesh
1989	Sinasenna Ratharan	Shakthi
1989	Waradata Danduwama
1989	Randenigala Sinhaya	Raju, (also as producer of film)
1990	Thanha Asha	Suresh
1990	Yukthiyata Wada	Krishan Wasantha
1990	Weera Udara
1990	Saharave Sihinaya
1990	Pem Raja Dahana	Corporal Malan
1990	Madu Sihina	Raja aka Raju
1990	Chandi Raja	Michael
1990	Honda Honda Sellan	Inspector Srinath
1990	Hitha Honda Puthek	Sena
1991	Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya	Jagath
1991	Keli Madala	Jayendra
1991	Raja Sellan
1991	Esala Sanda	Janaka Mahanama / Asoka (as producer)
1991	Ran Hadawatha	Anthony
1991	Bambara Kalape	Captain Raju
1991	Ma Obe Hithawatha	Dharme (as producer)
1992	Ranabime Veeraya
1992	Raja Daruwo	Jeevan Kaluperuma
1992	Sakwithi Raja
1992	Me Ware Mage
1992	Rumathiyay Nithiyay	Jagath
1992	Oba Mata Vishwasayi	Jagath
1992	Suranimala	Suranimala
1992	Muwan Palessey Kadira	(as producer)
1992	Rajek Wage Puthek
1992	Sayanaye Sihinaya
1993	Wali Sulanga	Ashen Ranasinghe, (also as producer of film)
1993	Come O' Go Chicago	Wickremasinghe Mudaiyanselage Vijayendra 'Vijay' Karunanayake
1993	Jeevan Malli	Jeevan
1993	Thrishule	Jeevan
1993	Lassanai Balanna	Ajith
1993	Suraweera Chandiyo	Raja
1994	Shakthi
1995	Edath Chandiya Adath Chandiya	Podde ayya
1995	Chandini	Pradeep Jayasekara
1996	Sihina Wimane Raja Kumari	Inspector Prasad Vijaynayake
1996	Ratharan Malli	Kasun
1996	Naralowa Holman	Don Jackson 'Jackie' Salgadu
1996	Thunweni Aha
1997	Puthuni Mata Wasana	Sampath
1997	Raththaran Minihek
1997	Good Buy Tokyo
1999	Koti Sana	Sana
1999	Sathyadevi	Wilbert 'Aiyya'
2001	Oba Magema Wewa	Kanishka
2002	Sansara Prarthana
2002	Seethala Gini Kandu	Sunny
2003	Hitha Honda Pisso	Dharme
2004	Randiya Dahara	Lieutenant Colonel Viraj Thenuwara
2006	Dedunu Wessa
2006	Supiri Balawatha	Hilton
2007	Wada Bari Tarzan	Professor Devaka
2007	Hai Master	Saman
2008	Nadigai	Police officer	Tamil film
2009	Ali Surathal	Ravi
2011	Mahindagamanaya	King Devanampiyatissa
2014	Siri Daladagamanaya	King Guhasiva
2014	Parapura
2015	Maharaja Ajasath	King Bimbisara
2016	Puthandiya	Dharme
2020	Sheleena
2023	Swara
TBD	Hamlet	Post production
TBD	Jeewa
TBD	Abhisheka	cameo role
TBD	Nuhuru Vaeyama	cameo role
TBA	Housefull