Malini Fonseka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malini Fonseka
මාලිනී ෆොන්සේකා மாலினி பொன்சேகா |
|
|---|---|
Fonseka in 1976
|
|
| Member of Parliament for National List |
|
| In office 22 April 2010 – 26 June 2015 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Wanni Arachchige Malini Senehelatha Fonseka
30 April 1947 Peliyagoda, Kelaniya, British Ceylon |
| Died | 24 May 2025 (aged 78) Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Political party | United People's Freedom Alliance |
| Spouses |
|
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Damayanthi Fonseka (sister) Prasanna Vithanage (brother-in-law) Samanalee Fonseka (niece) Senali Fonseka (niece) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Awards | Sarasaviya Best Actress Award Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award |
Malini Fonseka was a famous Sri Lankan actress, theatre artist, director, and politician. She was born as Wanniarachchige Malini Senehelatha Fonseka on April 30, 1947, and passed away on May 24, 2025. Many people called her the "Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema" because of her amazing talent.
Malini Fonseka first became well-known when she won the Best Actress Award at a drama festival in 1969. She also won several Sarasaviya Best Actress Awards for her roles in movies like Hingana Kolla (1980), Aradhana (1982), and Yasa Isuru (1983). She had a very long career, acting for seven decades! She even set a record by winning the Slim Nielsen Peoples' Award for Most Popular Actress twelve times in a row. In 2010, CNN named her one of Asia's 25 greatest film actors ever. She also served as a Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka.
Contents
Biography
Early life and Family
Malini Fonseka was born in Peliyagoda, Kelaniya. She was the third of eleven children. Her father, Gilbert Fonseka, worked at a government printing press, and her mother was Seelwathie Fonseka. After she was born, her family moved to Nugegoda.
Malini started school in 1952 at St. John's College, Nugegoda. She later finished her schooling at Gurukula Maha Vidyalaya. Many of her family members are also involved in the film industry. Three of her sisters, Sriyani, Rasadari, and Damayanthi, and two of her brothers, Dayananda and Ananda, are part of the cinema world. Her nieces, Samanalee Fonseka and Senali Fonseka, are also well-known actresses.
Political Journey
In April 2010, Malini Fonseka became a Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka. She was appointed by the United People's Freedom Alliance. This position was given to her because she strongly supported the president at that time, Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Career in Entertainment
Malini Fonseka began her acting journey in stage plays in 1963 with "Noratha Ratha." In 1968, she won a national award for Best Stage Drama Actress for her role in Akal Wessa. She went on to play the main character in 14 stage dramas.
She entered the film industry with help from her brother, Ananda Fonseka, who was a film director. Her first film was Tissa Liyansuriya's Punchi Baba (The Little Baby) in 1968. That same year, she also appeared in Abudasse kale, Dahasak Sithuwili, and Adarawanthayo. These early successes led to her being cast in many lead roles.
Malini Fonseka acted in over 140 movies, including some international films. She even acted alongside the famous Indian Tamil actor, Sivaji Ganeshan, in the movie Pilot Premnath in 1978. Her career was greatly helped by her work with Gamini Fonseka, another legendary Sri Lankan actor.
Some of her most successful films include Nidhanaya by Lester James Peiris, Siripala Saha Ranmenika by Amaranath Jayathilake, Eya Den Loku Lamayek, and Bambaru Ewith by Dharmasena Pathiraja.
In 1984, Malini Fonseka achieved a big milestone with Sasara Chetana, where she was both the director and the producer. She also directed two other films: Ahimsa in 1987 and Sthree in 1991. Later, she also worked in television. She was highly praised for her acting in TV dramas like Manalada Puthe Kiri Dunne, Pitagamkarayo, Kemmura, and Ambu Daruwo. She won Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Awards for her roles in Pitagamkarayo and Kemmura.
She made history by becoming the first female TV drama director in Sri Lanka with her first teledrama, Nirupamala, where she also acted. She continued to direct successful TV shows like Sanasili Suwanda. She also acted in the Buddhist film Uppalawanna, directed by Sunil Ariyaratne.
In 2024, Malini Fonseka appeared in the music video for "Eya Wasanthaya Nowe" by Chapa Jayaruk. Her performance was highly praised, showing her amazing acting skills even later in her career.
Death
Malini Fonseka passed away on May 24, 2025, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She was 78 years old and was receiving treatment at a hospital.
Awards and Recognition
Malini Fonseka was the first Sri Lankan actress to gain international recognition. She won a special Jury award at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1975. She also received an award at the New Delhi Film Festival in 1977.
Besides her many Sarasaviya Awards, Presidential Awards, and OCIC Awards for her film work, she also received other honors. She won the "Best Actress Award" for the teledrama "Kemmura" at the Sumathi Tele Awards Ceremony in 2000. In 1996, the President of Sri Lanka gave her the Wishva Prasadhini Award for her contributions to the cinema industry.
On April 30, 2003, a special event called Maliniye was held at the BMICH. This ceremony honored Malini Fonseka for her four decades of work in Sri Lankan cinema, where she acted in over 150 films. The President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, attended the event.
In January 2008, Sri Lankans living in the United States gathered in Los Angeles to honor her. She received an Appreciative Plaque from the Consulate General of Sri Lanka. In 2019, she was given the Janabhimani Honorary Award at the BMICH.
Images for kids
-
Malani Fonseka won a Special Jury Award for the film Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) at the 2008 International Film Festival of India.
