Ravindra Randeniya facts for kids

Ravindra Randeniya is a famous Sri Lankan actor and a former politician. His real name is Liyanage Boniface Walter Perera, and he was born on June 5, 1945. He became very well-known after starring in Lester James Peries's film Desa Nisa in 1975. Ravindra Randeniya was a very popular actor throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He won several awards for Best Actor, including the Sarasaviya Best Actor Award multiple times.

He also hosted a popular quiz show called Mind Star on ITN, which many people enjoyed watching.

About Ravindra Randeniya

Ravindra Randeniya was born in Dalugama, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, on June 5, 1945. He was the second of six children in his family. His father, L.P. Perera, was a well-known businessman in Dalugama. His mother was Caroline Egodawatte. Ravindra has an older brother, Callistus, two younger sisters, Gertie and Helen, and two younger brothers, Amal and Shantha.

He went to St. Benedict College in Kotahena. One of his close friends at school was Vijaya Kumaratunga, who also became a famous actor and politician. Even though he was a good student, Ravindra did not go to college after school. Instead, he joined his family's business, which made hardware products.

Growing up, Ravindra loved nature. Dalugama was a small village with many paddy fields and streams. He often spent evenings enjoying the views of the fields. He also loved reading from a young age. He read books by famous Sinhala writers like Martin Wickremasinghe and Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra.

Ravindra Randeniya is married to Preethi Pramila Seneviratne, who is also an actress. They got married on October 31, 1974. They have two sons named Sachindra Nirmal and Sameera Manabarana, and one daughter named Umayangana Indrachapa. Preethi Randeniya is also a poet and writes books for children.

Ravindra Randeniya's Acting Career

Even though he focused on his studies, Ravindra was interested in acting from school. He acted in a school play called Sigiriya Kashyapa. He was also good at writing short stories and won a prize in a college competition in 1962. Both Ravindra and his friend Vijaya Kumaratunga learned about art and literature from their teacher, Wilfred Perera.

In his free time, Ravindra took classes in theater decor and screenwriting at the Lionel Wendt Theatre Workshop. He became very interested in acting during these classes. In 1969, he joined the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery to learn more about drama, screenplays, directing, and stage design. He got his first main acting role at age 25 in a student play called Mudu Puththu. A famous photographer, Ralex Ranasinghe, gave him the stage name 'Ravindra Randeniya'.

His acting in his first film was praised by the well-known director Lester James Peries. Ravindra then appeared in Kalu Diya Dahara in 1971, which was about workers and managers on a tea plantation. Lester James Peries, who liked Ravindra's acting, chose him for one of the main roles in Desa Nisa. This film, released in 1975, was his big break and made him a very popular actor.

One of his most challenging roles was in the 1989 film Siri Medura. He played 'Sampath Hamu', a man who became paralyzed after an accident. He won the Sarasaviya Award for Best Actor for this role in 1990.

Ravindra Randeniya's Political Life

Later in his life, Ravindra Randeniya became a politician. He was elected to the Sri Lanka Parliament as a member of the United National Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 2000 to 2004.

Ravindra Randeniya's Films

Ravindra Randeniya has acted in over 100 films during his career, which has lasted more than 50 years. He has appeared in many different types of movies.

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

Selected TV Shows

Ravindra Randeniya has also appeared in several television shows, including:

• Bhavathra
• Deweni Gamana
• Ganga Addara
• Kahala Nadaya
• Kula Kumariya as Edward Deraniyagala
• Sudu Samanaliyak
• Sherlock Holmes

Awards and Achievements

Ravindra Randeniya has won many awards for his acting and his contributions to cinema.

Presidential Film Awards

Sarasaviya Awards

Sumathi Awards

Raigam Tele'es

Hiru Golden Film Awards