Malini Fonseka

Early life Malini was born as the third of eleven siblings to Bandu Arachchige Gilbert Fonseka, a Government Press worker and Seelwathie Fonseka at Peliyagoda, Kelaniya. After her birth, her family moved to Jambugasmulle, Nugegoda. In 1952, she started her education at Samudradevi Balika Vidyalaya, Nugegoda until grade 5 and continued at Kelaniya Gurukula Maha Vidyalaya until the end of her secondary education. While studiying at Gurukula, she started to sing poetry under the guidance of teacher Thilakaratne and drama under the teacher S. Malal. and Actress Kushenya Sayumi of Rookada Panchi fame is her grandniece. Apart from her popular nieces, Samanalee and Senali, five of her other nieces – Ruwini, Tharidi, Shivanya, Manori and Sanduni – are also in the drama industry. Her older brother Dayananda died in 2012 and her other brothers Ananda and Upali, father of Senali, died in 2020. Political career In April 2010, she was appointed to the Parliament of Sri Lanka as a National List MP from the United People's Freedom Alliance, due to her support of then-incumbent president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Her remains were placed for public viewing and to pay respects at her residence and later transferred to the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka on 25 May. The funeral ceremony, conducted with full state honours, took place on 26 May 2025 at Independence Square in Colombo. == Career ==

Fonseka started her acting career with stage dramas with Noratha Ratha produced by H. V. Weerasiri in 1963. In 1968, Fonseka won a national award for Best Stage Drama Actress for her performance in Akal Wessa produced by Dharmadasa Jayaweera. From 1963 to 1969, Fonseka played the lead role in 14 stage dramas including; B. Ratnayake's Amal Biso, Sam Perera's Iwa Bawa Nathi Lowa, S. Karunaratne's Guththila, Erabudu Mal Pottu Pipila, Hiru Awarata Giyado, Sunanda Mahendra's Sayuren Aa Landa, Prema Kumara Epitawela's Nuwana Podiya, Sathischandra Edirisinghe's Baka Thapas, Sumana Aloka Bandara's Nidhi Kumba, and Gunasena Galappatty's Liyathambara. At the age of 18, she made her film debut with Tissa Liyansuriya's Punchi Baba (Little Baby) in 1968 with the role "Maali", where she won the Swarna Sankha Award for Best Supporting Actress. The she acted in the films Abudasse kale, Dahasak Sithuwili and Adarawanthayo in the same year. The success of these movies led her to be cast as the lead role by several movie directors of the time. Fonseka acted in over 140 movies thereafter, some of which were international movies. She paired up with popular Indian Tamil actor, Sivaji Ganeshan in Pilot Premnath in 1978. Her career was enhanced by her work alongside Gamini Fonseka who had a long journey in the history of the silver screen in Sri Lanka. At his funeral in 2004, Fonseka stated "His performance had appeal across the board and I had the good fortune of being associated with Gamini. The cinema of that era is slowly fading away and the passing away of Gamini is another step towards that direction". Her popularity peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, as she collaborated with renowned directors, including Lester James Peries and Dharmasena Pathiraja. She successfully made her mark in both Imitative popular cinema (with the films: Mē Dǣsa Kumaṭada (1972), Suhada Pæthuma (1973) Sangeethā (1975) and Næwatha Hamuvemu (1982) as well as Cinematic popular cinema (with the films: Dæn Mathakada (1970) Hathara Denāma Sūrayō (1971), Edath Sūrayā Adath Sūrayā (1972), Adarē Hithenava Dækkama (1972) and Thuṣhārā (1973) at the same time. In the meantime, she became a trendsetter by fashion designs (Mini Frocks, Bell Bottoms, Swimming kit, Cabare kits) and hair cuts for the fans island wide. Her notable performances in the teledramas came through Manalada Puthe Kiri Dunne, Pitagamkarayo, Kemmura, Ambu Daruwo, Pin Mada Puthunē, Mahamera Pāmula, Mahagiridamba, Maha Naḍuva and Depæthi Dahara. She later won the Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Awards for her roles in Pitagamkarayo and Kemmura. She further solidified her mark as a teledrama director with successful creations such as Sanasili Suwanda. ==Awards==

won Special Jury Award for the film Akasa Kusum at the 2008 International Film Festival of India Winning more than 40 awards in her career, Fonseka is also the most awarded Sri Lankan film actress ever. She was the first Sri Lankan actress to reach international heights and earn international recognition, winning a special Jury award at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1975; a first of her many international awards. She also won an award at the New Delhi Film Festival in 1977. She also won an honorary doctorate from the University of the Visual and Performing Arts. Apart from the many Sarasaviya Awards, Presidential Awards, OCIC Awards and others for her cinematic miles, she has also received awards including the "Best Actress Award" for the teledrama "Kemmura" at the Sumathi Tele Awards Ceremony, 2000 and Wishva Prasadhini Award as appreciation of her service to the cinema industry from the President of Sri Lanka in 1996. In January 2008, Sri Lankans living in the United States gathered in large numbers at Los Angeles to honour her, alongside a special dinner hosted by the Consular General of Sri Lanka to the Consulate in Los Angeles, Jaliya Wickramasuriya and his wife, followed by an honouring ceremony where she was awarded an Appreciative Plaque by the Consulate General. In 2019, she was honoured with Janabhimani Honorary Award at the BMICH. Deepashika Award Festival Sarasaviya Awards Vanitha Viththi Award Festival Presidential Film Awards SIGNIS OCIC Awards UNDA Awards Sumathi Awards Navaliya Vendol Film Awards Other Local Awards International Awards == Filmography ==

Since her first film in 1968, she had acted in more than 150 films through 7 decades. • No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema. Director and actor ==References==