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Ramya Wanigasekara (Sinhala: රම්‍යා වනිගසේකර; 17 July 1950 – 8 March 2024) was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. A pioneer of Sri Lankan radio, she was a Radio Ceylon news reader for more than two decades. She was also a playback singer.

Personal life

Wanigasekara was born on 17 July 1950 in Kotiyakumbura, Kegalle as the fifth child in a family of seven siblings. Her father, from Hettimulla, Kegalle was an estate superintendent and her mother was from Eheliyagoda. Ramya had two elder sisters, two elder brothers and two younger brothers. She started primary education at Ampe Maha Vidyalaya, Kotiyakumbura. After attending Pindeniya vidyachakrawarthi national colage, she finally completed her education at Ruwanwella Royal College.

Wanigasekara was married to dramatist R. R. Samarakoon. Samarakoon was born on 14 August 1939 in Dekinda village, Nawalapitiya. He started primary education at St Andrew's College, Nawalapitiya and secondary education at Kingswood College, Kandy. Samarakoon died in 2010.

The affair started during the stage play Kelani Palama. The couple had one daughter, Buddhika Mudithani. Buddhika acted in Kelani Palama in little age as "Surangani". She excelled at stage costume designing.

Career

Wanigasekara entered drama as a stage playback singer with the 1974 stage play Hewayo produced by Chandi Gunathilake. After that she became the background singer in many stage plays produced by Jayatissa Alahakoon. In 1976, she first acted in Ranjith Dharmakeerthi's play Hasthiraja Mahaththaya with a minor role. After that she got the opportunity to sing background songs for Dharmakeerthi's play Angara Ganga Gala Basi with music composition by Premasiri Khemadasa. She also acted in that play in some accidental moments.

In 1978, her breakthrough in stage drama came through the play Mana Ranjana Weda Warjana directed by Chula Kariyawasam with the role "Gunawathi". At that time veteran actress Chandra Kaluarachchi was pregnant, and so her role "Matilda" in Kelani Palama was given to Wanigasekara by producer and future husband R. R. Samarakoon. Then, she acted in Samarakoon's plays Ahasin Watunu Minissu (1971), Idama (1975), Jailer Unnahe (1986), Doowili (1990) and Raja Kathawa (1991). Later she acted in a number of plays including Sanda Kinduri, Muhudu Puththu, Ma Hene Reeri Yaka,Liyathambara, Siri Sangabo and Hiru Nathi Lowa. She played the role "Matilda" in Kelani Palama for 41 consecutive years.

In 1980, she joined Radio Ceylon to host the programme Thakshilawa. The programme contained poetry, singing, drama, and news. Beginning in 1981, she was a regular news anchor until she retired in 2006. Later, in 2008 she worked on a contract basis at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and worked as a relief newscaster. She was also Radio A-Grade Nurti singer.

In 1983, Wanigasekara was also a member of the first drama group of Dharmasena Pathiraja's documentary Gangulen Egodata on epilepsy. The play won a gold medal at a documentary competition in Germany. Later, she acted in many critically acclaimed roles in television serials such as Kande Gedara, Palingu Menike, Menik Nadiya Gala Basi, Denuwara Menike, Paba, Aluth Gedara and comedy sitcom Yes Boss. Her role in Dhamma Jagoda's Palingu Menike became the milestone in her teledrama career.

On 26 October 2019, the 40th Anniversary of the stage play Kelani Palama was celebrated at the Panibharatha Hall of the University of the Aesthetics at 3.30 pm with the title 40 Wasaraka Rangabhinandanaya. The play was first staged on 25 October 1978 at the Lumbini Theatre. In 2019, The Janabhimani or Hela Maha Rawana Rajabhimani Awards Ceremony was held at the Jasmine Auditorium at the BMICH where Wanigasekara won the Best Service Award.

Death

Wanigasekara died on 8 March 2024, at the age of 73, while undergoing treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.

Select television serials

• Ahankara Nagarae
• Ahas Gawwa
• Aluth Gedara
• Amarabandu Rupasinghe
• Ammavarune
• Chandi Kumarihami
• Denuwara Menike
• Diyaniyo
• Indi Vata Addara
• Kande Gedara
• Koombiyo
• Maunayagaya
• Menik Nadiya Gala Basi
• Nenala
• Palingu Menike
• Paba
• Pehesara
• Rathu Ahasa
• Salsapuna
• Sikuru Wasanthe
• Thurya
• Yes Boss

Filmography

Awards

Wanigasekara won several awards at local festivals.

State

OCIC

State Drama Festival

Other

Presidential

Sumathi

Raigam Tele'es

References

1. "Ramya Wanigasekara filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
2. "සම්මානනීය නිවේදිකා හා රංගන ශිල්පිනි රම්‍යා වනිගසේකර දිවිසැරියට සමුදෙයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
3. "රම්‍යාගේ සුරම්‍ය වූ රැඟුම්". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
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6. ^ "The Kelani Palama is a milestone in my life". Tharunie. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
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8. "R. R. who made the theater interesting". Lankadeepa. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
9. ^ "My voice and beauty remain in the hearts of people ...... - Veteran artist Ramya Wanigasekara". divaina.com. Upali Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
10. ^ "Multi faceted Ramya Wanigasekara". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
11. ^ "All aspects of art are important to me". Silumina. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
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18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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23. "10 POPULAR SINHALA TELEDRAMAS THAT ANY '90S KID WOULD KNOW - I". yamu. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
24. "Menik Nadiya Gala Basi and Rangasoba DVD released". Silumina. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
25. "Nalan's 'Nenala come on TV". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
26. "Across the red sky". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
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28. "Changing face of the family unit". Daily News. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
29. "'Tikiri Suwanda' scents the beauty of children". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
30. ""Ko Mark No Mark" Movie of many comical twists". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
31. "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 12 December 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
32. "යුක්තියට ශක්තියක් "වීර්යා"". Sarasaviya. 28 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.

External links

• I am a Kandyan woman
• ප්‍රේමය සාර්ථක වෙන්නට නම් දෙදෙනාටම ඉවසීම තියෙන්න ඕනේ - රම්‍යා වනිගසේකර
• An Earful !
• Kelani Palama in town

• 1950 births
• 2024 deaths
• Sri Lankan film actresses
• Sinhalese artists
• 20th-century Sri Lankan actresses
• 21st-century Sri Lankan actresses
• People from Kegalle District