Damitha Abeyratne

Damitha Abeyratne
Born
Sedhavi Mudiyanselage Damitha Buddhini Abeyratne Bandara

(1975-09-14) 14 September 1975 (age 49)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
EducationSamudradevi Balika Vidyalaya
St. Paul’s Girls School
OccupationActress
Years active1987–Present
Political partySamagi Jana Balawegaya (2023 - 2024)
Democratic National Alliance (Present)
Spouse
Lenily Johnson
​
(m. 2014)​
[1]
AwardsSarasaviya Best Actress Award (2003)
Sumathi Best Actress Award (2006)
WebsiteDamitha Abeyratne's Biography in Sinhala Cinema Database

Sedhavi Mudiyanselage Damitha Buddhini Abeyratne Bandara (Sinhala: දමිතා අබේරත්න; born 14 September 1975), popularly as Damitha Abeyratne, is a Sri Lankan film and teledrama actress.[2][3]

Career

She schooled at Samudradevi Balika Vidyalaya, Nugegoda and St. Paul’s Girls School, Milagiriya. In 1987, she made her acting debut as an eight-year-old in the teledrama Passe Gena Manamali and later appeared in her first film Meeharaka directed by I. Hewawasam in 1993. However, she only played a significant role with Inoka Sathyangani's 2003 film Sulang Kirilli. This won her the Sarasaviya Best Actress Award, SIGNIS Best Actress Award and many other international awards.[4][5][6] She was also won awards for the dramatic roles of Dandubasnamanaya television series and Mee Haraka film.[7] Abeyratne played her debut role as director with the teledrama serial Sasara Sarani, where she was the producer as well.[8] She also played the title role in Batti teledrama, which broadcast on ITN.

Arrests and Controversies

In 2012, an intimate relationship between Abeyratne and Ven. Ruwanwelle Sobhitha thero was revealed after radio station Neth F.M. Balumgala broadcast several vulgar tapes of the alleged monk, trying to recruit a personal secretary.[9]

In 2013, actress Semini Iddamalgoda sued Abeyratne for Rs 50 million having allegedly defamed her during an interview with a Ran F.M. radio channel. In 2014, Abeyratne demanded Rs. 100 million as damages from Iddamalgoda for allegedly defaming her. The case was taken at the Colombo District Court on 24 February 2014.[10] On 14 October 2014, both withdrew their civil suits.[11]

On 5 November 2015, she was asked to make a statement due to a complaint on fraud and corruption at Sri Lanka Airlines. She went to Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power and State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) and made a statement regarding a irregularity in food supply for a show.[12]

In 2022, Abeyratne was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department for forcibly entering the presidents secretariat and obstructing the duties of the police officers during 2022 Sri Lankan protests.[13]

In February 2024, musician Iraj Weeraratne unraveled a massaging scandal involving Abeyratne[14] and two months later, Abeyratne and her spouse were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department facing charges related to a fraud amounting to Rs 3 million, falsely promising employment opportunities in South Korea.[15]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Ref.
1994 Mee Haraka Soma
1999 Mandakini [16]
2003 Sulang Kirilli Rathi [17]
2007 Nisala Gira Poddi [18]
2008 Adara Meena Also as Playback singer.
2009 Ekamath Eka Rateka [19]
2010 Dakina Dakina Mal Mandakini [20]
2010 Sthuthi Nawatha Enna [21]
2010 Bambara Walalla Kumari [22]
2010 Ira Handa Yata LTTE female cadre [23]
2011 Sinhawalokanaya Sirimal Ethana [24]
2011 Gamani Crouched shooter [25]
2013 Samanala Sandhawaniya Punya's roommate [26]
2014 Rupantharana Radha [27]
2015 Maharaja Gemunu Rohini [28]
2015 Pravegaya Brando's wife [29]
2015 Suhada Koka Lady in queue [30]
2016 July 7 Damitha [31]
2016 Ulath Ekai Pilath Ekai Roshan's Mother [32]
2016 Maya 3D Shantha's fiancée [33]
2019 Jaya Sri Amathithuma Mrs. Galigamuwa [34]
2020 Seda Mawathe Samanthi [35]
2022 Hithumathe Jeewithe Rasika [36]
2023 Thattu Deke Iskole
2023 Midunu Vishwaya Dr. Mahadewa's wife [37]
2024 Sihinayaki Adare
2024 Sri Siddha [38]
TBA Ice Cream † [39]
TBA Bahuchithawadiya † Kanthi [40]
TBA Elakandiye Marcus † [41]
TBA Suvisi Vivarana † [42]
TBA Rosa Kale Api Yan † [43]

Notable television works

Awards and accolades

She has won several awards at the local theater, television and film festivals.[79][80]

  • 2005 - Vishva Keerthi Award For Winning Two International Awards for film Sulang kirilli
  • 2005 - Outstanding Young Personality Junior Chamber Sri Lanka for the contribution to the Art

SIGNIS OCIC Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1995 Dandubasnamanaya Best Actress Won
2003 Sulang Kirilli Best Actress[81] Won
2010 Dakina Dakina Mal Best Actress[82] Won

Swarna Sanka Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1995 Mee Haraka Best Supporting Actress Won

Presidential Film Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2005 Sulang Kirilli Best Actress[83] Won

Sarasaviya Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1996 Mee Haraka Merit Award Won
2004 Sulang Kirilli Best Actress[84] Won
2015 Pravegaya Best Supporting Actress[85] Won

Sumathi Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2006 Keli Madala Best Actress Award Won

Dhaka International Film Festival

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2004 Sulang Kirilli Best Actress Award Won

Tamil Nadu International Film Festival

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2004 Sulang Kirilli Best Actress Award Won

Raigam Tele'es

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 Swayanjatha Best Actress[86] Won

References

  1. ^ "Wedding bells for Damitha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Damitha's "Daily Mirror" Profile". Daily Mirror(Sri Lanka). 25 January 2005.
  3. ^ "Sarasaviya Awards:And the verdict is..." Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 29 August 2004. Archived from the original on 28 April 2005.
  4. ^ "Wansakkarayo exposes evils of politics". The Sunday Times of Sri Lanka : Presented on the World Wide Web by the Sunday Times, Lacnet and Information Laboratories (PVT.) Ltd. TV Times(Sri Lanka). 15 July 2007. ISSN 1391-0531.
  5. ^ "Silver glitter in dark times". The Island (Sri Lanka). 19 January 2005.
  6. ^ "Damitha reaches stardom". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 24 November 2004. Archived from the original on 2005-02-19.
  7. ^ "Dhamitha Abeyratne - The Sulan Kirielle". The Island.
  8. ^ "Sasara Sarani: Damitha's debut direction". The Sunday Times.
  9. ^ Damitha Abeyratne Sobhitha, නෙත් එෆ් එම් බැලුම්ගල (16 March 2012). "Damitha Abeyratne reveals about Ruwanwelle Sobhitha". Our Lanka.
  10. ^ "Now, Damitha demands Rs. 100 mn from Semini". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Damitha, Semini settle their dispute". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Damitha Abeyratne gives statement to PRECIFAC". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Damitha Abeyratne Arrested!". Lankasara. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  14. ^ "දමිතගේ කකුල් මසාජ් කරපු මටත් ඇරියා". The Iraj Show. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Activist-turned Actress Damitha Arrested for Alleged Fraud". News First. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Mandakini - මන්දාකිනි". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Home truths for Sri Lankan film". BBC News. 18 October 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  18. ^ "'Nisala Gira' fights against narcotics". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Sanath ventures to filmmaking with a French fiction". Sunday Times. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  20. ^ "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  21. ^ "Thank you, come again". Sunday Times. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  22. ^ "Whirlwind rises from whirlpool". Daily News. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  23. ^ "Ira Handa Yata Brings A Message To Every Sri Lankan". The Sunday Leader. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  24. ^ "Is Sinhawalokanaya a Bollywood copy?". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  25. ^ "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  26. ^ "Melody of Butterfly symphony". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  27. ^ "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  28. ^ "Chandrasiri brings the tale of 'Dutugemunu' to cinema". Sunday Times. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  29. ^ "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  30. ^ "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  31. ^ "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  32. ^ "Ulath Ekai Pilath Ekai". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  33. ^ "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  34. ^ "Jaya Sri Amathithuma coming soon". Daily News. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  35. ^ "Seda Mawathe on screen today". Sarasaviya. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  36. ^ "The supreme brotherly love of society". Sarasaviya. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  37. ^ "'Frozen Cosmos' to enter the reel". Daily News. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  38. ^ "Great Vijayaba Tale - Guerrilla martial arts coming soon". Sarasaviya. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  39. ^ “අයිස්ක්‍රීම්” ළඟදීම. Sarasaviya. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  40. ^ "Malaka Makes Maiden Feature" (Web). sundaytimes. sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  41. ^ "Tale of Elakandiye Marcus". Sarasaviya. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  42. ^ "සිත් මල විකසිත සිතුවිලි නර්තනය සූවිසි විවරණ". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  43. ^ "පිපුණු මල් සුවඳයි: රෝස කළේ අපි යං". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  44. ^ "'Ambu Daruwo':Sudath Rohana's new creation". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  45. ^ a b c d e f "Nalan Mendis teledrama". nalanmendis.com. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  46. ^ "Swarnavahni's 'Anantha' -The woman who searched for the true meaning of life". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  47. ^ "'Apuru Sahodaraya': Tale out of the ordinary". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  48. ^ ""Bharyavo" now on Sirasa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  49. ^ "16 short stories on mini screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  50. ^ "'Bavathra' deals with science fiction". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  51. ^ "Filming of "Chakrandi"". The Island. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  52. ^ "Seven Iconic Teledramas In Sri Lanka's Television History". Roar Media. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  53. ^ "'Depath Nai': A social commentary". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  54. ^ "'Deveni Athmaya' on Sirasa". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  55. ^ "'Hada Pudasuna': Portrays sacrifices in love". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  56. ^ "'Issaraha Gedara': tale of two families". Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  57. ^ "Swarnavahini to bring a bucket full of laughter to your doorstep - 'JoduGedara'". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  58. ^ "Kokila Ginna: tragedy strikes singer". Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  59. ^ "'Kiripabalu Wila' warns of the danger of suspicion". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  60. ^ "'Nisala Diya Sasala Viya': A love story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  61. ^ "'Nisala Wilthera': Sathischandra discusses samsara". Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  62. ^ "Poke Street brought by Salinda". Sarasaviya. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  63. ^ "'Prakampana': Clash of human emotions". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  64. ^ "'Rathi Virathi': Italian stories". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  65. ^ "Titus dabbles with golden eyes". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  66. ^ "First local Alien story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  67. ^ "Ridee Tharaka to twinkle on ITN". Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  68. ^ "Devinda starts new journey with 'Sadisi Tharanaya'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  69. ^ "Malani directs Lucky in 'Sahas Gaw Dura'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  70. ^ "'Sanda Dev Diyani': A tale of courage and determination". Daily News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  71. ^ "'Sandagira' portrays changing phase of society". Daily News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  72. ^ "Sikuru Wasanthe on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  73. ^ "Sudath returns with Sulanga Maha Meraka". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  74. ^ "'Sulangata Madivee' on Rupavahini from July 1s". Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  75. ^ "Teledrama questions motherhood". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  76. ^ "Sudath shows prowess with 'Swayanjatha'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  77. ^ "Two young tele directors". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  78. ^ "'Wansakkarayo' exposes evils of politics". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  79. ^ "And the verdict is..." Sunday Observer. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  80. ^ "The crowning moment". Daily News. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  81. ^ "Silver glitter in dark times". The Island. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  82. ^ "Damitha Mahendra shine at SIGNIS Awards". The Island. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  83. ^ "Presidential Film Awards Festival 2004 - All that glitters". The Island. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  84. ^ "Celebrities vie for thirty two awards". The Island. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  85. ^ "The 33rd Sarasaviya Film Awards 2016 culminates with : A star-studded night". Sunday Observer. 17 December 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  86. ^ "5th Raigam Tele'es". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 11 August 2019.