# Gamini Fonseka

Kala Keerthi Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka (Sinhala: සෙම්බුගේ ගාමිණි ශෙල්ටන් ෆොන්සේකා; 21 March 1936 – 30 September 2004) was a Sri Lankan film actor, film director and politician. Often considered one of the greatest actors in Sinhala cinema, Fonseka dominated the industry in the 1960s and 1970s and won several Best Actor and Popular Actor awards throughout his career. A set of people and critics consider him as the best actor ever in the local industry , while a set of others argue that is Joe Abeywickrama . Fonseka is the first to die of the three crowned kings of Sri Lankan Cinema.The next two was Joe Abeywickrama and Tony Ranasinghe
Apart from acting, he also served as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 1989 to 1994 and the Governor of the North Eastern Province from 1995 to 1998.

## Personal life

Fonseka was born on 21 March 1936 in Dehiwela as the third child of William and Daisy Fonseka. Starting school at a Presbyterian institution, he later transferred to S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. As a child, he gained a reputation for imitating administrative figures at school. Foneska also prospered in the study of the Sinhala language and literature (under the guidance of D. S. Jayasekera, who is also reputed to have introduced him to acting in stage plays) and placed in the upper fourth for a Sinhala literature prize. The award for this achievement was presented to him by S. Thomas' graduate and Sri Lankan Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake. Foneska was also an accomplished cricket player.
Fonseka married his longtime girlfriend Dorothy Margaret Valencia also known as "Tina" in 1962, and the couple had four children: Chamila, Thanuja, Dammith and Ishara. Many years later he fathered Kaushalya and Poornima with his partner Angela Seneviratne.
Through his 6 children, Fonseka has 10 grandchildren: Yasara, Vivek, Indula,Daniel, Tarik, Janik, Hrithik, Ruveka and Tiasha. Fonseka remained married to Tina until his death in September 2004.
His son Damith was a popular film actor in 1990s. He acted in many commercially successful films such as Chandi Rejina, Ira Handa Illa, Chandiyage Putha, Cheriyo Darling, and Raththaran Malli.
Fonseka died on 30 September 2004 at the age of 68 at his residence in Ja-Ela.

## Film career

Fonseka abruptly ended his secondary education and dove into the film industry. He originally wanted to be a cameraman and in this line worked as the second Assistant Director on David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Lester James Peries' Rekava (1956). Fonseka was first on-screen in Rekava as part of a crowd. He also did some work on an English television series filmed in Sri Lanka.
Fonseka's first credited acting role was in Daiwa Yogaya (1959) in which he played a minor role. Lester James Peries' Sandesaya (1960) first established Fonseka in a leading role. With films like Adata Wediya Heta Hondai, Ranmuthu Duwa, Getawarayo, and Dheevarayo, Fonseka achieved popularity and became a box-office draw.
Seeking to not play in only commercial roles, Fonseka appeared as Jinadasa in the groundbreaking Gamperaliya (1964), working again with Peries. In Titus Thotawatte's Chandiya, Fonseka played his first anti-heroic role in Sri Lankan cinema and in Mike Wilson's Sorungeth Soru (1968), he played the role of Jamis Banda, the Sinhalese James Bond. In 1964, at the first awards ceremony of the United Ceylon Fan Club held on 12 January at the Royal College Hall, Colombo, Gamini won the Best Actor award in 1963 for his role as Jinadasa in the film Gamperaliya. This was Fonseka's first acting award.
Fonseka also tried out directing many accolades. His debut directorial work Parasathu Mal was warmly received. He directed a political satire Sagarayak Meda. Other films directed by Fonseka include Koti Waligaya and Nomiyana Minissu. He entered television as well and became the best teledrama actor for the role he played in Kalu Saha Sudu.
Fonseka's role as Willie Abeynayake in Nidhanaya (1972) and as ASP Wicrema Randeniya in Welikathara (1971) are widely considered to be his crowning achievements. Both films have been recognised by Presidential Awards as amongst the 10 Best Sri Lankan films of all time. In 1979, Fonseka played Jaffna Tamil clerk Nadarajah in Sunil Ariyaratne's Sarungale. He has also has written some songs for the movies Sarungale (1979) and Mayurige Kathawa (1980).

## Political career

In 1989, Fonseka entered politics after joining the United National Party. He was elected to Parliament in 1989 as a representative of the Matara District with the highest number of preferential votes and was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He was later appointed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga as Governor of the now-defunct Northeastern Province.

## Awards

| Year | Award | Film |
| 1964 | Best Actor | Gamperaliya |
| 1965 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Deewarayo |
| 1966 | Popular Actor (Swarna Sanka) | – |
| 1967 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Parasathu Mal |
| 1967 | Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award | – |
| 1968 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Sorungeth Soru |
| 1968 | Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award | – |
| 1969 | Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award | – |
| 1972 | Popular Actor (Deepashika Award) | – |
| 1976 | Popular Actor | Kasthuri Suwanda (Sarasaviya Peoples Award) (He rejected this award) |
| 1980 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Sarungale (The Best Lyricist award is being awarded to Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne for the song "Bambarindu" by mistake. But he corrected it and handed it over to Gamini Fonseka) |
| 1980 | Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award | – |
| 1981 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Uthumaneni |
| 1981 | Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award | – |
| 1982 | Sarasaviya Best Director Award | Sagarayak Mada |
| 1982 | Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award | – |
| 1986 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Yuganthaya |
| 1986 | Sarasawiya Rana Thisara Award | – |
| 1986 | Best Actor (President Awards) | Yuganthaya |
| 1987 | Reviewers Award | – |
| 1995 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Nomiyena Minisun |
| 1997 | U.W Sumathipala Commemorating Award | – |

## Filmography

Until his death, Fonseka acted in 108 films, 86 of them as a lead actor and 19 more as a supporting actor. He directed 10 films and produced 2 films.

### As a director

* Parasathu Mal (1966)
* Uthumaneni (1980)
* Mayurige Kathawa (1980)
* Sagarayak Mada (1981)
* Bandura Mal (1981)
* Ra Manamali (1981)
* Sakwithi Suwaya (1982)
* Koti Waligaya (1986)
* Nomiyena Minisun (1994)
* Anthima Reya (1998)

### As an actor

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1956 | Rekava | Patient |
| 1959 | Daiwayogaya | Manamoola |
| 1960 | Sandesaya | Dhamitha |
| 1960 | Pirimiyek Nisa | |
| 1962 | Daskon | |
| 1962 | Ranmuthu Duwa | Bandu |
| 1963 | Gamperaliya | Jinadasa |
| 1963 | Adata Vediya Heta Hondai | Gamini |
| 1964 | Getawarayo | Jayasena Fernando |
| 1964 | Dheewarayo | Francis |
| 1965 | Chandiya | Chutte |
| 1965 | Sudo Sudu | Adiriyan |
| 1965 | Adarayai-Karunawai | |
| 1965 | Satha Panaha | Nimal |
| 1965 | Yatagiya Dawasa | |
| 1966 | Senasuma Kothanada | |
| 1966 | Seethala Wathura | |
| 1966 | Sigiri Kashyapa | Kashyapa |
| 1966 | Parasathu Mal | Bonny |
| 1966 | Oba Dutu Da | |
| 1966 | Sanasili Suvaya | |
| 1967 | Sorungeth Soru | James Banda |
| 1967 | Ipadune Aye | |
| 1967 | Rena Girawu | Disa |
| 1967 | Okkoma Hari | Sudantha, Aaron |
| 1967 | Sura Chauraya | Veera |
| 1968 | Dehadaka Duka | |
| 1969 | Oba Nethi Nam | |
| 1969 | Baduth Ekka Horu | |
| 1969 | Surayangeth Suraya | |
| 1969 | Paara Walalu | |
| 1969 | Mee Masso | |
| 1970 | Aathma Puja | |
| 1970 | Ohoma Hodada | Sirimal, Siri |
| 1971 | Hathara Denama Surayo | Podde |
| 1971 | Welikathara | ASP Randeniya |
| 1972 | Sahanaya | Piyal |
| 1972 | Nidhanaya | Willie Abeynayake |
| 1972 | Edath Suraya Adath Suraya | Gamini |
| 1972 | Adare Hithenawa Dakkama | Ricky |
| 1972 | Miringuva | |
| 1973 | Hondata Hondai | |
| 1973 | Sadahatama Oba Mage | |
| 1973 | Hodama Velava | |
| 1973 | Hodai Narakai | |
| 1974 | Kasthuri Suwanda | Kamal |
| 1974 | Onna Babo Billo Enawa | |
| 1974 | Sanakeliya | Priyantha |
| 1975 | Hitha Hoda Minihek | |
| 1975 | Raththaran Amma | |
| 1975 | Awa Soya Adare | Gamini |
| 1975 | Rajagedara Paraviyo | |
| 1975 | Cyril Malli | |
| 1975 | Suraya Surayamai | Gamini, Frank |
| 1976 | Kawuda Rajaa | Manuel |
| 1976 | Hulavali | Dhaara |
| 1976 | Nilla Soya | Dhamme |
| 1976 | Nayana | |
| 1977 | Yakadaya | Sumanadasa aka Yakadaya |
| 1977 | Chin Chin Nona | |
| 1977 | Deviyani Oba Koheda | Father Sebastian |
| 1977 | Chandi Putha | Gamini |
| 1978 | Chandi Shyama | |
| 1978 | Asha Daasin | Nalin |
| 1978 | Hitha Mithura | |
| 1978 | Apsara | |
| 1978 | Seetha Devi | Ravi Ranaraja aka Ravana |
| 1979 | Amal Biso | Bayisa |
| 1979 | Minisun Athara Minihek | Maithree |
| 1979 | Neelakadalin Orathile (Tamil film) | |
| 1979 | Sarungale | Nadarajah |
| 1980 | Mal Kekulu | Manjula |
| 1980 | Uthumaneni | Siripala |
| 1980 | Mayurige Kathawa | |
| 1980 | Sankapali | Sanka |
| 1981 | Chanchala Rekha | Sirisena |
| 1981 | Thavalama | |
| 1981 | Bandura Mal | Thirakotuwe Arachchi |
| 1981 | Ridee Thella | Podda |
| 1981 | Sagarayak Meda | Dr.Moladanda, Frederick Ramanayake |
| 1982 | Sakvithi Suvaya | Bucket Harry |
| 1982 | Miss Mallika | |
| 1982 | Hello Shyama | |
| 1985 | Yuganthaya | Simon Kabalana |
| 1986 | Yali Hamuvennai | |
| 1986 | Koti Waligaya | Police officer Sarath Ranasinghe |
| 1986 | Puja | A condemned |
| 1987 | Sathyagrahanaya | Minister |
| 1987 | Ahinsa | Himself |
| 1987 | Ottui Baruwata | |
| 1989 | Shakthiya Obai Amme | |
| 1991 | Uthura Dakuna | Ramanayake |
| 1993 | Sajant Nallathambi | Police chief |
| 1994 | Nomiyena Minisun | Colonel Ranabahu |
| 1994 | Shakthi | Police chief |
| 1994 | Pavana Raluviya | |
| 1995 | Mama Baya Ne Shyama | |
| 1995 | Demodara Palama | Chutte |
| 1996 | Loku Duwa | Marasinghe |
| 1997 | Apaye Thathpara Asu Haradahak | King Yama |
| 1998 | Anthima Reya | Linton Cooray |

### As a producer

| Year | Film | Director |
| 1967 | Sorungeth Soru | Mike Wilson |
| 1972 | Sahanaya | J. Selvarathnam |