# Shanthi Lekha

Rita Irene Koys (July 1, 1929 – May 11, 2009), better known as Shanthi Lekha, was a Sri Lankan Film actress. She played the role of mother in more films than any other actress in Sinhala cinema.

## Personal life

Lekha was born in Kalutara on July 1, 1929. She received her stage name from her first husband Shanthi Viraj. They had first met while she was attending Holy Family Convent in Kalutara.
She died in France May 11, 2009.

## Career

She starred in composer D. T. Fernando's play Shantha Prabha (1942). She subsequently made a mark as a dancer in plays starring Dommie Jayawardena and Nona Subeda.
With Jayawardena, Lekha had her first film role in Sujatha (1953). Wearing a bathing suit, she danced along with Jayawardena to the song "Pem Rella Nagi." The role came with a payment of Rs. 500 and a contract prohibiting her from doing films for other production companies. The producer K. Gunaratnam would subsequently offer her roles in Warada Kageda, Radala Piliruwa and Dosthara.
Lekha first played a mother in Sandesaya (1960). She would play this role in over 350 films.
Lekha won Best Supporting Actress Awards at the Sarasaviya Film Festival for Gamini Fonseka's Parasathu Mal (1968) and Mudalinayaka Somaratne's Binaramali (1969). She also won Presidential Awards for Mayurige Kathawa and Ridi Nimnaya.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1953 | Sujatha | Prema |
| 1954 | Warada Kageda | Rupa |
| 1954 | Radala Piliruwa | Laviniya |
| 1956 | Dosthara | Rita |
| 1957 | Jeewitha Satana | |
| 1958 | Salli Malli Salli | |
| 1960 | Sandesaya | Executed man's wife |
| 1963 | Gamperaliya | Hamine |
| 1964 | Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe | |
| 1965 | Sepatha Soya | Accomplice Rathna |
| 1965 | Allapu Gedara | Sepalika's mother |
| 1966 | Seethala Wathura | |
| 1966 | Delovak Athara | Accident victim's mother |
| 1966 | Parasathu Mal | Kamala's mother |
| 1966 | Oba Dutu Da | |
| 1966 | Senasili Suwaya | Wimal's mother |
| 1967 | Ran Salu | Sarojini's mother |
| 1967 | Saru Bima | |
| 1967 | Vasanthi | |
| 1967 | Ipadune Ai | |
| 1967 | Rena Giraw | Dissa's mother |
| 1967 | Sura Chauraya | |
| 1968 | Pini Bindu | |
| 1968 | Dehadaka Duka | Gamini's mother |
| 1968 | Ataweni Pudumaya | |
| 1969 | Narilatha | Jean |
| 1969 | Kawuda Hari | Rita's mother |
| 1969 | Binaramalee | Kiri Amma |
| 1969 | Uthum Sthriya | |
| 1970 | Athma Pooja | |
| 1970 | Thevetha | |
| 1970 | Penawa Neda | |
| 1970 | Akkara Paha | Sena's mother |
| 1970 | Tun Man Handiya | Sirisena's mother |
| 1971 | Poojithayo | Mrs. Batuwantalawa |
| 1971 | Devena Pipasa | |
| 1971 | Seeye Nottuwa | |
| 1971 | Samanala Kumariyo | |
| 1971 | Sahanaya | |
| 1972 | Nidhanaya | Irene's mother |
| 1972 | Edath Suraya Adath Suraya | Alice |
| 1972 | Hithaka Pipunu Mal | |
| 1973 | Aparadaya Saha Danduwama | |
| 1973 | Thushara | Sampath's mother |
| 1973 | Hondama Welawa | |
| 1973 | Hondata Hondai | Violet |
| 1974 | Ahas Gauwa | Vijay's mother |
| 1974 | Hadawath Naththo | |
| 1974 | Onna Babo Billo Enawa | |
| 1974 | Senakeliya | |
| 1974 | Duppathage Hithawatha | Kanthi |
| 1974 | Lasanda | Samadara |
| 1975 | Hitha Honda Minihek | Jothi's mother |
| 1975 | Obai Mamai | Suminda's mother |
| 1975 | Kohoma Kiyannada | Sheela's mother |
| 1975 | Amaraneeya Adare | |
| 1975 | Lassana Kella | |
| 1975 | Kokilayo | |
| 1975 | Sikuruliya | Namali's mother |
| 1975 | Lassana Dawasak | Priyanthi's mother |
| 1975 | Sangeetha | Sangeetha's mother |
| 1976 | Nayana | |
| 1976 | Kawuda Raja | Manu's mother |
| 1976 | Ganga | |
| 1976 | Madol Duwa | Annie Perera |
| 1976 | Walmathwuwo | Cyril's mother |
| 1976 | Kolamba Sanniya | Andare's sister |
| 1976 | Asha | |
| 1976 | Hariyata Hari | Agnes |
| 1976 | Onna Mame Kella Penapi | |
| 1976 | Saradielge Putha | Upasaka Amma |
| 1976 | Adarei Man Adarei | |
| 1976 | Ran Thilaka | |
| 1977 | Neela | |
| 1977 | Sakunthala | |
| 1977 | Sudu Paraviyo | Kumari's mother |
| 1977 | Hithuwoth Hithuwamai | Sumali's mother |
| 1977 | Pembara Madhu | |
| 1977 | Deviyani Oba Kohida | Aginda |
| 1977 | Chin Chin Nona | |
| 1977 | Siripala Saha Ranmenika | |
| 1977 | Rahas Kumanthranaya | |
| 1977 | Chandi Putha | Shanthi |
| 1977 | Yakdaya | Somey's mother |
| 1977 | Eya Dan Loku Minihek | Susila's mother |
| 1977 | Aege Adara Kathawa | Ruvini's mother |
| 1978 | Vishmaya | Janaka's mother |
| 1978 | Hitha Mithura | Celestina |
| 1978 | Sithaka Suwanda | Rita Samson |
| 1978 | Mage Ran Putha | |
| 1978 | Tikira | Daisy Samarasekara |
| 1978 | Sally | |
| 1978 | Sasara | |
| 1978 | Ahasin Polawata | |
| 1979 | Sarungale | Susheela's mother |
| 1979 | Amal Biso | |
| 1979 | Ran Kurullo | Rajesh's mother |
| 1979 | Sawudan Jema | |
| 1979 | Visihathara Peya | Sumana's mother |
| 1980 | Uthumaneni | Mother |
| 1980 | Ektam Ge | Rosalin |
| 1980 | Doctor Susantha | |
| 1980 | Parithyagaya | Seelawathie |
| 1980 | Sasaraka Pethum | Jagath's mother |
| 1980 | Ganga Addara | Mrs. Bunna |
| 1980 | Raja Dawasak | |
| 1980 | Sankhapali | Sanka's mother |
| 1980 | Api Dedena | |
| 1980 | Miyurige Kathawa | |
| 1981 | Thavalama | Angatakka |
| 1981 | Ranga | Vajira's mother |
| 1981 | Sayuru Thera | Kathrina |
| 1981 | Vajira | Nima's mother |
| 1981 | Sagarayak Meda | Nurse Seneviratne |
| 1981 | Bandura Mal | |
| 1982 | Re Manamali | Landlord |
| 1982 | Sakvithi Suwaya | Ado 'Akka' |
| 1982 | Sudu Ayya | Ananda's aunt |
| 1982 | Ridee Nimnaya | Millie 'Nona' |
| 1982 | Pradeepa | |
| 1982 | Sithara | |
| 1982 | Thakkita Tharikita | |
| 1982 | Chathu Madhura | Somawathie |
| 1983 | Yali Pipunu Malak | |
| 1983 | Siwu Ranga Sena | |
| 1983 | Chutte | Kadajumma |
| 1983 | Athin Athata | Nelum's mother |
| 1983 | Thunhiri Mal | |
| 1983 | Pasamithuro | Gemunu's mother |
| 1984 | Mala Giravi | Party well-wisher |
| 1984 | Kokila | W. J. Nona |
| 1984 | Sasara Chethana | |
| 1984 | Rana Derana | |
| 1984 | Hithawathiya | Mrs. Weerasinghe |
| 1985 | Puthuni Mata Samawenna | |
| 1985 | Du Daruwo | |
| 1986 | Yali Hamuwennai | Prasanna's mother |
| 1986 | Devduwa | |
| 1986 | Pooja | |
| 1987 | Yugayen Yugayata | |
| 1987 | Kele Kella | Roshini's mother |
| 1988 | Ko Hathuro | |
| 1990 | Jaya Kothanda | |
| 1991 | Paaradisaya | |
| 1991 | Salambak Handai | |
| 1998 | Aeya Obata Barai | Kumari's mother |
| 1999 | Surangana Yahana | |