Damitha Saluwadana Explained

Damitha Saluwadana
දමිතා සළුවඩන
Other Names:Asilin
Birth Date:September 18, 1948
Birth Name:Damitha Turlin Fernando
Birth Place:Colombo, Sri Lanka
Death Place:Colombo
Nationality:Sri Lankan
Education:Karagampitiya Methodist School
Years Active:1966–2015
Spouse:Wasantha Saluwadana
Children:1
Relations:Don Sirisena
Occupation:Actress, Dubbing artist

Damitha Turlin Fernando (born 18 September 1948 – died 27 November 2015 as දමිතා සළුවඩන) [Sinhala]), popularly as Damitha Saluwadana, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[1] [2] She played "Asilin" in the television serial Kopi Kade. She had acted in more than 300 stage plays, 200 television serials and 25 films.[3]

Personal life

She was born on 18 September 1948 as the youngest child in a family with five siblings.[4] She completed education from Karagampitiya Methodist School. Her elder sister's husband, Don Sirisena was a popular comedian in early Sinhala cinema. She was married to Wasantha Saluwadana and the couple had one daughter, Venushka.[5] Venushka is married to Amila Prasad Silva. Damitha's cousin son Chanaka Fernando is also an actor.

Saluwadana suffered from diabetes for 29 years. When her diabetes was controlled by medication, her kidneys had unknowingly been a side effect. She died on 27 November 2015 at the age of 67. Her remains were kept in Boralesgamuwa Florists in Boralesgamuwa on 28 November 2015. Funeral took place on Thumbowila burial grounds.[6]

Career

At the age of 7 she started to study Manipuri, Kandyan and Low country at the school under Sirimathi Rasadari and Grayson Fernando. Her first stage play was Mulaawa produced by her elder brother, Cyril Fernando. Later, she was seen in the cast of King Elara in a drama by the Tower Hall Foundation.

In 1966, she made debut cinema acting through the film Hangi Hora under the guidance of Rohini Jayakody at the age of 18 under the guidance of cousin Don Sirisena. Then in 1968, she started to act in stage plays Dasa Dahasak and Raththaran.[7] She later joined the Wallis drama group and was a frequent actor in the Vesak dramas. During this period, she started to act in the plays Apuru Yaluwo and Yakada Sapaththu.

Later, Saluwadana has acted in many popular stage plays including, Siwamma Dhanapala, Sergeant Nallathambi, Baba Nona and Baisage Wadiya. Her maiden television acting came through Sudda Hami directed by Chandraratne Mapitigama. Often she was portrayed as a mother or aunt in cinema as well as in television.

She rendered his voice as a dubbing artist in many popular television serials such as Shanthi, Swabhiman, Rosa Achchi and Sujatha Diyaniya. She joined with Kopi Kade television serial in 1997. Her role as "Asilin" became highly popularized among the public and she was usually known by her character name rather than real name. She continued to act in the serial for 13 consecutive years until her death.[8]

Selected television serials

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref.
1995 Aege Wairaya Indrani's aunt
1996 Naralowa Holman Donna Isabella
1997 Aege Wairaya 2
1997 Ragaye Unusuma
1997 Pemmal Mala
1998 Mohothin Mohotha
1999 Seetha Ra
2000 Hansa Vilapaya
2001 Kinihiriya Mal Brothel handler [11]
2002 Bahubuthayo Dewala chanter [12]
2002 Sathkampa Mudalali's wife [13]
2002 Somy Boys Bean's mother [14]
2003 Sudu Kaluwara Arachchi's wife [15]
2005 Meedum Wasanthe
2010 Sara
2013 Ran Kevita 2 Sundari amma [16]
2013 Raja Horu [17]
2014 Parawarthana Chandare's mother [18]
2015 Gindari woman at clamor [19]
2015 Suhada Koka [20]
2015 My Name Is Bandu Nanda [21]
2015 Singa Machan Charlie [22]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Damitha Saluwadana films . IMDb . 8 July 2020.
  2. Web site: Damitha Saluwadana filmography . films.lk . 8 July 2020.
  3. Web site: Damitha Saluwadana passes away . Daily Mirror . 8 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Damitha who left the life . Divaina . 8 July 2020.
  5. Web site: Kopi Kade Asilin is gone forever . Sarasaviya . 8 July 2020.
  6. Web site: Actress Damitha Saluwadana passes away . News First . 8 July 2020.
  7. Web site: Actress Damitha Saluwadana remembrance . Daily Mirror . 8 July 2020.
  8. Web site: Teledrama actress Damitha Saluwadana passes away . Lakhanda News . 8 July 2020.
  9. Web site: Denuwara Manike . paradisaya . 8 July 2020.
  10. Web site: Hoduwawa . paradisaya . 8 July 2020.
  11. Web site: HD: talented film maker . Sunday Times . 29 October 2019.
  12. Web site: 'Bahu Boothayo': a weird comedy . Sunday Times. 17 July 2019.
  13. Web site: 'Sathkampa' tells of a woman's tragedy . Sunday Times. 29 November 2019.
  14. Web site: සිංහල සිනමාවේ එදා මෙදා තිරගත වූ චිත්‍රපට . Sarasaviya . 22 February 2017.
  15. Web site: The British Raj and 'Sudu Kaluwara' . The Sunday Times . 11 March 2017.
  16. Web site: ‘Rankevita II’: Udayakantha’s fifteenth direction . Sunday Times. 5 October 2017.
  17. Web site: ‘Raja Horu’ in town . The Sunday Times . 24 February 2017.
  18. Web site: Parawarthana . Nfc.gov.lk . 2014-02-15.
  19. Web site: Gindari A comedy around a she-devil . Sunday Times . 3 April 2018.
  20. Web site: Sri Lankan Screened Films . Sarasaviya . 11 March 2017 . 18 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161018160927/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2016/10/13/?fn=sa1610135 . dead .
  21. Web site: බන්දු ත්‍රිත්ව චරිතය මයි නේම් ඊස් බන්දු 30 දා . Sarasaviya . 22 February 2017.
  22. Web site: Plot of Ho Gaana Pokuna . Sarasaviya . 11 March 2017.