| Manike Attanayake | |
| Birth Date: | August 23, 1947 |
| Birth Name: | Attanayake Mudiyanselage Podi Manike |
| Birth Place: | Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality: | Sri Lankan |
| Education: | D. S. Senanayaka College, Kandy Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy |
| Years Active: | 1976–present |
| Spouse: | Raja Attanayake |
| Children: | 3 |
| Occupation: | Actress |
Kala Suri Attanayake Mudiyanselage Podi Manike (born August 23, 1947), popularly as Manike Attanayake, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[1] She is best known for the role in television serial Palingu Manike.[2] In 1987, she was honored with "Kalasuri", becoming the youngest Sri Lankan to win that award.[3]
Manike Attanayake was born on 23 August 1947 in Thalwatte, Kandy as the youngest of the family with five siblings. Her father, Wilson Attanayake was a renowned Sokeri actor in Kandy who worked at Cargills Company.[4] Her mother Ran Manike Attanayake was a housewife.[5] Attanayake completed education from Senkadagala Maha Vidyalaya, currently known as D. S. Senanayaka College, Kandy[6] and Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy.[7] One of her elder sisters, Kumari Manike also acted in many stage dramas.[8]
She is married to retired police officer Raja Attanayake and the couple has two sons and one daughter.[9]
Attanayake joined with "Ranga Shilpa Shalika" at Lionel Wendt Art Centre to start stage drama acting.[10] She studied drama and theater under renowned dramatist Dhamma Jagoda, who converted her name into stage name "Manike Attanayake". Her maiden stage drama acting came through Ediriweera Sarachchandra's Maname in 1976. In 1979, Attanayake engaged as a singer in Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation with a versatile range of singing in Noorthi, Nadagam and Classical.
Meanwhile, she started to act in many popular stage plays such as Sarachchandra's Sinhabahu, Lomahansa, Mahasara, Wessanthara, R.R. Samarakoon's Kelani Palama, W.B. Makuloluwa's Depano, Dayananda Gunawardena's Nari Bena, Dikthala Kalagola and Modara Mola. In 1981, Attanayake won the award for Best Actor at State Drama Festival for the role "Paththini" in the play Mini Salamba.
She is one of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan television history. She acted in many popular serials including Palingu Manike, Ella Langa Walawwa, Yashorawaya, Parana Tawuma, Nelli Gedara and Anu Nawayen Nawaya.
Her maiden cinematic experience came through 1981 film Sudda directed by Rathnaweera De Silva. She generally acted in many supportive roles in cinema. Some of her popular films are Niliyakata Pem Kalemi, Seilama and Parliament Jokes.[11]
| Year | Film | Role | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Sudda | |||
| 1982 | Ridee Nimnaya | Prabha | ||
| 1983 | Niliyakata Pem Kalemi | Hamu's wife | ||
| 1984 | Birinda | |||
| 1985 | Rejina | |||
| 1985 | Du Daruwo | |||
| 1987 | Mangala Thegga | Mekhala | ||
| 1987 | Viragaya | Officer Hamine | ||
| 1989 | Okkoma Rajawaru | |||
| 1989 | Waradata Danduwam | |||
| 1990 | Pem Raja Dahana | |||
| 1990 | Wana Bambara | |||
| 1991 | Asai Bayai | |||
| 1991 | Esala Sanda | |||
| 1993 | Surabidena | Midwife | [21] | |
| 1993 | Saptha Kanya | Mrs. Silva | [22] | |
| 1993 | Nelum Saha Samanmalee | |||
| 1994 | Sujatha | Singer | ||
| 1994 | Dhawala Pushpaya | Matron | ||
| 1995 | Seilama | Marcus' wife | ||
| 1995 | Deviyani Sathya Surakinna | |||
| 1996 | Soora Daruwo | |||
| 1997 | Duwata Mawaka Misa | Manike Aththanayaka | ||
| 2002 | Parliament Jokes | Manike | ||
| 2002 | Sathkampa | Yasawathi | ||
| 2003 | Yakada Pihatu | Loku Nena | ||
| 2005 | One Shot | Rani | ||
| 2008 | Nil Diya Yahana | Shanuka's mother | ||
| 2012 | Super Six | Julo's mother | [23] | |
| 2015 | Lantin Singho | |||
| 2015 | Gindari | Minister's wife |