| Sanath Gunathilake | |
| Birth Name: | Somsiri Sanath Julien Gunatilake |
| Birth Date: | 27 October 1955 |
| Birth Place: | Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Years Active: | 1978–present |
| Known For: | Sinhala Cinema Hero in '80s and '90s |
| Notable Works: | Viragaya |
| Education: | Kingswood College |
Somsiri Sanath Julien Gunatilake (born 27 October 1955: Sinhala:සනත් ගුණතිලක), popularly as Sanath Gunatilake, is an actor, director, screenwriter in Sri Lankan cinema and film director. A highly versatile actor across many genres, Gunatilake is a veteran actor in the Sri Lankan cinema industry with a career spanning more than four decades. He Served as a member of Western Provincial Council as United National Party member, and later join as media head of President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Gunatilake was born on 27 October 1955, in Mulgampola, Kandy, Sri Lanka, to a middle-class family where his father Hector Gunatilake was a lawyer and mother Grace Goonetileke was a teacher. According to him, his father is a good fan of cinema, and this has influenced him to take part in art at an early age. He was educated at Kingswood College, Kandy and successfully passed GCE O/L, but failed to mark in A/L as he wished to do.[1]
As his first job, he worked as chemistry teacher. Meanwhile, he came to Colombo in search of a new job by quitting his tuition classes in Kandy.[2]
He made his cinema debut in 1978 in the movie Situ Kumariyo, directed by Vijaya Dharmasiri. However, before the release of his first film, his second film Ganga Addara was screened. Then Sathweni Dawasa was screened. After screening Situ Kumariyo his next film Vajira was screened. The turning point of his success as an actor was his starring role in the movie Ganga Addara, directed by Sumitra Peries. Then his most notable acting came through the role 'Aravinda' in the film Viragaya. For that role, he won Best Actor awards at every film festival in Sri Lanka. Among the high-profile films Sanath has acted in are: Kedapatha, Palama Yata, Doorkada Marawa and Rajya Sevaya Pinisai.
Apart from dramatic role, he made several commercial film appearances along with Vijaya Kumaratunga, Jeewan Kumaratunga and Ranjan Ramanayake in the films Koti Waligaya, Dinuma, Raja Wedakarayo, Nommara 17, Obatai Priye Adare and Inspector Geetha.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Ganga Addara | Ranjith | ||
| 1981 | Situ Kumariyo | |||
| Vajira | Newton | |||
| Sathweni Dawasa | Alphonso | |||
| Sathkulu Pauwa | ||||
| Saranga | ||||
| Aradhana | ||||
| Amme Mata Samawenna | Wasantha | |||
| 1982 | Yahalu Yeheli | Pujitharatne | ||
| Thani Tharuwa | Tharanga | |||
| Ridee Nimnaya | Rathnapala | |||
| Nawatha Hamu Wemu | ||||
| Kiri Suwanda | ||||
| Kele Mal | Chandana | |||
| Chathu Madhura | Sunil | |||
| 1983 | Sivu Ranga Sena | |||
| Sister Mary | ||||
| Kaliyugaya | ||||
| 1984 | Thaththai Puthai | Saliya | ||
| Shirani | ||||
| Batti | Surin Hamu | |||
| Sathi Puja | Kapila | |||
| Sasara Chethana | ||||
| Podi Ralahami | ||||
| Maya | ||||
| Maala Giravi | ||||
| Dewani Gamana | Saman | |||
| 1985 | Vasity Kella | |||
| Mihidum Salu | Doctor Senaka | |||
| Kiri Madu Wel | ||||
| Chalitha Rangali | as Producer | |||
| Aya Waradida Oba Kiyanna | ||||
| Araliya Mal | Chandana | |||
| 1986 | Prarthana | |||
| Maldeniye Simiyon | Justin | [3] | ||
| Mal Warusa | Jagath Weerasuriya | |||
| Koti Valigaya | ||||
| Dinuma | Sarath Jayathilaka | |||
| Avurududa | Dhanushka | |||
| 1987 | Viragaya | Aravinda | Sarasaviya Awards - Best Actor [4] | |
| Thaththi Man Adarei | ||||
| Randamwel | ||||
| Raja Wedakarayoo | Ranjan | |||
| Obatai Priye Adare | Amith | |||
| Mangala Thegga | ||||
| Kawuluva | ||||
| 1988 | Satana | |||
| Rasa Rahasak | Sanath / Wickrama | |||
| Chandingeth Chandiya | Dharmadasa | |||
| 1989 | Okkoma Rajavaru | |||
| Nommara 17 | Naatha | |||
| Kedapathaka Chaya | Piyathilaka | Sarasaviya Awards - Best Supporting Actor [5] | ||
| Sebaliyo | Nimal | |||
| 1990 | Pem Raja Dahana | Sargent Ranasinghe | ||
| Palama Yata | Willie | Sarasaviya Awards - Best Actor [6] | ||
| Madhu Sihina | Suraj | |||
| Hodin Nathnam Narakin | Lokke | |||
| Dese Mal Pipila | Sumedha | |||
| 1991 | Uthura Dakuna | Sanath | ||
| Love In Bangkok | Jagath | |||
| Dhanaya | Athula | |||
| [7] | ||||
| Cheriyo Doctor | Chaminda Randenigala | |||
| 1992 | Sisila Gini Gani | Harris Makalanda | as Producer | |
| Sinhayangeth Sinhaya | Mahesh | |||
| Sakkara Sooththara | ||||
| Rumathiyai Neethiyai | as Producer/Screen Writer | |||
| Raja Daruwo | Sanath and his father (dual role) | |||
| Malsara Doni | Janaka Perera | |||
| Kiyala Wedek Nae | ||||
| 1993 | Sasara Serisaranathek Oba Mage | as Producer | ||
| Nelum Ha Samanmalee | ||||
| Madara Parasathu | Sirithunga | |||
| Chaya | ||||
| Bambasara Bisawu | ||||
| 1994 | Sujatha new | |||
| Mee Haraka | ||||
| Hello My Darlin | ||||
| Aathmaa | ||||
| 1995 | Vairayen Vairaya | |||
| Inspector Geetha | ||||
| Cheriyo Captain | Rahal | |||
| 1996 | Veediye Veeraya | |||
| Sebae Mithura | ||||
| Bawa Sasara | ||||
| 1997 | Duwata Mawaka Misa | |||
| 1998 | Vimukthi | |||
| Eya Obata Barai | ||||
| Dorakada Marawa | Priyantha | |||
| 2000 | Sanda Yahanata | Jagath Hathurusinghe | [8] | |
| Rajya Sevaya Pinisai | Minister Janaka Situbandara | |||
| Pem Kekula | Jerome | [9] | ||
| Chakraayudha | ||||
| 2001 | Oba Koheda Priye | George Madanayake | [10] | |
| 2002 | Somy Boys | Sanath | ||
| Agnidahaya | Ambanwala Rala | |||
| 2003 | Wekande Walauwa | Gunapala | ||
| Sudu Kaluwara | Seemon Fernando 'Mudalali' | |||
| Sakman Maluwa | Tissa | Sarasaviya Awards - Best Actor | ||
| Le Kiri Kandulu | Asela | |||
| 2004 | Kangalal Kaidhu Sei | Pratap | Tamil film | |
| Selamuthu Pinna | Sanath Sir | [11] | ||
| Randiya Dahara | Colonel Chanuka Hettiarachchi | |||
| Mille Soya | Sagara | |||
| Diya Yata Gindara | Sampath Harischandra | [12] | ||
| 2005 | Sulanga | Senarathne | ||
| Asani Warsha | Minister Sirimanne | |||
| Sudu Kalu Saha Alu | Assa Peter | |||
| 2006 | Nilambare | Nimal | ||
| Anjalika | Clifford Imbulgoda | |||
| Ammawarune | Doctor | |||
| Naga Kanya | Saman | |||
| 2007 | Asai Man Piyabanna | Sapumal Senadheera | ||
| Aganthukaya | Chief Minister Simon Galagedara | |||
| 2008 | Rosa Kale | Mr. Sooriyabandara | ||
| Pitasakwala Kumarayai Pancho Hathai | ||||
| Nil Diya Yahana | Minister | |||
| Adaraye Namayen | ||||
| Superstar | Ranjith Bandara | |||
| Siri Raja Siri | Principal | |||
| 2009 | Kanyavi | Janaka | ||
| Ekamath Eka Rateka | As Director/Screen Play Writer | |||
| Dancing Star | ||||
| Alimankada | Major Kiriella | |||
| Ali Surathal | Rathnayaka | |||
| 2010 | Uththara | Minister Niwanthudawa | ||
| Suwanda Denuna Jeewithe | cameo role | |||
| Mago Digo Dai | Minister Sathyapala | |||
| Kawulu Dora | [13] | |||
| Hadawatha Mal Yayai | ||||
| 2011 | Sinhawalokanaya | Gam Muladani | ||
| King Hunther | Nayakathuma | |||
| Gamani | Military Officer | |||
| Angara Dangara | Principal Pathirana | |||
| 2012 | Sihinaya Dige Enna | Father | ||
| 2013 | Doni | Bandu | ||
| Ira Laga Wadi | Saliya | |||
| Super Six | Preme, Sanath's brother | |||
| 2014 | Samige Kathawa | |||
| Parapura | Minister Marasinghe | |||
| Kalpanthe Sihinayak | Mapa | |||
| 2015 | Sinhaya | Minister | ||
| Sinahawa Atharin | Wimal | As Script Writer and Director | ||
| Pravegaya | Police Officer | Guest Appearance | ||
| 2017 | Pani Makuluwo | Ranaweera | ||
| 2019 | Sangile | Punchi Malli | ||
| Thiththa Aththa | [14] | |||
| Rush | Prof. Madugalle | [15] | ||
| President Super Star | Judge Daham Daranagama | [16] | ||
| 2021 | Wassane Sihinaya | [17] | ||
| Uthuru Sulanga | [18] | |||
| 2023 | Guththila | [19] | ||
| Nattami Army | ||||
| Rider | ||||
| TBD | Yodhayange Adawiya | Filming[20] | ||
| TBD | Monara Vilak | Post production[21] | ||
| TBD | Ridee Seenu | [22] | ||
| TBD | Suvisi Vivarana | [23] |