fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

Samaraweera Asoka Ponnamperuma (born 3 May 1936 – died 2 April 1993 as අශෝක පොන්නම්පෙරුම) [Sinhala]) was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a singer, scriptwriter and filmmaker.[1][2] Considered as "Sri Lanka's Sivaji Ganeshan", Ponnamperuma has acted more than 40 films in a career spanned for more than three decades.[3]

Asoka Ponnamperuma අශෝක පොන්නම්පෙරුම
Born	Samaraweera Asoka Ponnamperuma (1936-05-03)May 3, 1936 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Died	April 2, 1993(1993-04-02) (aged 56) Colombo
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Ananda College
Occupation	Actor, Dramatist, Singer, Director
Years active	1948–1984
Spouse	Manel Lona Elizabeth Perera (m. 1965)
Children	4
Awards	Best Supporting Actor

Personal life

He was born on 3 May 1936 in Colombo. His father Don Charles Ponnamperuma was a journalist, who worked as editor-in-chief of the Buddhist paper Sinhala Bauddhaya in 1950. His mother was Premawansha Mithrawaththa. Ashoka completed his education from Ananda College.[4]

He was married to a fellow film actress, Manel Lona Elizabeth Perera. The wedding was celebrated on 4 December 1965. Manel first acted in the film Deepashika and then appeared in few films such as Sihina Hathak, Sekaya, Layata Laya, Ruhunu Kumari and Sanda Nega Eddi. The couple has three sons - Anuradha, Sumedha, Chaminda and one daughter, Manjula.[4] Asoka and Manel co-acted in few films such as Layata Laya, Dehadaka Duka, Ruhunu Kumari and London Hamu.[3]

He died on 2 April 1993 at the age of 56 from heart attack.[5] Although all funeral work is to be completed within 24 hours after his death, his request was unable to comply due to curfew in the country and the delay in the post mortem.[4][3]

Career

At the age of 14, he started to act in school stage dramas. Then he mastered music under R. A. Chandrasena. He won the first place in all island music competition in that year, which got the attention from musician Lionel Edirisinghe. Asoka met his acting hero L. M. Perera in a tea shop and asked about acting in a film.[4] After few days, he received a message about a role and moved to Colombo. In 1958, his maiden cinema acting came through the film Suneetha directed by P. Neelakantan with a dual role.[6] Then he acted in many popular films such as Sihinaya, Sundara Birinda, Suwineetha Lalani, Ganthera and Samiya Birindage Deviyaya.[1] In 1969, he won the award for the Best Supporting actor for the film Indunila at Sarasaviya Film Festival.[4]

Asoka wrote the book Mal Manda Bisaw which is based on a true story about a prostitute that he met at Maradana Police Station. Then he wrote the book Ai Mata Mehema Une.[3] By using the book, he script his first film direction Pradeepa which was screened on 2 July 1982.[4]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1958	Suneetha
1958	Sihinaya
1959	Sirimali
1960	Sundara Birinda
1961	Ganthera
1961	Suvineetha Lalani
1962	Suhada Divi Piduma
1963	Suhada Sohoyuro
1964	Heta Pramada Wadi
1964	Kala Kala De Pala Pala De
1964	Subasarana Sapa Sithe
1964	Samiya Birindage Deviyaya	Doctor Nihal	[7]
1964	Patachara
1964	Sasaraka Hati
1964	Sithaka Mahima		[8]
1965	Sathutu Kandulu
1965	Hithata Hitha
1965	Sweep Ticket
1966	Athulweema Thahanam
1966	Layata laya
1966	Sudu Duwa
1966	Sanda Naga Eddi
1966	Sanasili Suwaya
1966	Maha Re Hamuwu Sthriya		[9]
1967	Ranrasa
1967	Ipadune Ai
1967	Iwasana Dana
1968	London Hamu
1968	Hangi Hora
1968	Indunila
1968	Dehadaka Duka
1969	Kohomada Wade
1969	Pick Poket
1969	Pancha
1973	Suhada Pathuma	Lalitha's husband	[10]
1973	Sinavai Inavai
1974	Shanthi		[11]
1975	Hadawathaka Wasanthaya	Sriyani's father
1975	Damayanthi
1975	Sadhana
1976	Ran Thilaka
1977	Sudu Paraviyo	Vasala Nilame
1979	Jeevana Kandulu
1979	Ran Kurullo	Soysa
1984	Kokila

References

External links

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