fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

Chitra Dhanawalavithana (23 December 1936 – 31 May 2019 as චිත්‍රා වාකිෂ්ඨ) [Sinhala]), popularly as Chitra Wakishta, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[1] Wakishta is best known for her role Somi Nona in Kopi Kade teledrama and she had a career that spanned more than six decades.[2]

Chitra Wakishta චිත්‍රා වාකිෂ්ඨ
Born	Chitra Dhanawalavithana (1936-12-23)23 December 1936 Borella, Sri Lanka
Died	31 May 2019(2019-05-31) (aged 82) National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Sri Sangamiththa Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 10
Occupation	Actress, Dramatist
Years active	1953–2015
Spouse	Lloyd Wakishta
Children	Ranjan, Shammi, Pran
Awards	Best Supporting Actress

Personal life

She was born on 23 December 1936 in Punchi Borella.[3] She completed her education from Buddhist Girls' School, Maradana, which is later known as Sri Sangamiththa Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 10. She was married to Lloyd Wakisha. Lloyd was also a popular actor in his generation, who acted in stage drama Wes Muhunu and then in films such as Sihina Hathak, Kinkini Paada, Rena Giraw, Baduth Ekka Horu, Mee Masso, Gehenu Lamai, Adhishtana, Thani Tharuwa and Wadula. Lloyd was born in 1930 and died in 1981 at the age of 51. The couple has three sons - Ranjan, Shammi, Pran - and one daughter. Her granddaughter Senuri is also a child artist, who acted in the teledrama Appachchi. Senuri won many awards at local award festivals for her role in that drama.[4]

She died on 31 May 2019 at the age of 82.[5]

Theatre career

Wakishta joined Radio Ceylon in 1945 for Lama Pitiya program. She was involved in singing poems and raban poem in Lama pitiya at that time. While in Lama Pitiya, she started stage career with A. M. L. Zoysa's drama, Bahirawaya in 1953. Then she acted in many stage productions, such as Deepa, Piligath Warada, Pancha Kalyani and Sargent Weerasinha. In the stage drama Kalagola, she sang the song “Rasadara Siriya Paradana”, which is still a popular theatre song.[4]

Television career

Wakishta is one of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan television drama history. Her television career started with Sri Lanka's first teledrama Dimuthumuthu. She was a prominent figure in the South Asia's longest running single-episode television serial, Kopi Kade. Her role Somi Nona gained popularity among the public. She continued to perform in Kopi Kade for 26 years, finally she retired due to illness. She also acted in television serials including Vajira, Mal Kekulak Iki Binda and Himagiri Arana.[4]

Selected serials

• Dimuthumuthu
• Himagiri Arana
• Kawya [6]
• Kopi Kade
• Kula Kumariya [7]
• Mal Kekulak Iki Binda
• Me Suramya Paradisaya[8]
• Mila
• Sihina Sithuvam [9]
• Sisila Ima[10][11]
• Sudu Hansayo [12]
• Sulangata Medivee[13][14]
• Suwanda Obai Amme[15]
• Vajira

Death

According to her son Pran, she suffered from cancer since October 2014.[16] She continued to take medication from Cancer Hospital, Maharagama.[17] On 31 May 2019, Wakishta died while receiving treatments at National Hospital, Colombo.[18] Her remains were laid at a Borella private parlour on 1 June 2019 and final rites were carried out on 2 June at the Borella General Cemetery.[19]

Filmography

Wakishta started her film career with Sirisena Wimalaweera's 1955 film Podi Putha.[20] Then she acted in more than 75 films.[21][22] Some of her popular films include, Golu Hadawatha, Ahas Gawwa, Gehenu Lamai and Yuganthaya.[23] In 1979, she won Best Supporting Actress award for the role in Gehenu Lamai at Presidential Film Festival and then in OCIC Signis Festival.[4]

• No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[24]

Year	No.	Film	Role	Ref.
1955	34	Podi Putha	Alice
1957	42	Sirakaruwa
1966	151	Parasathu Mal	Sirisena's mother
1966	139	Seethala Wathura
1967	175	Rena Giraw	Maggie
1968	186	Golu Hadawatha		[25]
1969	200	Samaje Sathuro
1969	207	Baduth Ekka Horu	Asilin
1969	209	Mee Masso
1969	216	Pancha
1973	271	Suhada Pathuma	Chamila's housemaid	[26]
1973	277	Sinawai Inawai
1974	282	Ahas Gauwa	Silawathie
1975	327	Sadhana
1975	328	Hadawathaka Wasanthaya	Sriyani's mother
1978	390	Gehenu Lamai	Kamalawathie Satharasinghe	[27]
1978	388	Vishmaya	Ralahamy's sister
1980	446	Seetha
1980	463	Para Dige
1981	485	Vajira	Jane Nona
1981	489	Sathukulu Pawwa	Nimali's mother
1982	514	Thani Tharuwa
1982	523	Ridee Nimnaya	Teacher
1983	571	Monarathenna 2		[28]
1985	632	Yuganthaya		[29]
1986	645	Jaya Apatai
1986	646	Koti Waligaya
1987	654	Hitha Honda Chandiya	Kusala's Mother
1987	661	Yukthiyada Shakthiyada
1987	668	Obatai Priye Adare	Josephine
1988	679	Durga
1989	685	Mamai Raja	Ranjith's advisor's wife
1990	701	Dedunnen Samanaliyak
1990	705	Saharawe Sihinaya
1990	709	Palama Yata	Uncle's Neighbour
1992	742	Ranabime Veeraya
1992	764	Muwan Palesse Kadira
1993	774	Prithngyawa
1993	779	Chaya Maya
1993	786	Sandarekha
1993	789	Lagin Giyoth Aehek Na
1994	803	Sandamadala
1994	804	Sujathaa	Suranjith's mother
1995	821	Wasana Wewa
1995	827	Pudumai Eth Aththai
1995	839	Cheriyo Captain	Party goer	[30]
1995	841	Chandani	Chandani's mother-in-law
1995	842	Ayoma
1996	849	Naralowa Holman	Kosala's mother
1996	852	Veediye Veeraya
1997	871	Puthuni Mata Wasana
1998	890	Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli	Soysa's wife	[31]
1998	902	Julietge Bhumikawa	Gossiping dubber	[32]
2009	1130	Thushara	Wilson's fiancee's mother	[33]

Awards

Presidential Film Festival

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1979	Gehenu Lamai[18]	Best Supporting Actress	Won

References

External links

• Chitra Wakishta on Sinhala Cinema Database
• Visiting celebrities add spice to Sri Lankan I-Day celebrations
• Memories of Sri lanken Drama Actor Asela Jayakody's Funeral
• Twenty teledramas:Tribute to writers

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