Quick Facts
Biography
Sangeetha Weeraratne (born December 13, 1973) is an award-winning actress in the Sri Lankan cinema. She made her debut as a sixteen-year-old with Roy De Silva 's It's a Matter of Time opposite Kamal Addararachchi in 1990. However, she earned immense popularity only after performing in H.D. Premaratne's Saptha Kanya, also opposite Kamal Addararachchi in 1993. It was a huge success and she won the Sarasaviya Best Newcomer Award that year. Since then she has acted in over 50 movies and is regarded as one of the most successful stars of the Sri Lankan film industry.
Personal life
Sangeetha Weeraratne was born as the second daughter of renowned cinematographer Timothy Weeraratne and his wife Daisy. She had her primary education at St. John's College Panadura and then moved on to Methodist College, Colombo for her secondary studies.
She has an elder sister, Nayanatara Weeraratne who currently lives in Australia.
Sangeetha married to a businessman, Roshantha Kariyapperuma in 2002.
Career
Sangeetha made her debut in to the silver screen through the renowned director Roy De Silva with his film It's a Matter of Time in 1991. She had the rare fortune of mingling with some of the popular stars of the time, such as Malini Fonseka, Vijaya Kumaratunga, Gamini Fonseka and Roy De Silva.
She was only a teenager, when director Roy De Silva got a glimpse of her talent and encouraged her to join films.
In 2001, Weeraratne won the Sarasaviya Best Actress Award for her role as Guneris' wife in Aswesuma directed by Bennet Ratnayake. She was also crowned the Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress for three consecutive years from 2001–03.
Some films where she played memorable roles include Saptha Kanya, Nomiyena Minisun, Maruthaya, Duwata Mawaka Misa, Dorakada Marawa, Kinihiriya Mal, Aswesuma, Salelu Warama and Dheewari.
She launched her first production with the film, Sewwandi directed by Vasantha Obeysekera in 2006.
Her latest film is Uppalawanna directed by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, where she plays the role of Upuli and later the bhikkhuni, Uppalawanna.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Director | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Dhoni | V.SIVADASAN | |
| 2007 | Uppalawanna | SUNIL ARIYARATHNA | |
| Sankranthi | ANURUDDHA JAYAINGHA | ||
| 2006 | Sewwandi | WASANTHA OBESEKARA | |
| Nilambare | KELUM PALITHA MAHIRATHNA | ||
| 2005 | Guerilla Marketing | JAYANTHA CHANDRASIRI | |
| 2004 | Mille Soya | VISHWANATH BUDDHIKA KEERTHISENA | |
| 2003 | Sapata Dukata Sunny | Roy De Silva | |
| 2002 | Salelu Warama | WASANTHA OBESEKARA | |
| Love 2002 | Roy De Silva | ||
| Onna Babo | DINESH PRIYASAD | ||
| 2001 | Aswesuma | BENNET RATHNAYAKA | |
| Johnson and Gonson | ROY DE SILVA | ||
| KINIHIRIYA MAL | H.D.PREMARATHNA | ||
| 2000 | RE DANIYEL DAWAL MIGUEL-2 | ROY DE SILVA | |
| Undaya | K.A.W.PERERA | ||
| 1999 | AYADIMI SAMA | HEMASIRI SELLAPPERUMA | |
| BAHU BHARYA | UDAYAKANTHA WARNASOORIYA | ||
| PAVURU WALALU | PRASANNA VITHANAGE | ||
| 1998 | DORAKADA MARAWA | WASANTHA OBESEKARA | |
| SATHUYA KIRULA APE | SUNILSOMA PEIRIS | ||
| RE DANIYEL DAWAL MIGUEL | ROY DE SILVA | ||
| 1997 | NINJA SRI LANKA | ROBIN FERNADO | |
| MAHA MERA USATA | UDAYAKANTHA WARNASOORIYA | ||
| SOORAYO WEDA KARAYO | HEMASIRI SELLAPPERUMA | ||
| PUTHUNI MATA WASANA | SUNILSOMA PEIRIS | ||
| DUWATA MAWAKA MISA | SUMITRA PEIRIS | ||
| 1996 | HITHA HONDA NAM WARADINNE NE | W.RANJITH PERERA | |
| NARALOWA HOLMAN | DINESH PRIYASAD | ||
| RATHTHARAN MALLI | SUNILSOMA PEIRIS | ||
| Body Guard | UPALI PIYARATHNA | ||
| 1995 | CHANDIYAGE PUTHA | SUNILSOMA PEIRIS | |
| MARUTHAYA | WASANTHA OBESEKARA | ||
| WASANA WEWA | SUNILSOMA PEIRIS | ||
| 1994 | ARAGALAYA | CHRISTY SHELTON FERNANDO | |
| RAJA WANSEN EKEK | HEMASIRI SELLAPPERUMA | ||
| NOMIYENA MINISUN | GAMINI FONSEKA | ||
| LANDUNI OBA DEVANGANAKI | JAYANTHA DAS PERERA | ||
| 1993 | LASSANAI BALANNA | SUNILSOMA PEIRIS | |
| SAPTHA KANYA | H.D.PREMARATHNA | ||
| YASASA | ANANDA WICKRAMASINGHE | ||
| 1991 | It's a Matter of Time | Roy De Silva |
Awards
- Saroja - International awards
Audience award (Best film) - Dhaka International Film Festival (Bangladesh) 2000
Best Asian Film (Netpac Award) - Dhaka International Film Festival (Bangladesh) 2000
Bronze Award - Houston International Film Festival (USA) 2000
Special Award of the Festival - Pyongyang International Film Festival (Korea) 2000
Best Director - Iran International Film Festival (Isfahan - Iran) 2000
Best Performance (Pramudi & Nithyavani) - Iran International Film Festival (Isfahan - Iran) 2000
LivUllmann Peace Award - Chicago International Film Festival (USA) 2000
Audience Award -Vesoul International Film Festival (France) 2000