Kala Keerthi Iranganie Roxanna Meedeniya, known widely as Iranganie Serasinghe, is a renowned actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater, and television. Throughout her illustrious career, she has earned recognition for portraying motherly figures in various films and TV serials. Interestingly, she is also the aunt of President Ranil Wickramasinghe.
Born on 9th June 1927 in Mudungomuwa, Ruwanwella, Sri Lanka, Iranganie is the daughter of Joseph Hercules Meedeniya, who held the esteemed position of Rate Mahatmaya of Ratnapura, and Violet Ellawela. Her family had notable political connections, with her paternal grandfather, J. H. Meedeniya Adigar, serving as an uncontested member of the Ruwanwella seat in the State Council. Her mother was the sister of Nanda Ellawala, a Member of Parliament for Ratnapura. Iranganie had three siblings, namely Indrani Meedeniya, Kamani Vitharana (who married Professor Tissa Vitharana), and Mahinda Meedeniya.
Her early connection with nature laid the foundation for her future as an environmental activist. During her schooling at Bishop's College, she actively participated in end-of-term plays. At Girls' High School, Kandy, while pursuing her Higher School Certificate (HSC), Iranganie played a prominent role in Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion." Despite her father's disapproval, she enrolled at the University of Ceylon in 1947, supported by her cousins. Tragically, her father passed away during her first year, a time when Marxist ideas were prevalent. During her time at the university, she immersed herself in the Ceylon theater scene under the guidance of Professor E. F. C. Ludowyk, and she also honed her dancing skills through lessons from Chitrasena.
Iranganie was the first student to study drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School under the tutelage of Professor Ludowyk. After completing her studies, she earned an Arts degree and journeyed to London with letters of recommendation from Ludowyk, following her marriage to Professor Dissanayake (though they later divorced). In London, with the help of actresses Flora Robson and Sybil Thorndike, she attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School for a year and the London School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art for two years.
Her personal life saw her married to a contemporary student at the university, who later became a specialist dentist, Professor S. B. Dissanayake. However, their marriage was short-lived. Subsequently, she married fellow actor Winston Serasinghe while both were performing in English stage plays. Despite a significant age difference of 17 years, the couple shared a loving relationship. They had two sons, Ravi and Ranjit. Unfortunately, her son Ravi passed away in an accident at the age of 31, and her husband Winston passed away in 1999.
After returning to Sri Lanka, Iranganie reunited with Ludowyk and Austrian Jew director Neuman Jubal, diving back into the world of theater. Her notable roles in the early Sinhala theater include performances in "Apata Puthe Magak Nethe" by Henry Jayasena and a Sinhala version of "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Damma Jagoda, as well as "Ves Muhunu" and "Porisadaya." She became the first Sri Lankan actress to receive academic training in acting.
Her cinematic journey began with her appearance in Lester James Peries' "Be Safe or Be Sorry" for the Government Film Unit. Soon after, she achieved fame for her role as 'Kathirinahamy,' a mother, in Peries' debut feature film "Rekava." Her exceptional performance in the film earned her the Deepashikha Award for Best Actress in 1956. With her new surname, Iranganie Serasinghe continued to garner praise for her roles in many of Peries' early works. She later won the Sarasaviya Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "Sagarayak Meda" in 1982. Notably, she received the Presidential Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2000 for her portrayal of a poor, elderly mother in the film "Sudu Sewaneli" directed by Sunil Ariyaratne.
In 2021, Iranganie Serasinghe was honored with a lifetime achievement award for her invaluable contributions to Sinhala cinema during the early decades of its existence. Throughout her remarkable career, she has left an indelible mark on the Sri Lankan entertainment industry as a respected and cherished figure.
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