Geetha Kumaara Singhe

Kumara Vidugalage Dona Geetha Samanmalee Kumarasinghe, known widely as Geetha Kumarasinghe, is a renowned Sri Lankan film actress and a sitting Member of Parliament. Currently, she holds the esteemed position of State Minister of Women and Child Affairs.[1]

Geetha Kumarasinghe made her entry into the world of cinema in 1975 with her debut in the film "Wasana," directed by the veteran filmmaker K. A. W. Perera. However, it was Neil Rupasinghe's "Lassana Kella" that hit the screens first, setting the stage for her illustrious career. She quickly earned the moniker "the prettiest girl (සිංහල සිනමාවේ ලස්සන කෙල්ල)" on the Sri Lankan silver screen.

Over the years, Geetha Kumarasinghe has graced more than 80 films with her presence, leaving an indelible mark on the industry. Her exceptional talent and dedication have earned her the prestigious Sarasaviya Best Actress Award four times, in the years 1991, 1996, 2000, and 2004. She has also been honored with multiple Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Awards.

Geetha Kumarasinghe was born on July 5, 1945, in the picturesque village of Hamburugala, Bentara, Sri Lanka, where she was the eldest in her family.[2] Her father, Wijepala Kumarasinghe, initially served as a warehouse manager at the Navy Headquarters and later became a respected journalist, contributing columns and Buddhist articles. He also held the position of deputy editor at the 'Bauddhaya' newspaper for a period. Her mother, Udulawathi Siriwardena, was a homemaker. Geetha grew up in Bentara, Elpitiya, and received her education at Elpitiya Ananda College in Aluthgama and the Holy Family Convent in Kalutara. During her school years, she displayed her talents as a netball player and was an active member of the school's netball team. Geetha has five younger sisters, Nayana, Kokila, Dammika, Dinusha, Shyama, and two younger brothers, Thilak and Upendra.[3]

Despite her father's initial reservations about a career in film, Geetha's talent for singing and dancing was evident from a young age. Her journey to the silver screen began when she participated in the 'Avurudu Rupa Sundari' competition organized by the 'Savasa' newspaper in Bentota, at the urging of family friend Amitha Abeysekara. Geetha emerged victorious in this competition in 1973 when she was just 16 years old. During her participation in the beauty pageant, her mother was a constant source of support. Notably, Geetha's aunt, Anula Wickramapala, was a friend of the renowned director Lester James Peiris, and her aunt's mansion served as a location for his film "Ransalu." Young Geetha spent her school vacations in her aunt's house in Kollupitiya, where she would often mimic Punya Heendeniya, her childhood heroine.

Remarkably, Geetha Kumarasinghe signed contracts for 21 films before her debut film was even released, setting a record in Sri Lankan cinema. In 1975, she made her cinematic debut in K.A.W. Perera's "Vasana," but it was Neil Rupasinghe's "Lassana Kella" that reached theaters first. Throughout her career, Kumarasinghe took on controversial roles and even appeared in foreign films, including Pakistani, Hindi, Japanese, Tamil, and French productions. She shared the screen with the legendary Sivaji Ganesan in "Mohana Punnagai," released in 1981. While filming "Podi Malli" in Bambarakele, Nuwara Eliya, in 1976, she was involved in a serious car accident that led to plastic surgery on her face.[3]

Geetha Kumarasinghe garnered critical acclaim for her roles, including 'Dulcie' in "Pembara Madhu," 'Dotty' in "Palama Yata," 'Punna' in "Lokuduwa," and 'Amali' in "Ran Diya Dahara." The novel "Palama Yata," authored by Kulasena Fonseka, was adapted into a film, with Geetha in the lead role as well as serving as the producer. This film earned her 10 awards at the 1991 Sarasaviya Awards, 09 awards at the Swarna Sankha Awards, 07 OCIC Awards, and a total of 26 awards. Geetha Kumarasinghe achieved the remarkable feat of winning both the Best Actress Award and the Best Producer Award for this film. Additionally, it became the highest-grossing film of all time at the Regal Cinema, running for 100 consecutive days. She also represented Sri Lanka at the 1990 Singapore International Film Festival with this film.[3]

In 2006, Geetha Kumarasinghe launched her official website with a ceremony held at Water's Edge in Battaramulla. As a film producer, she went on to produce notable films such as "Salambak Handai," "Loku Duwa," "Anuragaye Ananthaya," "Wasuli," and "Geetha."[7] Both "Palama Yata" and "Loku Duwa," her productions, earned her the Best Film Awards at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival.