Somsiri Sanath Julien Gunatilake, popularly known as Sanath Gunatilake, is a veteran actor, director, and screenwriter in the Sri Lankan cinema industry. Born on 27th October 1955 in Mulgampola, Kandy, Sri Lanka, he hails from a middle-class family. His father, Hector Gunatilake, was a lawyer, and his mother, Grace Goonetileke, was a teacher. Growing up, Gunatilake was exposed to cinema due to his father's fondness for it, which ignited his passion for the arts from an early age. He received his education at Kingswood College in Kandy, where he completed his GCE O/L examinations but did not achieve the desired results in his A/L examinations.
Initially, Gunatilake worked as a chemistry teacher but eventually relocated to Colombo in search of new employment opportunities, leaving his tuition classes in Kandy behind.
Gunatilake entered the world of cinema in 1978 with his debut film, "Situ Kumariyo," directed by Vijaya Dharmasiri. However, before the release of his first film, his second film, "Ganga Addara," hit the screens, followed by "Sathweni Dawasa." After the release of "Situ Kumariyo," his next film, "Vajira," was screened. The turning point in his acting career came with his notable role in Sumitra Peries' film, "Ganga Addara." Gunatilake's most significant achievement as an actor was his portrayal of 'Aravinda' in the film "Viragaya," for which he won Best Actor awards at numerous film festivals in Sri Lanka. He has appeared in several high-profile films, including "Kedapatha," "Palama Yata," "Doorkada Marawa," and "Rajya Sevaya Pinisai."
In addition to his dramatic roles, Gunatilake has also made appearances in commercial films alongside actors such as Vijaya Kumaratunga, Jeewan Kumaratunga, and Ranjan Ramanayake in movies like "Koti Waligaya," "Dinuma," "Raja Wedakarayo," "Nommara 17," "Obatai Priye Adare," and "Inspector Geetha."
Besides his involvement in the film industry, Gunatilake served as a member of the Western Provincial Council as a member of the United National Party. Later on, he joined as the media head of President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
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