Sureni Senarath

Sureni Senarath (17 June 1959 – 26 May 2021), also known as සුරේනි සේනරත් in Sinhala, was a renowned actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre, and television.[1]

Family Background
Born on 17 June 1959 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sureni was the eldest child in her family. She received her education at Kalutara Balika National School and Rosemead Balika Vidyalaya in Colombo 8.[2] Throughout her life, she remained unmarried.[3]

Sureni came from a family with a strong connection to the film industry. Her father, Piyaratne Senarath, was a notable film actor, and her mother, Iranganie, was a film producer. She had a sister named Gayani and two brothers named Harsha and Prabhath, all of whom were involved in film coordination. Piyaratne, born in 1925, later worked in the Department of Immigration and Emigration. He appeared in several films, including "Vædibima," "Ruhuṇu Kumāri," "Dehadaka Duka," "Pickpockeṭ," "Kēsara Sinhayō," "Ada Mehemayi," and "Siril Mallī." He passed away in 2001. Piyaratne's younger brother, Navaratne Senarath, served as a member of the Sarasaviya Awards Jury and was the Director General of Sri Lanka Customs.[4]

Career
Sureni began her acting career in the film industry with her debut in the 1975 film "Amaraneeya Adare," which was produced by her mother and directed by Dayananda Jayawardena.[5] She produced the film "Mal Warusa" in 1986, where she also played a supporting role.[4] Despite having a relatively limited film career, she appeared in more than 25 films. A significant milestone in her film journey was the self-produced 1983 film "Loku Thaththa," directed by K. D. Dayananda. In this film, Sureni portrayed the role of a circus performer and went on to win the Lux Award for Best Upcoming Actress at the 1984 Sarasaviya Awards.[6]

Among her notable performances as an actress were in films such as "Chandi Raja" (1990), "Dalulana Gini" (1995), "Salupata Ahasata 2" (2000), and "Yalu Malu Yalu 2" (2018).[7][8] In addition to her film work, she showcased her talent as a teledrama actress in television serials like "Kaḷu Kapā Eḷi," "Bhumarangaya," and "Kindurangana."[9] Sureni also made a mark in the theatre world, starring in plays such as "Valākuḷu," "Yakaḍa Sapattu," and "Naralovaṭa Væḍa." During this time, she also held a position of responsibility at the Kataragama Resort.[4]

Apart from her acting pursuits, Sureni served as the Working Director of the Sri Lanka National Film Corporation.[4] She was associated with the United National Party for a period and actively participated in the Arts Organization.[5]

Death
On 26 May 2021, at the age of 61, Sureni Senarath passed away at Apeksha Hospital in Mahar