Malini Fonseka

Malini Fonseka’s full name is Wanniarachchige Malini Senehelatha Fonseka. She Is a famous actress in Sri Lankan cinema, television, and theatre. She is also a director. She is also known as the queen of Sinhalese cinema. She was born on 30th April 1947, in Peliyagoda, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Her father’s name is Gilbert Fonseka, and he functioned at the government press, and her mother’s name is Seelwathie Fonseka. She is the third kid of eleven siblings. She was married to Upali Senanayake till 1980, after which she remarried Lucky Dias Lucky Dias was born Palandha Pathirage Lakshman Ca >> Read More... in 1986. Her family moved to Jambugasmulle after her birth. She got into St. John’s College until 5th grade. Her family relocated to Wedamulle, Kelaniya, where she got into Gurukula Maha Vidyalaya, and completed her studies. She started her career in acting through stage dramas.

Her first-ever stage appearance was in Noratha Ratha in 1968. She has performed in fourteen stage dramas and gained the best stage drama national award for her act in Akal Wessa. She entered into the movie industry with the help of one of her brothers, Ananda Fonseka. Her first debut was Punchi Baba. She also worked in Dahasak Sithuwili, Abudasse Kale, and Adarawanthayo in the same year. After this, she received many lead roles in several films. She has worked in over one hundred forty films. She has also performed in some international films. Other films she has performed in include Nidhanaya, Siripala Saha Ranmenika, Eya Den Loku Lamayek, and Bambaru Ewith.

She became both director and producer with Sasara Chetana. She has directed two films, Ahimsa and Sthree. She performed with a renowned Tamil actor, Shivaji Ganeshan, in Pilot Premanth. She also worked in multiple teledramas like Manalada Puthe Kiri Dunne, Pitagamkarayo, Kemmura, and Ambu Daruwo teledramas. She achieved the Sumathi Best Teledrama Award for performing in Pitagamkarayo and Kemmura. She was the first female teledrama director in the history of Sri Lankan teledrama. She acted in her first directed teledrama, Nirupamala. She then worked with Sunil Ariyaratne Bio coming soon... >> Read More... in a Buddhist dramatic film, Uppalawanna. She won a special Jury award at the Moscow International Film Festival.

She has received many Sarasaviya Awards for films like Hingana Kolla, Aradhana, and Yasa Isuru. She has received other honors, such as the Presidential Award, OCIC Award, and also international acknowledgment. A special ceremony was prepared for her to accept a Grateful Plaque by the Consulate General of Los Angeles, Jaliya Wickramasuriya. She was also honored with the Janabhimani Honorary Award at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. She was also appointed to a National United People’s Freedom Alliance list in the Sri Lanka Parliament in 2010.

In 2011, Malini played an important role in the film, Selvam with Shalani Tharaka Shalani Tharaka is a well-known Sri Lankan Televis >> Read More... . The next year, she played in the movie, Prathiroo. In 2015, Malini was seen in Bhavatharana, which was first premiered at the Delhi Film Festival. It was theatrically released in 2021. In 2016, she was seen in Saregama and in 2020, Malini played in Rookada Panchi. Udu Sulanga, Prathiravaya, Muthuetaye Modayo, Ayu, and Monara Vilak are some of her movies after 2022.

In 2025, Malini fell ill and was getting treatment in a private hospital in Colombo. On 24^th May 2025, Malini passed away at the hospital. Her final rites were held with State Honors on 26^th May 2025.