Rathnawali Kekunawela

George Rathnawali Kumarasiri Miguel, commonly known as Rathnawali Kekunawela, was a very well-known actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre, and television. She was born on January 20, 1931, in Deraniyagala, Sri Lanka. She had six siblings and she was the fourth child in the family. Her father’s name was Simon Miguel, and he worked as a tea maker on a Deraniyagala Nuri estate. Her mother’s name was Salina Fernando, who tragically passed away when Rathnawali was just six years old. Her father also died when she was sixteen years old, and this led her to move to Colombo to live with her parents.

Rathnawali had to change several schools due to her father’s job. She started at Beruwala Central College and then transferred to Kadugannawa Madya Maha Vidyalaya, Polgahawela Ratmalgoda Maha Vidyalaya, and finally, a private school in Colombo.  Her elder brother, Victor Miguel, also gained fame and made a place for himself as a famous theatre actor. Rathnawali met David Kekunawela during a family visit to Galle in 1954. He was a police officer working as a radio operator. David's parents were against their relationship and thus, they had to face separation for eight years and were finally united in 1956.

They eventually got married on November 29, 1957. Rathnawali and David were blessed with four sons, Nalaka, Thivanka, Ramalika, and Indika, and two daughters, Surathi Dasara and Surakshana Oshadhi. Unfortunately, her husband died in 2013. Rathnawali Kekunawela had a colorful career that spanned over six decades. She made her radio debut on November 29, 1951, in a play based on a short story by T.G. W. de Silva and produced by P. Welikala. She was just twenty years old when she made her debut.  

She has worked in iconic radio shows like "Muwan Palessa," where she played the roles of "Menike" and "Ethana Hami" from November 9, 1964, until she resigned due to protracted illness after fifty years of dedicated service. This show became a trademark in Sinhala drama history. It created a bright fantasy village known as "Muwan Palessa." Rathnawali also appeared in over thirty films. She made her debut in the 1967 blockbuster "Sath Samudura." Her motherly roles in the cinema got her much fame and acclaim.

Rathnawali Kekunawela also worked in stage dramas. Some of her works are "Ane Massine," "Uthure Rahula," and "Boralle Gedara." Remarkably, she has also portrayed the role of Sirimavo Bandaranaike in "Uthure Rahula." Rathnawali Kekunawela received the Merit Award at the Presidential Film Awards in 1984 for her role in "Dadayama" and a Merit Award at the Sumathi Awards in 2000 for "Warna Kambili."

Unfortunately, Rathnawali Kekunawela had to face health issues later. She met with a significant incident during the shooting of the tele serial "Sudu Piruwata," where she was wounded due to a wasp bite. Unfortunately, she had to withdraw from acting due to her health. Rathnawali Kekunawela left the world on April 7, 2018, at the age of eighty-seven. She was a famous actress who contributed immensely to the Sri Lankan cinema and theatre.