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Jeewan Kumaranatunga

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Hon.
Jeewan Kumaranatunga
ජීවන් කුමාරතුංග
Minister of Youth Affairs
In office
2000–2001
Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs
Minister of Lands & Land Development
In office
2007–2010
Minister of Posts & Telecommunication
In office
2010–2015
Member of Parliament
for Colombo
In office
1994–2015
Personal details
Born (1958-11-07) November 7, 1958 (age 66)
Seeduwa, Sri Lanka
Political partySri Lanka Freedom Party
Other political
affiliations		United People's Freedom Alliance
SpouseShereen Senaratne (m. 1986)
RelationsVijaya Kumaranatunga, Ranjan Ramanayake
Children3
Parent
  • Sydney Kumaranatunga (father)
Residence(s)26 Nandimithra Place, Colombo 06
Alma materCarey College, Colombo
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionFilm Actor

Jeewan Kumaranatunga (born 7 November 1958: Sinhala: ජීවන් කුමාරතුංග), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television, who later became a politician, a former member of the parliament and a former cabinet minister.[1] He is a close relative of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the nephew of actor and politician Vijaya Kumaratunga.[2]

Family

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He was born on 7 November 1958 in Seeduwa. His father Sydney Kumaranatunga was also a film actor who acted in Ran Onchilla. Sydney's brother, Vijaya was a renowned actor and politician. Jeewan completed his education from Carey College, Colombo.[3] His grandfather Benjamin Ralahami also acted in several plays during the Towerhall era.[2]

Jeewan is married to his longtime partner Sherin and they have two daughters - Malsha and Maleesha and one son, Harshamana.[4]

Kumaranatunga's daughter, Malsha, successfully contested the Colombo district seat on the Western Provincial Council in 2014.[5][6]

Cinema career

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Jeevan first acted in school plays while studying at Carey College, Colombo. After joining the scouting troupe, Bermin Laili Fernando encouraged him to act on the school stage. He later made many school plays and performed in bonfire scenes. His play won first place in Sri Lanka's youth talent jamboree as well. Even after leaving school, he established the Sarasavi art circle and performed plays in the village.[2]

Jeevan first came to acting as a stage actor. He performed about two plays a year on the Polkota Udahadana stage of the University Art Institute established in his village in Seeduwa. After that, he came to get a chance to act for Sudharshi Theatre where he got the opportunity to act in stage dramas like Devlowa Yanakam, Nāyakayā, Juliyā, and Katharagama Rūmathiya. It was during this time that he got an invitation from Ratnaweera de Silva to join the lead role in the film Thani Tharuva. But its producers protested as the shooting approached to cast me in the lead role. At that time, Sanath Gunathilaka who had acted in about five films, was cast as the main character and Jeevan was cast as the villain. There he got to play the role of a "school student".[2]

One of Sri Lanka's best commercially successful film artists, Kumaranatunga started his cinema career alongside his uncle, Vijaya. His maiden cinema acting came through Thani Tharuwa, even though it was released in 1982.[3] His first screened film was Ganga Addara, where he acted in a minor role as Liyana Mahaththaya. He acted in more than 90 films across many genres over the last two decades.[7] He started the cinema through the villainous characters, acted as the main villain in many films such Jaya Sikuruyi, Obaṭa Divurā Kiyannam, Nævatha Hamuvemu, Suraduthiyō, Rūmathiyayi Neethiyayi, and Prārthanā.[2]

He started a very successful journey through his own production, Hitha Honda Chandiya, setting huge records in the cinema. Næva Gilūnath Bǣn Chūn, Mamayi Rajā, Nommara 17, Okkoma Rajavaru, Hitha Honda Sellam, Rajadaruvō, and Come ō Gō Chicāgō reached the pinnacle of acting. His first romantic heroic role came through 1984 film Hitha Honda Kollek directed by Roy de Silva. After that he continued to receive many heroic protagonist roles.[3] During this period, he usually acted with Anoja Weerasinghe, which made them a cinema couple for many years. Some of the most popular Jeewan-Anoja couple films include Mamai Raja, Obata Rahasak Kiyannam, Newatha Api Ekwemu, Randenigala Sinhaya, Yukthiyata Wada, Veera Udara and Esala Sanda. In 1990, he won the Sarasaviya award for the Most Popular Actor.[3]

He acted in about ten television serials, such as Rana Kahawanu, Sudu Paraviyo, Hingana Kolla and Amarapuraya. He produced seven films as a film producer, such as Randeṇigala Sinhayā, Aesala Sanda, Mama Obē Hithavathā, Kadirā, Mē Vaārē Magē, Koṭisanā and Wali Sulanga.[3] But later on, as he got busy with politics, film production got away from him. Ninety percent of the commercial films in which he has acted are very successful as a large number of the films crossed the hundred day mark. He also got to contribute to several dramatic films such as Keḷi Maḍala, Thunveni Aehæ, and Sathyādēvi. He even won the Sarasaviya award for the best supporting actor for the role in the film Kelimandala and also received merit awards.[2]

Politics

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In 1991, he went to the Southern Provincial Council election and fulfilled a great responsibility. Then in the 1993 provincial council election, he contested from the Colombo district and won first place. Later he contested the 1994 general election and ranked third in the Colombo district. After that, he got to work in various ministerial positions in the parliament for 23 years. During that time, he ran for five elections and won every time.[2]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
1980 Ganga Addara Liyana Mahaththaya
1981 Hondama Naluwa
1981 Saranga
1982 Bicycle Voice Dubber, Ajith (voice - pool scene)
1982 Thani Tharuwa Ranil
1982 Nawatha Hamuwemu Jagath
1983 Rathu Makara Jayantha
1984 Hitha Honda Kollek
1984 Jaya Sikurayi
1985 Puthuni Mata Samawenna
1985 Doringe Sayanaya
1985 Obata Diwura Kiyannam
1985 Du Daruwo
1985 Sura Duthiyo
1986 Prarthana
1986 Asipatha Mamai Akalanka
1986 Peralikarayo Sunny
1986 Jaya Apitai Disable prisoner
1986 Sinha Pataw Jeevan
1987 Hitha Honda Chandiya Jinadasa, (also as producer of film)
1987 Ahinsa Raj Ranathilaka
1988 Rasa Rahasak
1988 Gedera Budun Amma Inspector Romesh
1988 Nawa Gilunath Ban Chun Suresh Gunathilake
1988 Nawatha Api Ekwemu Sanjaya/Vishwa
1988 Mamai Raja Ruwan Ranatunga
1989 Okkoma Rajawaru
1989 Obata Rahasak Kiyannam
1989 Nommara 17 Inspector Mahesh
1989 Sinasenna Ratharan Shakthi
1989 Waradata Danduwama
1989 Randenigala Sinhaya Raju, (also as producer of film)
1990 Thanha Asha Suresh
1990 Yukthiyata Wada Krishan Wasantha
1990 Weera Udara
1990 Saharave Sihinaya
1990 Pem Raja Dahana Corporal Malan
1990 Madu Sihina Raja aka Raju
1990 Chandi Raja Michael
1990 Honda Honda Sellan Inspector Srinath
1990 Hitha Honda Puthek Sena
1991 Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya Jagath [8]
1991 Keli Madala Jayendra
1991 Raja Sellan
1991 Esala Sanda Janaka Mahanama / Asoka (as producer)
1991 Ran Hadawatha Anthony
1991 Bambara Kalape Captain Raju
1991 Ma Obe Hithawatha Dharme (as producer)
1992 Ranabime Veeraya
1992 Raja Daruwo Jeevan Kaluperuma
1992 Sakwithi Raja
1992 Me Ware Mage
1992 Rumathiyay Nithiyay Jagath
1992 Oba Mata Vishwasayi Jagath
1992 Suranimala Suranimala
1992 Muwan Palessey Kadira (as producer)
1992 Rajek Wage Puthek
1992 Sayanaye Sihinaya
1993 Wali Sulanga Ashen Ranasinghe, (also as producer of film)
1993 Come O' Go Chicago Wickremasinghe Mudaiyanselage Vijayendra 'Vijay' Karunanayake
1993 Jeevan Malli Jeevan
1993 Thrishule Jeevan
1993 Lassanai Balanna Ajith
1993 Suraweera Chandiyo Raja
1994 Shakthi
1995 Edath Chandiya Adath Chandiya Podde ayya
1995 Chandini Pradeep Jayasekara
1996 Sihina Wimane Raja Kumari Inspector Prasad Vijaynayake
1996 Ratharan Malli Kasun
1996 Naralowa Holman Don Jackson 'Jackie' Salgadu
1996 Thunweni Aha
1997 Puthuni Mata Wasana Sampath
1997 Raththaran Minihek
1997 Good Buy Tokyo
1999 Koti Sana Sana
1999 Sathyadevi Wilbert 'Aiyya'[9]
2001 Oba Magema Wewa Kanishka
2002 Sansara Prarthana
2002 Seethala Gini Kandu Sunny
2003 Hitha Honda Pisso Dharme
2004 Randiya Dahara Lieutenant Colonel Viraj Thenuwara
2006 Dedunu Wessa
2006 Supiri Balawatha Hilton
2007 Wada Bari Tarzan Professor Devaka
2007 Hai Master Saman
2008 Nadigai Tamil film
2009 Ali Surathal Ravi
2011 Mahindagamanaya King Devanampiyatissa
2014 Siri Daladagamanaya King Guhasiva
2014 Parapura
2015 Maharaja Ajasath King Bimbisara
2016 Puthandiya Dharme
2020 Sheleena
2023 Swara
TBD Hamlet Post production[10]
TBD Jeewa [11][12][13]
TBD Abhisheka cameo role [14]
TBD Nuhuru Vaeyama cameo role [15]

References

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  1. ^ "තාමත් ඉටු නොවුණේ එකම බලාපොරොත්තුවයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "I didn't go for character worship in art films: Jeevan Kumaratunga". සරසවිය. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Popular actor of Sinhala cinema - Jeevan Kumaratunga". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  4. ^ "ජීවන්ගේ වැඩිමහල් දියණිය දේශපාලනයට". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  5. ^ Newsfirst takes a closer look at how stars shone at the elections
  6. ^ "Elections for Western and Southern PCs on March 29: Political parties bracing for election campaigns". Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  7. ^ "Jeevan Kumaratunga". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  8. ^ "All about "Sinhayangeth Sinhaya"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  9. ^ "'Sathyadevi' comes with a human touch". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  10. ^ "Hamlet to Sinhala cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Jeewan turns director". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  12. ^ "'Jeewa' completes shooting". Sunday Times. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  13. ^ "Come in the spring with flowers to love: Jeevan and Sangeetha plays lovers after a long time". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  14. ^ "අභියෝගයට අභියෝගයක්". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  15. ^ "අපරාධයක් වසන් කළ නොහැකිය නුහුරු වෑයම". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
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