REMEMBERING G.W. SURENDRA

The 22nd death anniversary of Gunathilaka Wickrama Surendra (G.W. Surendra) fell on December 31. Born in 1932, he was known as a man who always strived to maintain quality in whatever he did. Though the new generation knew him as an actor especially after his role as Mr. Weerasekara in Yashorawaya, there was a much-distinguished journalist within Surendra. Surendra was basically a well-known film journalist who always looked for exciting stories, which were presented in equally exciting formats. He entered journalism, as a Sub Editor in the ‘Dina Dina’ magazine of Dr. Ananda Tissa de Alwis and in 1958 became the editor of Sri Lanka’s first off-set film magazine ‘Mela’. Later he launched another film journal called ‘Shoba’. Having joined Sugathapala de Silva’s ‘Ape Kattiya’ Surendra entered the world of acting, proving his prowess in several stage plays including Thattu Gewal, Hitha Honda Ammandi, Wes Muhunu, Duwili, Ranthodu and Bodinkarayo for which he won the best actor’s award at the state drama festival. He joined films in 1963, playing the role of Wije in Dr. Lester James Peries’ Gamperaliya and followed it up with movies like Delowak Athara (Journalist), Hara Lakshe (Rupananda), Welikathara (Police Officer), Hansa Wilak (Vasanthi’s brother), Dorakada Marawa (Sanath’s father) and noteworthy films including Thilaka Saha Thilaka, Sisila Gini Ganee, Maruthaya and Sinhabahu. He also acted in several tele dramas like Ranmasu Uyana, Eka Wahalak Yata, Sankranthi Samaya, Yashorawaya and others.