SRIYANI’S BIRTHDAY COINCIDES WITH 50TH YEAR IN MOVIES
She was Champa in Golu Hadawatha, Kalyani in Kalyani Ganga, Sundari in Desa Nisa, Nanda in Niwena Ginna, Vineetha in Ahasin Polowata, Soma in Sarungale, Sarojini in Viragaya, Sumali in Dese Mal Pipila - but above all she was the heartthrob of filmgoers for five decades. Dubbed the innocent romantic heroine of the Sinhala cinema, our superwoman of the day is Sriyani Amarasena.
Palamakumbura Herath Mudiyanselage Sriyani Weerakoon Kumarihamy became popular as Sriyani Amarasena after her marriage to veteran film journalist Arthur U. Amarasena.
The popular film star, producer and director will be celebrating her birthday this week and it will also mark her milestone 50th year in films.
“A birthday generally brings a blissful feeling which also comes with a feeling of sadness, but we have been used to suppress the gloom and share the glee. As I go down memory lane, I feel I had been extremely fortunate to become an artiste. It has been my most treasured landmark in life. For a girl who dreamt of becoming a nurse or doctor, destiny brought on a platter an acting career filled with glamour. How unpredictable is life,” Sriyani told Impulse.
“There is a long list of people who had helped, motivated and pushed me through this career, but I always feel I owe a lot to my parents who selflessly did every- thing possible for my betterment and happiness. My mother and father are no more today. And that vacuum makes me feel if I have done enough to give them back for what they did to me. That’s life. You always realize the value of something once it has gone beyond our reach. I remember the days when my husband and children organized birthday parties to make me happy. But my busy schedules did not provide me the luxury to do that to my parents.
“My past was fascinating and so is the present. I don’t know what the future will hold. I feel this is my last lap in life but I will always strive to lead a healthy lifestyle. My career and my life are two worlds that made what I am today. I love both those worlds. Our home which was filled with eight members until a few years ago, is today left with just two – myself and my husband Amare. My parents are no more. My children have sought solace in their own worlds beyond our homes, after marriage. The loneliness is painful but sweet memories of the past give us the strength to bear the solitude. Whenever my films are telecast on TV, friends and fans still call to congratulate me. What a delightful feeling! The numerous awards I have won in my five-decade career depict how rewarding the past had been! My mind is still clear just like my past and the present. This helps me look at the future in a positive frame of mind,” she said.
- Ramesh Uvais