Seetha Kumari

Kumari was born on 9 May 1940 in Ehelepola village, Matale.{{cite web | url=http://www.divaina.com/2013/08/09/cineart05.html | title=Feedback from the audience is like a bond from the spirit | publisher=Divaina | access-date=25 January 2020}} She has one son, Pradeep Kumara Abeyratne, who currently lives in Italy.{{cite web | url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20121224/282346857137940 | title=I was nervous initially | publisher=Daily Mirror | access-date=25 January 2020}}

She died on 7 August 2013 due to a sudden heart attack at the age of 73.{{cite web | url=http://archives.dinamina.lk/2013/08/08/_art.asp?fn=n1308089 | title=Veteran actress Seetha Kumari dies | publisher=Dinamina| access-date=25 January 2020}} After the body being placed in the Colombo Art Gallery on 10 August 2013 from 10 am to 4 pm, funeral took place on the same day at Borella Cemetery.

Her elder sister was married to Matale. After the husband's sudden death, Kumari with her son stayed at elder sister's house. The son was three years old at that time. One day, Ananda Jayaratne came to the house of sister to meet sister's son. When Ananda saw her that day, he asked to act in his film. She entered the cinema industry in 1968 with Ananda Jayaratne's film Adarai Karunavai with the role as a "servant".{{cite web | url=https://lankatruth.com/si/රංගන-ශිල්පිණී-සීතා-කුමාර/ | title=Actress Seetha Kumarihami has passed away | publisher=lankatruth| access-date=25 January 2020}} She was 25 years old at that time. She acted in more than 60 films since 1968 until her last appearance in 2011 film Sinhawalokanaya.{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4729864/ | title=Seetha Kumari Ehalepola (1940–2013) | publisher=IMDb| access-date=25 January 2020}} Some of her popular films include Desa Nisa, Wathsala Akka, Ran Salu, Akkara Paha and Segawunu Menika.{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2013/08/15/?fn=sa1308158 | title=Grandma's departure | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=25 January 2020}}

After the cinema, Kumari started to act in Dhamma Jagoda's stage plays. Some of her popular stage plays are Wes Muhuna, Weniyan Kalu Weniyan and Wessanthara. Kumari learnt dancing from Shesha Palihakkara. After filmmaker A.B. Raj saw her at an exhibition, she offered a role in his film Ramyalatha. Her first lead role in films came through film Sirimalee. Then in 1960, she played the lead role opposite to Gamini Fonseka in the film Pirimiyek Nisa. However, she quit from cinema due to father's death in the following year.

Her maiden television acting came through Dath Kekulu Paala directed by Sriyani Amarasena in 1990. Since then, she acted in many popular serials including, Giju, Saapa Nokarav Daruwane, Girikula, Ramya Suramya, Maya, Dussaranayo and Ulamage Rathriya.{{cite web | url=https://www.lifie.lk/2019/10/19/loving-mothers-of-sri-lankan-tele-dramas/ | title=Moms and grandparents leaving the screen | publisher=lifie.lk| access-date=25 January 2020}} She continued to act in single episode poya day television serials Sansare Piya Satahan directed by Ananda Abenayake and Sitha Niwana Katha directed by Dayaratne Ratagedara for many years with the role "Granny".

• Dath Kekulu Paala
• Dooli Pinatharu{{cite web | url=http://www.divaina.com/2011/11/20/meewitha03.html | title=Doowili Pinatharu | publisher=Divaina | access-date=25 January 2020}}
• Dussaranayo
• Eka Iththaka Mal
• Giju
• Girikula
• Maya
• Meghayen Eha{{cite web | url=http://papper.gossiplankahotnews.com/2013/08/blog-post_10.html?m=0 | title=Grandma has gone | publisher=gossiplankahotnews | access-date=25 January 2020}}
• Monarathanna
• Nannadunanni
• Ramya Suramya
• Ran Samanalayo{{cite web | url=http://hothotlanka.blogspot.com/2011/10/seetha-kumari.html | title=Chat with Seetha Kumari | publisher=hothotlanka| access-date=25 January 2020}}
• Saapa Nokarav Daruwane
• Sanda Mudunata{{cite web | url=http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2005/04/17/fea20.html | title=Sanda Mudunata: Pavel's TV venture | publisher=Sunday Observer | access-date=25 January 2020}}
• Sansare Piya Satahan
• Sitha Niwana Katha
• Smarana Samapthi{{cite web | url=http://www.thecolombopost.net/entertainment/11550/ | title=Smarana Samapthi special screening | publisher=The Colombo Post| access-date=25 January 2020}}
• Ulamage Rathriya

Kumari has received many awards at local drama festivals.

• Presidential Award in 1986 for the film Wathsala Akka
• Critics Award for the film Tharanaya in 1998
• Best Supporting Actress at Sumathi Awards in 2000 for the serial Nannadunanni{{cite web |url=http://www.aniwa.lk/2017/11/01/1711011-sweet-memories-of-long-gone-stars/ |title=Stars that shape our telly screen and say goodbye to us |publisher=aniwa.lk |access-date=30 November 2019}}
• Presidential Award in 2005 for the film Pawuru Walalu
• Excellence Awards at Sarasaviya Film Festival in 2008

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Category:2013 deaths

Category:1940 births

Category:Sri Lankan film actresses