Samaraweera Asoka Ponnamperuma (born 3 May 1936 – died 2 April 1993 as අශෝක පොන්නම්පෙරුම) [Sinhala]) was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a singer, scriptwriter and filmmaker.[1][2] Considered as "Sri Lanka's Sivaji Ganeshan", Ponnamperuma has acted more than 40 films in a career spanned for more than three decades.[3]
He was born on 3 May 1936 in Colombo. His father Don Charles Ponnamperuma was a journalist, who worked as editor-in-chief of the Buddhist paper Sinhala Bauddhaya in 1950. His mother was Premawansha Mithrawaththa. Ashoka completed his education from Ananda College.[4]
He was married to a fellow film actress, Manel Lona Elizabeth Perera. The wedding was celebrated on 4 December 1965. Manel first acted in the film Deepashika and then appeared in few films such as Sihina Hathak, Sekaya, Layata Laya, Ruhunu Kumari and Sanda Nega Eddi. The couple has three sons - Anuradha, Sumedha, Chaminda and one daughter, Manjula.[4] Asoka and Manel co-acted in few films such as Layata Laya, Dehadaka Duka, Ruhunu Kumari and London Hamu.[3]
He died on 2 April 1993 at the age of 56 from heart attack.[5] Although all funeral work is to be completed within 24 hours after his death, his request was unable to comply due to curfew in the country and the delay in the post mortem.[4][3]
Career
At the age of 14, he started to act in school stage dramas. Then he mastered music under R. A. Chandrasena. He won the first place in all island music competition in that year, which got the attention from musician Lionel Edirisinghe. Asoka met his acting hero L. M. Perera in a tea shop and asked about acting in a film.[4] After few days, he received a message about a role and moved to Colombo. In 1958, his maiden cinema acting came through the film Suneetha directed by P. Neelakantan with a dual role.[6] Then he acted in many popular films such as Sihinaya, Sundara Birinda, Suwineetha Lalani, Ganthera and Samiya Birindage Deviyaya.[1] In 1969, he won the award for the Best Supporting actor for the film Indunila at Sarasaviya Film Festival.[4]
Asoka wrote the book Mal Manda Bisaw which is based on a true story about a prostitute that he met at Maradana Police Station. Then he wrote the book Ai Mata Mehema Une.[3] By using the book, he script his first film direction Pradeepa which was screened on 2 July 1982.[4]
^"All about Samiya Birindage Deviyaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
^"Tale of the 'poor man's hero'". Daily News. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
^"All about "Maha Ra Hamuwu Sthriya"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
^"All about Suhada Pathuma". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
^"'Shanthi' on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
External links
January 07, 2023
asoka, ponnamperuma, samaraweera, born, 1936, died, april, 1993, අශ, නම, sinhala, actor, lankan, cinema, well, singer, scriptwriter, filmmaker, considered, lanka, sivaji, ganeshan, ponnamperuma, acted, more, than, films, career, spanned, more, than, three, dec. Samaraweera Asoka Ponnamperuma born 3 May 1936 died 2 April 1993 as අශ ක ප න නම ප ර ම Sinhala was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a singer scriptwriter and filmmaker 1 2 Considered as Sri Lanka s Sivaji Ganeshan Ponnamperuma has acted more than 40 films in a career spanned for more than three decades 3 Asoka Ponnamperuma අශ ක ප න නම ප ර මBornSamaraweera Asoka Ponnamperuma 1936 05 03 May 3 1936Colombo Sri LankaDiedApril 2 1993 1993 04 02 aged 56 ColomboNationalitySri LankanEducationAnanda CollegeOccupation s Actor Dramatist Singer DirectorYears active1948 1984SpouseManel Lona Elizabeth Perera m 1965 Children4AwardsBest Supporting Actor Contents 1 Personal life 2 Career 3 Filmography 4 References 5 External linksPersonal life EditHe was born on 3 May 1936 in Colombo His father Don Charles Ponnamperuma was a journalist who worked as editor in chief of the Buddhist paper Sinhala Bauddhaya in 1950 His mother was Premawansha Mithrawaththa Ashoka completed his education from Ananda College 4 He was married to a fellow film actress Manel Lona Elizabeth Perera The wedding was celebrated on 4 December 1965 Manel first acted in the film Deepashika and then appeared in few films such as Sihina Hathak Sekaya Layata Laya Ruhunu Kumari and Sanda Nega Eddi The couple has three sons Anuradha Sumedha Chaminda and one daughter Manjula 4 Asoka and Manel co acted in few films such as Layata Laya Dehadaka Duka Ruhunu Kumari and London Hamu 3 He died on 2 April 1993 at the age of 56 from heart attack 5 Although all funeral work is to be completed within 24 hours after his death his request was unable to comply due to curfew in the country and the delay in the post mortem 4 3 Career EditAt the age of 14 he started to act in school stage dramas Then he mastered music under R A Chandrasena He won the first place in all island music competition in that year which got the attention from musician Lionel Edirisinghe Asoka met his acting hero L M Perera in a tea shop and asked about acting in a film 4 After few days he received a message about a role and moved to Colombo In 1958 his maiden cinema acting came through the film Suneetha directed by P Neelakantan with a dual role 6 Then he acted in many popular films such as Sihinaya Sundara Birinda Suwineetha Lalani Ganthera and Samiya Birindage Deviyaya 1 In 1969 he won the award for the Best Supporting actor for the film Indunila at Sarasaviya Film Festival 4 Asoka wrote the book Mal Manda Bisaw which is based on a true story about a prostitute that he met at Maradana Police Station Then he wrote the book Ai Mata Mehema Une 3 By using the book he script his first film direction Pradeepa which was screened on 2 July 1982 4 Filmography EditYear Film Role Ref 1958 Suneetha1958 Sihinaya1959 Sirimali1960 Sundara Birinda1961 Ganthera1961 Suvineetha Lalani1962 Suhada Divi Piduma1963 Suhada Sohoyuro1964 Heta Pramada Wadi1964 Kala Kala De Pala Pala De1964 Subasarana Sapa Sithe1964 Samiya Birindage Deviyaya Doctor Nihal 7 1964 Patachara1964 Sasaraka Hati1964 Sithaka Mahima 8 1965 Sathutu Kandulu1965 Hithata Hitha1965 Sweep Ticket1966 Athulweema Thahanam1966 Layata laya1966 Sudu Duwa1966 Sanda Naga Eddi1966 Sanasili Suwaya1966 Maha Re Hamuwu Sthriya 9 1967 Ranrasa1967 Ipadune Ai1967 Iwasana Dana1968 London Hamu1968 Hangi Hora1968 Indunila1968 Dehadaka Duka1969 Kohomada Wade1969 Pick Poket1969 Pancha1973 Suhada Pathuma Lalitha s husband 10 1973 Sinavai Inavai1974 Shanthi 11 1975 Hadawathaka Wasanthaya Sriyani s father1975 Damayanthi1975 Sadhana1976 Ran Thilaka1977 Sudu Paraviyo Vasala Nilame1979 Jeevana Kandulu1979 Ran Kurullo Soysa1984 KokilaReferences Edit a b Asoka Ponnamperuma 26th death anniversary Daily Mirror Retrieved 9 October 2019 Asoka Ponnamperuma filmography IMDb Retrieved 9 October 2019 a b c d Children s Memoirs of Sivaji Idol in Sinhala Cinema Sarasaviya Retrieved 9 October 2019 a b c d e f ආනන දය න ප ල යන Napoleon of Ananda started career with Suneetha Sarasaviya Retrieved 9 October 2019 Asoka Ponnamperuma 19th death anniversary Daily Mirror Retrieved 9 October 2019 Asoka Ponnamperuma 1936 1993 films Sinhala Cinema Database Retrieved 9 October 2019 All about Samiya Birindage Deviyaya Sarasaviya Retrieved 23 December 2017 Tale of the poor man s hero Daily News Retrieved 9 October 2019 All about Maha Ra Hamuwu Sthriya Sarasaviya Retrieved 2021 01 10 All about Suhada Pathuma Sarasaviya Retrieved 21 September 2016 Shanthi on Rupavahini Sunday Times Retrieved 9 October 2019 External links Edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Asoka Ponnamperuma amp oldid 1106492920, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
