Jeewan Kumaranatunga
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
Bornnamedone
(1958-11-07) November 7, 1958
Seeduwa, Sri Lanka
Diednamedone
Resting placenamedone
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

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

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

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

YearFilmRole
1980Ganga AddaraLiyana Mahaththaya
1981Hondama Naluwa
1981Saranga
1982BicycleVoice Dubber, Ajith (voice - pool scene)
1982Thani TharuwaRanil
1982Nawatha HamuwemuJagath
1983Rathu MakaraJayantha
1984Hitha Honda Kollek
1984Jaya Sikurayi
1985Puthuni Mata Samawenna
1985Doringe Sayanaya
1985Obata Diwura Kiyannam
1985Du Daruwo
1985Sura Duthiyo
1986Prarthana
1986Asipatha MamaiAkalanka
1986PeralikarayoSunny
1986Jaya ApitaiDisable prisoner
1986Sinha PatawJeevan
1987Hitha Honda ChandiyaJinadasa, (also as producer of film)
1987AhinsaRaj Ranathilaka
1988Rasa Rahasak
1988Gedera Budun AmmaInspector Romesh
1988Nawa Gilunath Ban ChunSuresh Gunathilake
1988Nawatha Api EkwemuSanjaya/Vishwa
1988Mamai RajaRuwan Ranatunga
1989Okkoma Rajawaru
1989Obata Rahasak Kiyannam
1989Nommara 17Inspector Mahesh
1989Sinasenna RatharanShakthi
1989Waradata Danduwama
1989Randenigala SinhayaRaju, (also as producer of film)
1990Thanha AshaSuresh
1990Yukthiyata WadaKrishan Wasantha
1990Weera Udara
1990Saharave Sihinaya
1990Pem Raja DahanaCorporal Malan
1990Madu SihinaRaja aka Raju
1990Chandi RajaMichael
1990Honda Honda SellanInspector Srinath
1990Hitha Honda PuthekSena
1991Sihina Ahase WasanthayaJagath [8]
1991Keli MadalaJayendra
1991Raja Sellan
1991Esala SandaJanaka Mahanama / Asoka (as producer)
1991Ran HadawathaAnthony
1991Bambara KalapeCaptain Raju
1991Ma Obe HithawathaDharme (as producer)
1992Ranabime Veeraya
1992Raja DaruwoJeevan Kaluperuma
1992Sakwithi Raja
1992Me Ware Mage
1992Rumathiyay NithiyayJagath
1992Oba Mata VishwasayiJagath
1992SuranimalaSuranimala
1992Muwan Palessey Kadira(as producer)
1992Rajek Wage Puthek
1992Sayanaye Sihinaya
1993Wali SulangaAshen Ranasinghe, (also as producer of film)
1993Come O' Go ChicagoWickremasinghe Mudaiyanselage Vijayendra 'Vijay' Karunanayake
1993Jeevan MalliJeevan
1993ThrishuleJeevan
1993Lassanai BalannaAjith
1993Suraweera ChandiyoRaja
1994Shakthi
1995Edath Chandiya Adath ChandiyaPodde ayya
1995ChandiniPradeep Jayasekara
1996Sihina Wimane Raja KumariInspector Prasad Vijaynayake
1996Ratharan MalliKasun
1996Naralowa HolmanDon Jackson 'Jackie' Salgadu
1996Thunweni Aha
1997Puthuni Mata WasanaSampath
1997Raththaran Minihek
1997Good Buy Tokyo
1999Koti SanaSana
1999SathyadeviWilbert 'Aiyya'[9]
2001Oba Magema WewaKanishka
2002Sansara Prarthana
2002Seethala Gini KanduSunny
2003Hitha Honda PissoDharme
2004Randiya DaharaLieutenant Colonel Viraj Thenuwara
2006Dedunu Wessa
2006Supiri BalawathaHilton
2007Wada Bari TarzanProfessor Devaka
2007Hai MasterSaman
2009Ali SurathalRavi
2011MahindagamanayaKing Devanampiyatissa
2014Siri DaladagamanayaKing Guhasiva
2014Parapura
2015Maharaja AjasathKing Bimbisara
2016PuthandiyaDharme
2020Sheleena
2023Swara
TBDHamletPost production[10]
TBDJeewa[11][12][13]
TBDAbhishekacameo role [14]
TBDNuhuru Vaeyamacameo role [15]

References

  1. "තාමත් ඉටු නොවුණේ එකම බලාපොරොත්තුවයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "I didn't go for character worship in art films: Jeevan Kumaratunga". සරසවිය. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "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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