Leena de Silva
ලීනා ද සිල්වා
Born
Liyanage Don Leena Piyasili de Silva

(1936-10-30)30 October 1936
Colombo, British Ceylon
Died1 December 2023(2023-12-01) (aged 87)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationAnanda Balika Vidyalaya, Kotte
Occupation(s)Actress, Director
Years active1954–2001
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1960; died 1978)​
Children2
Parents
  • Don Simon de Silva (father)
  • Alice Silva (mother)

Liyanage Don Leena Piyasili de Silva (Sinhala: ලියනගේ දොන් ලීනා පියසිලි ද සිල්වා; 30 October 1936 – 1 December 2023), popularly referred to as Leena de Silva (Sinhala: ලීනා ද සිල්වා), was a Sri Lankan actress who worked in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television.[1][2] One of the earliest pillars of Sri Lankan cinema, de Silva contributed many critically-acclaimed films of her generation, with a career spanning more than six decades.[3]

Personal life

Liyanage Don Leena Piyasili de Silva was born on 30 October 1936 in Maligakanda, Colombo.[4] Her father, Don Simon de Silva worked as a supervisor at Ceylon Cargo Board Company. Her mother was Alice Silva. She had two sisters, Trilicia Kusuma and Merlyn Thilaka and one brother, Jayampath Sam. She completed education from Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Kotte.[5]

De Silva was married to fellow actor Ravindra Rupasena from 11 November 1960 to his death in 1978.[6] She met Rupasena during her maiden film Ahankara Sthree and then the couple appeared in many films together, including Surathali, Sohoyuro, Sundara Birinda, Suneetha and Nalagana. The couple had one son and one daughter. Her son, Bimal Yoga Sri was born on 13 September 1961, and her daughter Poorna Priyadarshani was born on 1 June 1963.[7] Poorna is a talented lyricist.[5]

Rupasena's younger sister was married to film producer Stanley de Silva. Rupasena had one brother, W.A. Keerthisena. Rupasena died from heart attack on 15 April 1978 at the age of 49. At the time of his death, he was working as a Planner at the Irrigation Department in Colombo.[7] Leena moved to Canada in 1991 and lived in Pickering, Ontario with her children.[8]

Death

De Silva died on 1 December 2023, at the age of 87. She was living in Toronto, Ontario at the time, and was survived by her two children.[9]

Career

In the English class of school, de Silva played the lead role in the play Pipe Piper Model. It was her first performance on stage. During school times at the age of 12, she learned dancing from renowned dancer and actor Shesha Palihakkara, who introduced Leena on to the cinema screen.[6] Her maiden cinematic appearance came through 1954 film Ahankara Sthree along with her future husband Ravindra Rupasena while in grade 9 at the school. She performed a dance sequence as Lanka Matha in it.[10] Then Cyril P. Abeyratne was looking for an artiste to play the lead female role in his film Surathali in 1956.[8][5] In 1955, she won the fifth place at the "Panch Kalyani beauty pageant".[7]

Her husband introduced her to Abeyratne and she acted in his film later that year. She was introduced to Dr. Lester James Peries by guru Palihakkara to act in his film Rekava. However, due to offence from school principal and father, she refused to act in the movie. However, due to sudden death of her husband, de Silva quit from acting for two years and returned with 1980 film Ganga Addara.[6] She acted in many popular films such as, Sundara Birinda, Kele Mal, Awaragira and Yahalu Yeheli. Leena was lucky enough to act along with Rukmani Devi in the film Nalangana.[7]

Apart from cinema, de Silva also acted in a few stage dramas such as Thattu Gewal, Dolosweni Raathriya and Julius Caesar.[7] She also appeared in television serials Selalihini Gammanaya, Sudu Parewiyo, Himi Ahimi and Uda Gira.[5] While in Canada, de Silva directed the teleserial Ratakin Ratakata.[10]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1954Ahankara SthreeLanka Matha Dancer
1956SurathaliSurathali
1958Sohoyuro
1958SuneethaSuneetha
1960Sundara BirindaRupa
1960Nalangana
1964Sulalitha SobaniShanthi 'Sobani'
1964Sujage Rahasa
1967Ran RasaIndrani
1980Ganga AddaraAttapattu 'Hamine'
1981Valampuri
1981Aradhana
1981Saaranga
1982Kele MalNanda
1982Kiri SuwandaMother-in-law
1982Malata Noena Bambaru[11]
1982Paaramitha
1982Yahalu YeheliMrs. Wanigasekara
1983Kaliyugaya
1983Samanala Sihina
1984HithawathiyaSarath's mother
1985Adara Kathawa
1985Kirimadu Wal
1985Varsity KellaMrs. Siriweera
1986PeralikarayoTanuja
1986DushyanthiKiri Manika
1986Koti Waligaya
1986Sinha Pataw
1986DinumaChandra
1988Chandingeth Chandiya
1989Sebaliyo
1989SirimeduraNirmala's sister
1989Badulu Kochchiya
1990Thanha AshaMother
1990Veera Udara
1991Raja Kello
1991Raja DaruwoAsilina 'Leena'
1994SujathaSeetha Rajasuriya
1995AwaragiraKusuma
1996Seema Pawuru
2000Anuragaye AnanthayaShanthi
2001PoronduwaAjith's mother

References

  1. ↑ "Actresses in Sri Lankan cinema - Leena de Silva". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  2. ↑ "Leena De Silva filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "Leena de Silva films". IMDb. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "Celebrating Leena's birthday". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Lots of talent and the future is bright - Veteran actress Leena de Silva". Silumina. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 "Awards, Tributes ... No regrets about not receiving". Divaina. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "A series of articles exploring the art world of the past". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  8. 1 2 "Award winning actress Leena de Silva turns 80". Lanka Reporter. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  9. ↑ Sri Lanka Mirror (1 December 2023). "Veteran actress Leena De Silva passes away". Retrieved on 5 December 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Screen queen of yesteryear". The Nation. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  11. ↑ "All about the film "Malata Noena Bambaru"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
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