Gamini Fonseka

Who was Gamini Fonseka?

Kala Keerthi Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka (Sinhala: සෙම්බුගේ ගාමිණි ශෙල්ටන් ෆොන්සේකා; 21 March 1936 – 30 September 2004) was a Sri Lankan film actor, film director and politician. Fonseka was born in Dehiwela as the third child of William and Daisy Fonseka. Starting school at a Presbyterian institution, he later transferred to S. Often considered one of the greatest actors in Sinhala cinema, Fonseka dominated the industry in the 1960s and 1970s and won several Best Actor and Popular Actor awards throughout his career. Apart from acting, he also served as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 1989 to 1994 and the Governor of the North Eastern Province from 1995 to 1998. He also worked as a Director of the Capital Maharaja Group from 1998 to 2003.

Fonseka died at the age of 68 at his residence in Ja-Ela.

Historical significance

Some critics and audiences regard Gamini Fonseka as the greatest actor in the Sri Lankan film industry, while others argue that title belongs to Joe Abeywickrama. Fonseka was the first to die among the three “crowned kings” of Sri Lankan cinema, followed by Joe Abeywickrama and then Tony Ranasinghe.