List Of Sinhalese People
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Sinhalese people Sinhalese people ( si, සිංහල ජනතාව, Sinhala Janathāva) are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group native to the island of Sri Lanka. They were historically known as Hela people ( si, හෙළ). They constitute about 75% of t ...
by their country of domicile or origin. All communities that speak Sinhalese or spoke Sinhalese and originally came from Sri Lanka are included. Sinhalese are the majority ethnic group in
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
.


Academics

*
Professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...
Rohan Abeyaratne *
Gladys Jayawardene Gladys Jayawardene (19??-September 12, 1989) was a Sri Lankan Physician and academic. She was the first female Director of the Medical Research Institute and Chairman of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation. She was assassinated by the Janatha V ...
*Professor Rohan Gunaratna *Professor Sir Nicholas Attygalle *Professor Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri *Professor
Kapila Gunasekara Professor Kapila G. A. Gunasekara is a Sri Lankan academic. He was the first Vice Chancellor of the University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC), Sri Lanka. A Professor of Agriculture, he was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya ...
*Professor
K. N. Jayatilleke Kulatissa Nanda Jayatilleke (1 November 1920 – 23 July 1970) was an internationally recognised authority on Buddhist philosophy whose book ''Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge'' has been described as "an outstanding philosophical interpretatio ...
*Professor
Sam Karunaratne Samarajeewa "Sam" Karunaratne, FIET, FIEE, FIESL (born in 1937) is an emeritus professor of engineering and a leading Sri Lankan academic who is the founding chancellor and president of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology and th ...
*Professor W.S. Karunaratne *Professor G. L. Peiris *Professor Walpola Rahula *Professor V. K. Samaranayake *Professor
Ajith Kumar Siriwardena Professor Ajith Kumar Siriwardena MBChB, M.D., FRCS, Is the current professor of hepato-pancreatico-biliary surgery at the University of Manchester, and a consultant hepatobiliary surgeon at the Manchester Royal Infirmary Manchester Royal In ...


Activists

* Ajith C. S. Perera *
Shantha Bandara Shantha Bandara alias Mahanama (1951−1990) was the first convenor of the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) and a key leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a Marxist-Leninist political party in Sri Lanka. He was killed in January 1990 ...


Actors and actresses

* Joe Abeywickrama * Jackson Anthony * Gamini Fonseka * Malini Fonseka *
Shanudrie Priyasad Baminnahennadige Shanudrie Priyasad ( si, ශනුද්‍රි ප්‍රියසාද්; born 8 September 1997) is a Sri Lankan actress, dancer, and singer, who appears in Sri Lankan films and television shows. She began her acting car ...
*
Tony Jayawardena Anthony Surath Jayawardena is a British actor, known for his roles as Mr Bhamra in the West End musical '' Bend It Like Beckham the Musical'' and for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare's Globe and Royal National Theatre. I ...
*
Henry Jayasena Kala Keerthi Dr Bastian Koralage Henry Rudrigo Jayasena (born 6 July 1931 – died 11 November 2009 as Sinhala: හෙන්රි ජයසේන), popularly known as Henry Jayasena, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and televisi ...
* Vijaya Kumaratunga * Tony Ranasinghe * Ravindra Randeniya * Iranganie Serasinghe * Pooja Umashankar *
Yashoda Wimaladharma Yashoda Wimaladharma ( Sinhala: යශෝධා විමලධර්ම) is a Sri Lankan actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Often referred to as the "innocent on the small screen", Wimaladharma excelled in cinema, telev ...


Archaeologists and anthropologists

* S. U. Deraniyagala * Senarat Paranavithana * Ellawala Medhananda Thero


Architects and Civil Engineers

* Minnette De Silva * Oliver Weerasinghe *
U. N. Gunasekera U.N. Gunasekera (1922–2008), was a Sri Lankan civil engineer. He is a notable Sri Lankan civil engineer. He revolutionized engineering in Sri Lanka through his construction of high-rise buildings, including Sri Lanka's first five-star hotel ...
* A. N. S. Kulasinghe


Authors

*
W. A. Silva W. A. Silva (16 January 1890 – 3 May 1957) was a best-selling author of Sinhala literature. Wellawattearachchige Abraham Silva was born in Wellawatte, Colombo. After receiving a formal Sinhala education, he wrote his first novel, "Siriyalath ...
* Martin Wickramasinghe * Karunasena Jayalath * Lionel de Fonseka


Aviators

*
J.P. Obeyesekere III Deshamanya James Peter Obeyesekere III (14 July 1915 – 23 October 2007) was a Sri Lankan politician and aviator. A Senator, he was also a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Finance.Monath Perera *
Ray Wijewardene Deshamanya Philip Revatha Wijewardene, better known as Ray Wijewardene, ( Sinhala:පිලිප් රෙවත විජයවර්ධන) (20 August 1924 - 18 August 2010) was a Sri Lankan engineer, aviator, inventor, and Olympic athlete. H ...


Broadcasters

*
Karunaratne Abeysekera Karunaratne Abeysekera (3 June 1930 – 20 April 1983) was one of Sri Lanka's most famous Sinhala broadcasters. He was also a poet and songwriter and was widely admired for his excellent command of Sinhala. Abeysekera wrote the lyrics to over 2, ...
*
Vernon Corea Vernon Corea (11 September 1927 – 23 September 2002) was a pioneer radio broadcaster with 45 years of public service broadcasting both in Sri Lanka and the UK. He joined Radio Ceylon, South Asia's oldest radio station, in 1956 and later the Sr ...
*
Vijaya Corea Vijaya Corea is a radio and television broadcaster and one of Sri Lanka's most well known media personalities. Corea is a household name in Sri Lanka, synonymous with broadcasting and show business for over four decades, and has often been refer ...
* Owen de Abrew *
A.W. Dharmapala A.W. Dharmapala was a pioneering broadcaster and Outside Broadcast Engineer of Radio Ceylon, the oldest radio station in South Asia, for 42 years (1922-1964). With the help of the engineers from Radio Ceylon, he was able to convert the radio equipme ...
*
Eric Fernando Eric Fernando was a popular English-language broadcaster with the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. He presented a range of radio programs both over the home and the All Asia services of the SLBC. Eric was educated at Prestigious St Sylvester's ...
* Prosper Fernando *
H.M. Gunasekera H.M. Gunasekera was a Sri Lankan broadcaster with Radio Ceylon and subsequently the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. HM, as he was known as in the station, was one of the first Sinhala radio announcers. He read the Sinhala news and presen ...
* Thevis Guruge * Shirley Perera * Seelaratne Senarath * Livy Wijemanne


Buddhist monks

*
Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero ( si, අග්ග මහා පණ්ඩිත බලංගොඩ ආනන්ද මෛත්‍රෙය මහා නා හිමි;23 August 1896 – 18 July 1998; was a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk who was on ...
* Gangodawila Soma Thero * Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera *
Kadawedduwe Jinavamsa Mahathera Most Ven. Kadawedduwe Sri Jinavamsa Maha Thera (April 1, 1907 – July 13, 2003) (Pali: Siri Jinavaṃsa, sometimes spelled Jinawansa, Sinhala: අති පූජ්‍ය කඩවැද්දූවේ ශ්‍රී ජිනවංශ ...
*
Katukurunde Nanananda Thera Most Ven. Kaṭukurunde Ñāṇananda Maha Thera (10 July 1940 – 22 February 2018) (sometimes spelled Nyanananda or Nanananda in English, sometimes called Gnanananda in Sinhala, Sinhalese: අති පූජ්‍ය කටුකුර ...
*
Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero (born: 1 July 1961) is a Sri Lankan monk. who is the Founder of Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery and Shraddha Media Network. Spiritual biography Gnanananda became a monk at age 17 on 26 March 1979 under Dambagas ...
* Kithalagama Sri Seelalankara Thera *
Madihe Pannaseeha Thero Most Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha Mahathera (Pali: Paññāsīha) (June 21, 1913 – September 9, 2003) was an eminent Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, who was the Mahanayaka of Amarapura sect from July 13, 1969 until his death on September 9, 2003. ...
* Mapalagama Wipulasara Maha Thera *
Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera Most Ven. Matara Sri Nanarama Maha Thera (December 11, 1901 – April 30, 1992) (spelled Ñāṇārāma in Pali, sometimes called Gnanarama in Sinhala, Sinhala: අති පූජ්‍ය මාතර ශ්‍රී ඤාණාරාම ...
*
Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera Most Ven. Matara Sri Nanarama Maha Thera (December 11, 1901 – April 30, 1992) (spelled Ñāṇārāma in Pali, sometimes called Gnanarama in Sinhala, Sinhala: අති පූජ්‍ය මාතර ශ්‍රී ඤාණාරාම ...
* Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera *
Narada Maha Thera Narada Mahathera ( si, නාරද මහා ස්ථවිරයන් වහන්සේ), born Sumanapala Perera (14 July 1898 – 2 October 1983) was a Theravada Buddhist monk, scholar, translator, educator and Buddhist missionary who w ...
* Päläne Vajirañāna Thero *
Piyadassi Maha Thera Piyadassi Maha Thera ( si, පියදස්සි මහා ස්ථවිරයන් වහන්සේ, 8 July 1914 – 18 August 1998) was a preacher of the Dhamma both in Sinhala and in English. He was born on 8 July 1914 at Kotahena in C ...
*
Polwatte Buddhadatta Thera The Venerable Ambalangoda Polwatte Buddhadatta Mahanayake Thera (A. P. Buddhadatta) (1887–1962) was a Theravada Buddhist monk and a professor of Buddhist philosophy at Vidyalankara University. During 1928 he travelled to Switzerland to teach Pā ...
*
Ratmalane Sri Dharmaloka Thera Ratmalane Sri Dharmaloka Thera (May 28, 1828 – August 15, 1885) was a scholar Buddhist monk who lived in the 19th century in Sri Lanka.Rerukane Chandawimala Thero *
Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero (born 30 May 1944) is a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk who is the present Mahanayaka Thero of the Malwatta chapter of Siam Nikaya. He was appointed as the 26th Mahanayke Thera of Malwatta Chapter on 20 Jun ...
* Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera * Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thero *
Weligama Sri Sumangala Weligama Sri Sumangala Thero (1825-1905) was an outstanding scholar bhikkhu with many important publications -Hitopadsesa Atthadassi, Hitopadsesa Padarthavykanaya, Upadesa Vinischaya, Siddanta Sekaraya. His work Siddhanta Sekharaya of 700 pages wa ...
Thero ''Thero'' (commonly appearing in the masculine and feminine forms ''thera'' and ''therī'' respectively) is an honorific term in Pali for senior bhikkhus and bhikkhunis (Buddhist monks and nuns) in the Buddhist monastic order. The word literally ...
*
Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero Weliwita Asaranasarana Sri Saranankara Sangharaja Thero (19 June 1698 – 18 July 1778) or popularly Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero was a Buddhist monk, who was the last Sangharaja of Sri Lanka. He was the pioneer in the revival of Buddhism in Sr ...
* Weweldeniye Medhalankara Thero


Civil servants

*
Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe, CCS (18 March 1913 – 4 December 1980) was a Sri Lankan diplomat and civil servant. He was High Commissioner to India and concurrently Ambassador to both Nepal and Afghanistan (1963–1967) and Permanent Secretar ...
* Bradman Weerakoon *
Sanath Weerakoon Sanath Rathnayake Weerakoon, is a Sri Lankan former government agent. He served as the government agent (district secretary) for the District of Colombo (1990–1999), Sri Lanka, and is considered one of the most distinguished and respected of ...


Clergy

*
Cyril Abeynaike Cyril Leander Abeynaike (22 February 1911 – 8 May 1991) was a former Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Educated at Royal College, Colombo and went on to study history at the University College, Colombo and theology at the King's College, ...
, 10th bishop of Colombo (Anglican) * Tissa Balasuriya (Catholic) *Cardinal Thomas Cooray, 8th
archbishop of Colombo The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo ( la, Archidioecesis Columbensis in Taprobane) is a Latin Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church, whose ecclesiastical province covers all Sri Lanka plus the Maldives (which are ...
* Ivan Corea (Anglican) *
Duleep de Chickera Duleep Kamil De Chickera is the 14th Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He was inaugurated in 2001. Educated at Royal College, Colombo representing the college at 1st XV Rugby, he gained his training for the ministry at Theological College ...
, 14th bishop of Colombo (Anglican) *
Lakdasa De Mel Most Rev. Lakdasa Jacob De Mel (1902–1976), MA was the first Bishop of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka and the last Metropolitan Archbishop of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylo Lakdasa De Mel was born on 24 March 1902 in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, to a prom ...
, 1st
bishop of Kurunegala The Diocese of Kurunegala is a diocese of the Church of Ceylon (which is part of the Anglican Communion). The See was erected in 1950 from that of the Diocese of Colombo, as one of two dioceses of the Church of England in Ceylon. On 17 Decemb ...
(Anglican) *
Lynn de Silva Lynn Alton de Silva (16 June 1919 – 22 May 1982) was a Sri Lankan theologian and Methodist minister. He was the founder and editor of one of the first theological journals on Buddhist-Christian encounter called ''Dialogue'' (1961–1981), c ...
(Methodist) *
Harold de Soysa Charles Harold Wilfred de Soysa MA (1907-1971) was the first Ceylonese Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Born to Sir Wilfred and Lady Evelyn de Soysa, he was educated at Royal College, Colombo and graduated from Oriel College, Oxford o ...
, 9th bishop of Colombo (Anglican) * Frank Marcus Fernando, 3rd bishop of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Chilaw The Roman Catholic Diocese of Chilaw (Lat: ''Dioecesis Chilavensis'') is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Erected as the Diocese of Galle in 1939, the diocese is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Colombo. In 1 ...
* Nicholas Marcus Fernando (1932-2020), Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Colombo The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo ( la, Archidioecesis Columbensis in Taprobane) is a Latin Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church, whose ecclesiastical province covers all Sri Lanka plus the Maldives (which are ...
from 1977 to 2002 *
Kenneth Fernando Kenneth Michael James Fernando is a former Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka.bishop of Colombo (Anglican) *
Swithin Fernando Swithin Winston Fernando was an Anglican Bishop of Colombo in Sri Lanka. An alumnus of Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa he was the Archdeacon of Colombo in 1971 and consecrated Bishop of Colombo in January 1978. A incumbent of All Saints' Churc ...
, 11th bishop of Colombo (Anglican) *
Oswald Gomis Oswald Thomas Colman Gomis ( Sinhala: ඔස්වල්ඩ් තෝමස් කොල්මන් ගෝමිස්) (born 12 December 1932) is the former Roman Catholic Archbishop of Colombo and the former Chancellor of the University of Co ...
, 10th archbishop of
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo ( la, Archidioecesis Columbensis in Taprobane) is a Latin Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church, whose ecclesiastical province covers all Sri Lanka plus the Maldives (which are ...
*
Kumara Illangasinghe Kumara Illangasinghe, (B.Sc., B.D., M.Litt) is a former Anglican Bishop of Ceylon. After his ordination in 1971, he served in parishes including Thalampitiya, Rathmeewela and Aragoda. After that, he was appointed as the chaplain of Trinity Colleg ...
, 4th
bishop of Kurunegala The Diocese of Kurunegala is a diocese of the Church of Ceylon (which is part of the Anglican Communion). The See was erected in 1950 from that of the Diocese of Colombo, as one of two dioceses of the Church of England in Ceylon. On 17 Decemb ...
(Anglican) * Marcelline Jayakody (Catholic) *
Andrew Kumarage Andrew Oliver Kumarage (16 January 1934 – 21 April 2012), ( BDiv, DipRE), was the third Bishop of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. Andrew Kumarage was born on 16 January 1934, the eldest child in a family of five. His father, Stephen, was a teacher and ...
, 3rd bishop of Colombo (Anglican) *
Valence Mendis Valence Mendis, formally Warnakulasurya Wadumestrige Devasritha Valence Mendis, (born 21 May 1958) is a Sri Lankan prelate of the Catholic Church who has been the Bishop of Chilaw since 2006. He has been named bishop of Kandy, where he spent his fir ...
, current bishop of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Chilaw The Roman Catholic Diocese of Chilaw (Lat: ''Dioecesis Chilavensis'') is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Erected as the Diocese of Galle in 1939, the diocese is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Colombo. In 1 ...
* Edmund Peiris (1897-1989), Bishop of Chilaw from 1940 to 1972, President of the
Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASSL) is based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is one of the oldest learned societies in Sri Lanka with a history of over 160 years. It was established on 7 February 1845, paralleling the Royal Asiatic Societ ...
from 1959 to 1961 *
Elmo Noel Joseph Perera Elmo Noel Joseph Perara (December 4, 1932 – April 9, 2015) was a Roman Catholic bishop. Perera was ordained to the priesthood in 1960. In 1992, Perera was named auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galle, Sri Lanka Sri La ...
, 5th bishop of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Galle Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
*
Aloysius Pieris Aloysius Pieris SJ (born 9 April 1934) is a Sri Lankan Jesuit priest, theologian, intellect, and the founding director of the Tulana Research Center for Encounter and Dialogue. Biography Aloysius Pieris was born in Ampitiya, Ceylon (present-da ...
,
Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...
Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
priest * Ernest Poruthota (1931-2020), Roman Catholic priest and author *Cardinal
Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don Albert Malcolm Ranjith ( Sinhala: පටබැඳිගේ දොන් ඇල්බට් මැල්කම් රංජිත්) (born 15 November 1947), often known simply as Malcolm Ranjith or Albert Malcolm Ranjith is a S ...
, current
archbishop of Colombo The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo ( la, Archidioecesis Columbensis in Taprobane) is a Latin Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church, whose ecclesiastical province covers all Sri Lanka plus the Maldives (which are ...
(Catholic) * Lakshman Wickremasinghe, 2nd
bishop of Kurunegala The Diocese of Kurunegala is a diocese of the Church of Ceylon (which is part of the Anglican Communion). The See was erected in 1950 from that of the Diocese of Colombo, as one of two dioceses of the Church of England in Ceylon. On 17 Decemb ...
(Anglican)


Composers and conductors

* Rohan Joseph de Saram *
Dilup Gabadamudalige Kala Suri Diliup Gabadamudalige is a Sri Lankan pianist, keyboardist, composer, lyricist and producer. He is the pioneer in Computer/MIDI Music in Sri Lanka. Educated at Royal College, Colombo, where he was a pioneer member of the Royal College Ba ...
* Rohana Weerasinghe


Corporate leaders

* Dilith Jayaweera


Diplomats

*
Jayantha Dhanapala Jayantha Dhanapala ( si, ජයන්ත ධනපාල; born 30 December 1938) is a Sri Lankan diplomat who serves as member of the Board of Sponsors of ''The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists'' and was a governing board member of the Stockholm ...
* Neville Kanakeratne *
Vernon Mendis Deshamanya Dr Vernon Loraine Benjamin Mendis (5 December 1925 – 23 June 2010) was a prominent Sri Lankan diplomat, who served as the United Nations' Special Envoy to the Middle East. He is referred to as the ''Sri Lanka's Father of Diplomacy ...
*
Bernard Tilakaratna Bernard Tilakaratna, SLOS (1927–2004) was a senior diplomat and bureaucrat of the Sri Lankan government. He was an ambassador to many countries and prior to retirement was the permanent secretary to Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Early life He w ...


Economists

*
Gamani Corea Deshamanya Gamani Corea (4 November 1925 – 3 November 2013) was a Sri Lankan economist, civil servant and diplomat. He was also the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and Under-Secretary-General of the ...
*
N. U. Jayawardena Deshamanya Neville Ubeysingha Jayawardena (commonly known as N. U. Jayawardena) (1908–2002) was a Sri Lankan Senator, economist, banker and entrepreneur. He was the first Ceylonese Governor of the Central Bank of Ceylon and founder of the Mercan ...
*
W. D. Lakshman Deshamanya Weligamage Don Lakshman (commonly known as W. D. Lakshman) popularly known as Professor W. D. Lakshman is a Sri Lankan economist, professor, lecturer, academic and author who also served as the 15th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri ...


Fashion

*
Otara Gunewardene Otara Gunewardene ( Sinhala: ඔටාරා ගුණවර්ධන) is a Sri Lankan entrepreneur, animal welfare advocate, conservationist and philanthropist. She is the founder of ODEL, Embark and Otara Foundation. Early life and education ...
*
Ruchira Silva Ruchira Karunaratne is a well-known Sri Lankan fashion designer. Her creations mainly focusses on casual–wear and evening-wear, available in "Rebel" outlets at leading Shopping malls in Sri Lanka. Early life Ruchira had her early education at S ...


Filmmakers

*
Dharmasiri Bandaranayake Dr. Dharmasiri Bandaranayake (born 06th of October 1949) is a Sri Lankan film director and playwright. Particularly work as a playwright, Bandaranayake is an artist who attempts to connect the sociopolitical environment with the civil society thr ...
*
Andrew Jayamanne Andrew Jayamanne ඇන්ඩෘ ජයමාන්න (alternative spelling Andrew Jayamanna, 9 November 1943 – 29 August 2014) was a Sri Lankan cinematographer, and film and television director and producer. Early life Jayamanne is the el ...
* Vasantha Obeysekera *
Dharmasena Pathiraja Pathiraja Navaratne Wanninayake Mudiyanselage Ranjith Dharmasena (28 March 1943 – 28 January 2018) was a Sri Lankan film director and screenwriter. He has been referred to as a 'rebel with a cause', an ‘''enfant terrible'' of the '70s', and ...
* Lester James Peries *
Sumitra Peries Kala Keerthi Sumitra Peries (born 24 March 1934) is the first Sri Lankan female filmmaker and is known by all as the "Poetess of Sinhala Cinema". She also held the post of Sri Lanka's ambassador to France, Spain and the United Nations in the ...
* Titus Thotawatte *
Prasanna Vithanage Udaya Prasanna Vithanage ( si, ප්‍රසන්න විතානගේ) (born 14 March 1962) is a Sri Lankan filmmaker. He is considered one of the pioneers of the third generation of the Sri Lankan cinema. He has directed eight feature ...


Freedom agitators and martyrs

* Puran Appu * Gongalegoda Banda *Ven. Anagarika Dharmapala *
Gratien Fernando Wathumullage Gratien Hubert Fernando CGA (1915 – 5 August 1942) was the leader of the Cocos Islands Mutiny, an agitator for the independence of Sri Lanka from the British. Fernando was born to Sinhalese Buddhist parents. His father was a sup ...
*
Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
D.E. Henry Pedris * Sir
James Peiris Sir James Peiris (20 December 1856 – 5 May 1930) was a prominent leader in the Sri Lankan independence movement, the first elected Vice-President of the Legislative Council of Ceylon and the first native Governor of Ceylon (Acting).
* Keerthi Vijayabahu


Industrialists

* Sir
Ernest de Silva Sir Albert Ernest de Silva (26 November 1887 – 9 May 1957) was a Ceylonese business magnate, banker, barrister and public figure, considered to be the most prominent Ceylonese philanthropist of the 20th century. A wealthy and influential poly ...
* Sir Charles Henry de Soysa * Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana *
Daya Gamage Daya Dharmapala Kilittuwa Gamage is a Sri Lankan politician and businessman. He is a member of parliament (MP) and former Minister of Primary Industries. And he also the national organizer for the United National Party (UNP). He elected to the P ...
* U.N. Gunasekera *
Don Carolis Hewavitharana Don Carolis Hewavitharane Wijeyaguneratne ( si, දොන් කරෝලිස් හේවාවිතාරණ)(1833 – 18 February 1906) was a Ceylonese businessman, industrialist, philanthropist and a pioneer of the Buddhist revival moveme ...
* Harry Jayawardena * Dhammika Perera * Phillip Upali Wijewardena


Journalists

*
Ernest Corea Ernest Corea (1932–11 May 2017) was a Sri Lankan journalist and a diplomat noted for his work to maintain a free and independent press and for negotiations involving Sri Lanka's development programs. Early life Corea was born in 1932 in Col ...
* Seelaratne Senarath


Judges

* Hon. Justice A.W.H. Abeyesundere * Hon. Justice Andrew Ranjan Perera * Hon. Justice Christopher Gregory Weeramantry


Military personnel


Air Force

* Marshal of the air force Roshan Goonatilake *
Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...
Harry Goonatilake *
Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...
Paddy Mendis Air Chief Marshal Deshamanya Pathman Hariprasadha Mendis, FBIM (24 January 1933 – 18 January 2022) was a Sri Lankan aviator. He was the fourth Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force from 1971 to 1976. Early life and education The son of a d ...
*
Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...
G. Donald Perera *
Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...
Jayalath Weerakkody *
Air Vice Marshal Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes u ...
E. R. Amarasekara * Air Commodore Shirantha Goonatilake


Army

* Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka *
General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
D. S. Attygalle General Deshamanya Don Sepala Attygalle, (14 October 1921 – 15 January 2001) was a Sri Lankan senior army officer, civil servant and diplomat. The longest serving Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (1967–1977), he went on to serve as the Perm ...
*
General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
G. H. De Silva *
General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
Denis Perera General Deshamanya Joseph Everard Denis Perera, VSV, FCMI (10 October 1930 – 11 August 2013) was a senior Sri Lanka Army officer who served as Commander of the Sri Lankan Army from 1977 to 1981. He was also the Sri Lankan High Commissioner ...
*
General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
Nalin Seneviratne General Ganegoda Appuhamelage Don Granville Nalin Seneviratne, VSV (August 25, 1931 – August 12, 2009) was a Sri Lankan Army officer. He was the Commander of the Sri Lankan Army from 1985 to 1988 and first Governor of the North East Provi ...
*
General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
T. I. Weerathunga General (Sri Lanka), General Tissa Indraka Weeratunga, Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, VSV (August 29, 1930 – November 2003) was a Sri Lankan senior army officer. He was a former Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka), Commander of the Sri Lankan A ...
* Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya * Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa * Lieutenant General Parami Kulatunga *
Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
Shavendra Silva General Shavendra Silva, WWV, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP ( si, ශවේන්ද්‍ර සිල්වා, ta, ஷவேந்திர சில்வா) is a Sri Lanka Army officer. He is the Chief of Defence Staff and former Commander o ...
*
Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Janaka Perera * Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne *
Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
Fredrick C. de Saram * Lieutenant Colonel Lalith Jayasinghe * Captain Saliya Upul Aladeniya * Second Lieutenant K. W. T. Nissanka * Warrant Officer 2nd Class H.B. Pasan Gunasekera * Corporal Gamini Kularatne


Navy

* Admiral of the fleet
Wasantha Karannagoda Admiral of the Fleet (Sri Lanka), Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Kumar Jayadeva Karannagoda Rana Sura Padakkama, RSP, Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, VSV, Uttama Seva Padakkama, USP, MBA, MSc, ndc, Psc (British Army), psc, DISS, MRIN, MNI, Sri Lanka Na ...
*
Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
Clancy Fernando Admiral Wannakuwatta Waduge Erwin Clancy Fernando VSV, USP, MSc, ndc, psc, MNI, SLN (In Sinhalese: ක්ලැන්සි ෆර්නැන්ඩෝ) (10 October 1938 – 16 November 1992) was the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy fr ...
*
Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
D.B. Goonesekara * Vice Admiral Asoka de Silva *
Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
Rohan Amarasinghe Rear Admiral Anthony Rohan Amarasinghe, RSP, VSV, USP, psc, MNI, SLN was a distinguished Sri Lankan admiral and a Commissioned Naval Officer. He served as the Director of Naval Rapid Action Boat Squadron, Director Naval Operations, Com ...
*
Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
Royce de Mel Rear Admiral Gerard Royce Maxwell De Mel, OBE (1917-199??) was Ceylonese admiral. He was the Captain of the Royal Ceylon Navy from 1955 to 1961, the first Ceylonese to hold the post. He was accused and convicted in the 1962 Ceylonese coup d'ét ...
*
Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
Mohan Jayamaha Rear admiral Conan Anthony Mohan Jayamaha, RWP, VSV, USP, psc, SLN (12 January 1949–8 August 1992) was a Sri Lankan Admiral. He was Commander, Northern Naval Area of the Sri Lanka Navy when he was killed from wounds sustained in a l ...


Monarchs and royalty

*King Vijaya Sinhala *King Paduvasdew *King
Pandukabhaya Pandukabhaya (474 BC – 367 BC) was King of Upatissa Nuwara and the first monarch of the Anuradhapura Kingdom and 6th over all of the island of Sri Lanka since the arrival of the Vijaya; he reigned from 437 BC to 367 BC. According to many his ...
*
King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...
Devanampiyatissa Tissa, later Devanampiya Tissa, was one of the earliest kings of Sri Lanka based at the ancient capital of Anuradhapura from 247 BC to 207 BC. His reign was notable for the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka under the aegis of the Maurya ...
*King
Dutugemunu Dutugamunu the Great (, , also spelled as ''Dutthagamani''), also known as Dutthagamani Abhaya ("fearless Gamini"), was the greatest king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom who reigned from 161 BC to 137 BC. He is renowned for reuniting the whole island ...
*King Gajabahu I *King
Parâkramabâhu I Parākramabāhu I ( Sinhala: මහා පරාක්‍රමබාහු, 1123–1186), or Parakramabahu the Great, was the king of Polonnaruwa from 1153 to 1186. He oversaw the expansion and beautification of his capital, constructed extensiv ...
*King
Vijaya Vijaya may refer to: Places * Vijaya (Champa), a city-state and former capital of the historic Champa in what is now Vietnam * Vijayawada, a city in Andhra Pradesh, India People * Prince Vijaya of Sri Lanka (fl. 543–505 BC), earliest recorde ...
*King Vikkamabahu *King Vimala Dharma Surya I *
Queen Anula Queen Anula of Anuradhapura (? – 42 BC) was the first queen regnant in Sri Lankan history, as well as the first documented female head of state in Asia. Anula initially rose to power as Queen consort, consort of King Chora Naga of Anuradhapura, ...
*
Queen Lilavati Queen Lilavati (reigned 1197–1200, 1209–10, and 1211–12) was the fourth woman in Sri Lankan history to rule as sovereign in her own right. Lilavati rose to prominence as the wife of Parakramabahu I, king of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa. Be ...
*
Rani Padmini Padmini, also known as Padmavati, was a 13th–14th century Rani (queen) of the Kingdom of Mewar, Mewar kingdom of present-day India. Several medieval texts mention her, although these versions are disparate and many modern historians question ...


Musicians and singers

*
W. D. Amaradeva Sri Lankabhimanya Wannakuwattawaduge Don Albert Perera ( si, වන්නකුවත්තවඩුගේ දොන් ඇල්බට් පෙරේරා; ta, டபிள்யூ. டி. அமரதேவா; 5 December 1927 – 3 No ...
* Sujatha Aththanayaka * Bathiya and Santhush *
Victor Rathnayake Rathnayake Arachchilage Victor ( Sinhala: වික්ටර් රත්නායක; born 18 February 1942), popularly known as Victor Rathnayake, is a Sri Lankan singer, composer, lyricist and a renowned musician. He was the first Sri Lankan a ...
*
Sunil Shantha Sunil Santha was a Sri Lankan composer, singer and lyricist. He was pivotal in the development of Sinhala music and folk songs in the mid to late 1940s and early 1950s. He composed the beloved soundtracks to Lester James Peries' films '' Rekava' ...
*
Ananda Samarakoon Egodahage George Wilfred Alwis Samarakoon (13 January 1911 – 2 April 1962) known as Ananda Samarakoon was a Sri Lankan (Sinhalese) composer and musician. He composed the Sri Lankan national anthem " Namo Namo Matha" and is considered the fath ...
*
Sunil Perera Uswatta Liyanage Ivor Sylvester Sunil Perera ( Sinhala: සුනිල් පෙරේරා; 14 September 1952 – 6 September 2021) was a Sri Lankan vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and composer. Described as one of the most influential musici ...
* Yohani De Silva * Iraj Weeraratne *
DeLon Dilan Jayasingha (born March 14, 1980), known professionally as Dilan Jay, is an American actor, singer, and producer. He was the first artist from his country of heritage ( Sri Lanka) to place on the U.S. ''Billboard'' charts and have a No ...
* Sunil Edirisinghe *
Shihan Mihiranga Bennet Shihan Mihiranga Bennet ( si, ශිහාන් මිහිරංග; born 18 March 1985), is a Sri Lankan musician, composer and songwriter. Considered one of the best products of reality shows, Mihiranga often known as the "Dream Boy" of the ...
*
Ajith Bandara Ajith Bandara ( si, අජිත් බණ්ඩාර) is a Sri Lankan singer. He is the winner of the first season of the singing reality competition ''Sirasa Superstar'' in 2006. Personal life He is from Ahasyanapitiya, Mawathagama, in Kurun ...
* Lakshman Joseph de Saram *
C. T. Fernando Cyril Tudor Fernando (28 January 1921 – 17 October 1977; Sinhala: සිරිල් ටියුඩර් ප්‍රනාන්දු), popularly known as C.T. Fernando, was a Sri Lankan singer and composer. One of the most popular sin ...
*
M. S. Fernando Mahagamage Samson Fernando, ( si, එම්. එස්. ප්‍රනාන්දු; 4 March 1936 - 9 April 1994), popularly as M. S. Fernando, was a Sri Lankan singer and musician. He is a major player in the development of Baila music and ...
* Rookantha Gunathilake * Edward Jayakody *
Eddie Jayamanne Wanniaarachchige Don David Victor Jayamanne, Order of the British Empire, MBE (15 February 1915 – 25 July 1981), popularly known as Eddie Jayamanne was a popular Sri Lankan comedian and actor of early Sri Lankan cinema. Early life He was born ...
*
T. M. Jayaratne Tennakoon Mudiyanselage Jayaratne, also known as T.M. Jayaratne ( Sinhala:ටි.එම්.ජයරත්න) (born 13 April 1944) in Dodangoda, Sri Lanka is a popular Sri Lankan vocalist and a violinist. He has received the Presidential Award ...
* Nalin Jayawardena *
H. R. Jothipala Hettiarachchige Reginald Jothipala ( si, එච්.ආර්. ජෝතිපාල; 12 February 1936 – 7 July 1987), popularly as H. R. Jothipala, was a Sri Lankan playback singer in the Sinhalese language, Sinhala cinema as well as a film ac ...
*
Gunadasa Kapuge Ellamulla Kapuge Gunadasa ( Sinhala: ගුණදාස කපුගේ; 7 August 1945–3 April 2003) popularly known as Gunadasa Kapuge, was a Sri Lankan singer, musician, music director and playback singer. He was well known among Sri Lankans ...
* Kamal Addararachchi * Premasiri Khemadasa * Vijaya Kumaranatunga *
Ranidu Lankage Ranidu Lankage (Sinhala language, Sinhala:රනිදු ලංකාගේ) is a Sinhala language, Sinhalese R&B and hip hop artist who raised the international profile of Sinhalese RnB/pop.Weerasuriya, Sanath. (2007-03-25Dance to the music of ...
*
Annesley Malewana Annesley Malewana () ( Sinhala: ඇනස්ලි මාලේවන) is a Sri Lankan musician. Often considered "The Prince of Sinhala Pop", Malewana is well known for being a master of contemporary Baila worked with popular musical bands The M ...
*
Milton Mallawarachchi Sumanasiri Mallawarachchi Don (7 April 1944–10 March 1998: si, මිල්ටන් මල්ලවාරච්චි), popularly known as Milton Mallawarachchi, was a Sri Lankan singer and musician. One of the most respected singers in S ...
*
Nimal Mendis Nimal may refer to *Nimal Bandara, Sri Lankan politician *Nimal Gamini Amaratunga, Sri Lankan judge *Nimal Gunaratne Air Vice Marshal Nimal Herat-Gunaratne, VSV, USP, SLAF was the Director Health Services of the Sri Lanka Air Force from 1992 ...
* Sanath Nandasiri *
Nihal Nelson Nihal Nelson ( si, නිහාල් නෙල්සන්; 9 January 1946 – 13 December 2022) was a Sri Lankan vocalist, songwriter and composer. One of the most influential singers in Sri Lanka, and considered 'undefeated on the concert st ...
*
Keerthi Pasquel Pasquel Wasam Ananda Keerthirathna (born January 29, 1956), popularly known as Keerthi Pasquel ( Sinhala: කීර්ති පැස්කුවල්:), is a Sri Lankan pop musician and composer. He has been performing for more than three dec ...
* Stanley Peiris *
Lionel Ranwala Lionel Ranwala ( si, ලයනල් රන්වල), (27 November 1939 – 13 November 2002) was a musician and a singer in Sri Lanka and a legend in Sri Lankan folk music. His birth city was Kalubowila and he studied in Kalubowila Budhdhagosh ...
* Freddie Silva *
Priya Suriyasena M. L. D. S. Priyadarshi Suriyasena Liyanage ( Sinhala:ප්‍රියා සූරියසේන: born 27 October 1949), popularly as Priya Suriyasena, is a Sri Lankan singer. Priya first emerged as a talented local singer with the guidance ...
* Dharmadasa Walpola * Latha Walpola *
Clarence Wijewardena Vithana Kuruppu Arachchilage Clarence Arthur Somasinghe Wijewardena Justice of the peace#Sri Lanka, JP ( si, ක්ලැරන්ස් විජේවර්ධන, ta, கிளாரன்ஸ் விஜேவர்தன; 3 August 1943 ...
*Nissanka Wimalasuriya


Painters

*
Solias Mendis Walimuni Solias Mendis (June 17, 1897 – September 1, 1975) was a renowned Sri Lankan artist primarily known for his Buddhist temple paintings, accomplished in a neo-classical style. A native of Mahawewa, Madampe in Sri Lanka, second of seven ...
* David Paynter


Philosophers

*
Nalin de Silva Thakurartha Devadithya Guardiyawasam Lindamulage Nalin Kumara de Silva ( Sinhala: නලින් ද සිල්වා; born 20 October 1944) is a Sri Lankan philosopher and a political analyst. He is the current Sri Lankan ambassador in Mya ...
*
K. N. Jayatilleke Kulatissa Nanda Jayatilleke (1 November 1920 – 23 July 1970) was an internationally recognised authority on Buddhist philosophy whose book ''Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge'' has been described as "an outstanding philosophical interpretatio ...
* David Kalupahana


Policemen

*
Cyril Dissanayake Cyril Cyrus "Jungle" Dissanayake, MVO was a Sri Lankan senior police officer. He was serving as Deputy Inspector-General of Police of Range I, when he was implicated as one of the leaders of the attempted military coup of 1962. Education Diss ...
* T.B. Kehelgamuwa


Politicians

* Lalith Athulathmudali *
Anura Bandaranaike Anura Priyadarshi Solomon Dias Bandaranaike (15 February 1949 – 16 March 2008) was a Sri Lankan politician, served as Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka (2000-2001) and Leader of the Opposition (1983–1988). He held several cabinet min ...
*
Felix Dias Bandaranaike Felix R. Dias Bandaranaike ( Sinhala:ෆීලික්ස් ඩයස් බණඩාරනායක) (5 November 1930 – 26 June 1985) was a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician, who served as Cabinet Minister of Finance, Parliamentary Secret ...
*
Sirimavo Bandaranaike Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike ( si, සිරිමා රත්වත්තේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක; ta, சிறிமா ரத்வத்தே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கே; 17 April 191 ...
* Solomon Bandaranaike * Dr
Colvin R de Silva Colvin Reginald de Silva (1907 – 27 February 1989; commonly known as Colvin R. de Silva) was a Cabinet Minister of Plantation Industries and Constitutional Affairs, prominent member of parliament, Trotskyist leader and lawyer in Sri Lanka. ...
* William de Silva * Gamini Dissanayake *
Amarasiri Dodangoda Amarasiri Dodangoda (18 October 1941 – 30 May 2009) was a Sri Lankan politician, the former Minister of Justice and Law Reforms (2005–2009) and the second Chief Minister of the Southern Province (1993–1994). Early life Dodang ...
* Vivienne Goonewardena *
Monty Gopallawa Moithra Cuda Banda Gopallawa (16 January 1941 – 26 September 2005) (known as ''Monty Gopallawa'') was a Sri Lankan politician.William Gopallawa * C.V. Gunaratne * Dinesh Gunawardena *
Tyronne Fernando Tyronne Fernando PC ( Sinhala:ටිරොන් ෆර්නැන්ඩො) (8 August 1941 – 26 February 2008) was a Sri Lankan politician who served as foreign minister from 2001 until 2004. Early life and education Fernando was born on ...
*
Sirisena Hettige Sirisena Hettige (born 15 July 1920) was a Ceylonese politician. A member of the United National Party, he was a parliamentarian for Hakmana electorate in Matara district. Hettige was born in Matara and educated at Mahinda College, Galle G ...
*
I. M. R. A. Iriyagolla Imiya Mudiyanselage Raphael Abhayawansa Iriyagolle (3 January 1907 – 7 January 1973) was a Sri Lankan politician and Cabinet minister who served as Minister of Education between 1965 and 1970. Early life and education Iriyagolle was born 3 ...
*
Junius Richard Jayewardene Junius Richard Jayewardene ( si, ජුනියස් රිචඩ් ජයවර්ධන, ta, ஜூனியஸ் ரிச்சட் ஜயவர்தனா; 17 September 1906 – 1 November 1996), commonly abbreviated in Sri Lanka as ...
*
C.W.W. Kannangara Dr. Cristopher William Wijekoon Kannangara ( Sinhala ආචාර්ය ක්‍රිස්ටෝෆර් විලියම් විජේකෝන් කන්නන්ගර; 18 October 1894 – 23 September 1969) was a Sri Lankan Lawye ...
* Sir
John Kotelawala General Sir John Lionel Kotelawala ( si, ශ්‍රිමත් ජෝන් ලයනල් කොතලාවල; 4 April 1897 – 2 October 1980) was a Sri Lankan statesman, who served as the 3rd Prime Minister of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) fro ...
*
Karunasena Kodituwakku Karunasena Kodituwakku (born March 21, 1945) is a Sri Lankan politician, academic and diplomat. He was the Sri Lankan ambassador to China, and non-resident ambassador to Mongolia and North Korea.
*
Chandrika Kumaratunga Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga ( si, චන්ද්‍රිකා බණ්ඩාරනායක කුමාරතුංග, ta, சந்திரிகா பண்டாரநாயக்க குமாரதுங்க; born 29 Ju ...
*
Cyril Mathew Caluadewage Cyril Mathew (30 September 1912 – 17 October 1989) was a United National Party member of parliament, representing the Kelaniya electorate, and served as the Minister of Industry and Scientific Affairs in the Jayewardene cabine ...
* Anil Moonesinghe * Jude Perera *
N.M. Perera Nanayakkarapathirage Martin Perera, commonly known as Dr. N. M. Perera ( Sinhala එන්.එම්.පෙරේරා ; 6 June 1904 – 14 August 1979), was one of the leaders of the Sri Lankan Trotskyist Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP). He w ...
*
Ranasinghe Premadasa Sri Lankabhimanya Ranasinghe Premadasa ( si, රණසිංහ ප්‍රේමදාස ''Raṇasiṃha Premadāsa'', ta, ரணசிங்க பிரேமதாசா ''Raṇaciṅka Pirēmatācā''; 23 June 1924 – 1 May 1993) was t ...
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Mahinda Rajapaksa Mahinda Rajapaksa ( si, මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ, ta, மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ; born Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa; 18 November 1945) is a Sri Lankan politician. He served as the President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to ...
* Mahinda Samarasinghe *
Mangala Samaraweera Mangala Pinsiri Samaraweera (21 April 1956 – 24 August 2021; si, මංගල පින්සිරි සමරවීර, ta, மங்கள சமரவீர; ) was a Sri Lankan politician. He was the first openly gay politician from Sr ...
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Don Stephen Senanayake Don Stephen Senanayake ( si, දොන් ස්ටීවන් සේනානායක,; ta, டி. எஸ். சேனநாயக்கா; 21 October 1884 – 22 March 1952) was a Ceylonese statesman. He was the first Prime Min ...
* Dudley Senanayake *
Maithripala Senanayake Maithripala Senanayake (7 July 1916 – 12 July 1998) was a Sri Lankan politician and Governor of the North-Central province. He first studied at St. Joseph's College, Anuradhapura then at St. John's Jaffna, where he attained a mastery i ...
* Rosy Senanayake * Maithripala Sirisena * I. J. Wickrema *
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Ratnasiri Wickremanayake ( si, රත්නසිරි වික්‍රමනායක, ta, ரத்னசிறி விக்கிரமநாயக்க; 5 May 1933 – 27 December 2016) was a Sri Lankan politician who was Prime Mi ...
* Doreen Wickremasinghe * Ranil Wickremesinghe * Ranjan Wijeratne * Dingiri Banda Wijetunge *
Ranil Jayawardena Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena (born 3 September 1986) is a British politician who has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for North East Hampshire since 2015. A member of the Conservative Party, he served under Prime Minister Liz Truss as Secretary of ...
* Rohana Wijeweera


Scientists

*
Professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...
Chandre Dharma-wardana * Dr
Sarath Gunapala Sri Lanka Ranajana Dr Sarath Gunapala ( Sinhala:සරත් ගුණපාල) is a solid-state physicist, senior research scientist and group supervisor at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He works primarily in Quantum Well Infrared Photo ...
*Professor
Mohan Munasinghe Mohan Munasinghe is a Sri Lankan physicist, engineer and economist with a focus on energy, water resources, sustainable development and climate change. He was the 2021 Blue Planet Prize Laureate, and Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on ...
*Dr
Cyril Ponnamperuma Dr. Cyril Andrew Ponnamperuma ( Sinhala: ආචාර්ය සිරිල් ඇන්ඩෘ පොන්නම්පෙරුම) (16 October 1923 – 20 December 1994) was a Sri Lankan scientist in the fields of chemical evolution and ...
*Professor
Chandra Wickramasinghe Nalin Chandra Wickramasinghe (born 20 January 1939) is a Sri Lankan-born British mathematician, astronomer and astrobiologist of Sinhalese people, Sinhalese ethnicity. His research interests include the interstellar medium, infrared astronomy, ...
* Malik Peiris * Charith Mendis


Sportspeople


Racing

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Ananda Wedisinghe Ananda Wedisinghe ( si, ආනන්ද වෙඩිසිංහ) (1970 – 29 May 2017) was a Sri Lankan motor racing legend and eight time Diyatalawa#Sporting events, Fox Hill Supercross motorcycle national champion of Sri Lanka. He hailed fr ...
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Dilantha Malagamuwa Dilantha Ranjula Bandara Malagamuwa (Sinhalese: ඩිලන්ත රන්ජුල බණ්ඩාර මාලගමුව, Tamil: டிலந்த ரஞ்சுல (B)பண்டார மாலகமுவ ) (born 24 June 1963) is a ...


Athletics

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Sriyantha Dissanayake Deshabandu Sriyantha Dissanayake (also known as Sriyantha Subashan Abeysekara Dissanayake) is a Sri Lankan sprint athlete specializing in the 100 and 200 metres. Early life and education Sriyantha was a champion athlete during his school days at ...
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Damayanthi Dharsha Kobala Vithanage Damayanthi Dharsha-Kobalavithanage (born 13 February 1975) is a retired Sri Lankan athlete who competed in the 200 and 400 metres race events. She is the current Asian Games record holder in women's 200m event and current Asian ...
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Susanthika Jayasinghe Deshabandu Kameradin Susanthika Jayasinghe ( si, සුසන්තිකා ජයසිංහ; Tamil: சுசந்திகா ஜயசிங்ஹ, born December 17, 1975) is a Sri Lankan retired sprinter, who specialized in the 100 and ...
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Dinesh Priyantha Herath Mudiyansalage Dinesh Priyantha, also simply known as Dinesh Priyantha (born 15 July 1986), is a Sri Lankan Paralympian, Paralympic track and field athlete who competes in javelin T46 (classification), T46 events. He also served as an impor ...
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Himasha Eashan Himasha Eshan Waththakankanamge is a Sri Lankan sprint athlete specializing in the 200 and 100 metres. He studied at the Kalutara Vidyalaya. He held the South Asian and Sri Lankan records in the 100 m sprint with the time of 10.26 seconds, until ...
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Pradeep Sanjaya Uggal Dena Pathirannehelage Pradeep Sanjaya (born 29 April 1986) is a Paralympian track and field athlete from Sri Lanka competing mainly in T46 sprint events. In 2012, in London he became the first Sri Lankan competitor to win a Paralympic med ...
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Dulan Kodithuwakku Samitha Dulan Kodithuwakku (born 10 July 1990), also known as Samitha Dulan, is a Sri Lankan Paralympic track and field athlete. He made his first Paralympic appearance representing Sri Lanka at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. Personal life Sam ...
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Yupun Abeykoon Abeykoon Mudiyansalage Yupun Priyadarshana, known as Yupun Abeykoon, also referred to as Yupun Priyadarshana (born 31 December 1994) is a Sri Lankan track and field athlete and a national record holder in men's 100m, men's 200m and in men's ind ...


Cricket

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Marvan Atapattu Deshabandu Marvan Samson Atapattu (born 22 November 1970) is a Sri Lankan cricket coach and former cricketer who played for 17 years for Sri Lanka. Considered one of the most technically sound batsman in his era, Atapattu has scored six double ...
* Aravinda de Silva *
Martin de Silva Richard Martin M. de Silva (3 March 1903, in Galle – 12 August 1978) was a Ceylonese cricketer. He was an all rounder, who represented Ceylon in the first ever first-class cricket match played in the country. R. M. M. de Silva also played ...
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Gamini Goonesena Gamini Goonesena (16 February 1931 – 1 August 2011), born in Colombo, was a first-class cricketer from Ceylon who played prior to his country being granted Test status. A gifted allrounder who was a right-handed batsman and a legbreak and goog ...
* Churchill Gunasekara *
Asanka Gurusinha Deshabandu Asanka Pradeep Gurusinha (born 16 September 1966) is a Sri Lankan Australian former international cricketer who had an 11-year international career, playing 41 Tests and 147 One Day Internationals for Sri Lanka. He was a key member fo ...
* Douglas Dias Jayasinha *
Sanath Jayasuriya Deshabandu Sanath Teran Jayasuriya ( si, සනත් ජයසූරිය, ta, சனத் ஜெயசூர்யா; born 30 June 1969), is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and a captain. He is credited for having revolutionized one-day in ...
* Mahela Jayawardene * Ranjan Madugalle * Lasith Malinga * Roshan Mahanama *
Arjuna Ranatunga Deshamanya Arjuna Ranatunga ( si, අර්ජුන රණතුංග; ta, அர்ஜூன ரணதுங்க; born 1 December 1963), is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and politician, who was the 1996 Cricket World Cup winning captain ...
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Kumar Sangakkara Kumara Chokshananda Sangakkara ( si, කුමාර් චොක්ශනාද සංගක්කාර; born 27 October 1977) is a Sri Lankan cricket commentator, former professional cricketer, businessman, ICC Hall of Fame inductee and the ...
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Chaminda Vaas Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas (born 27 January 1974) is a former Sri Lankan international cricketer, who played all forms of the game, and a former ODI captain who is often described as the greatest fast medium bowl ...
* Bandula Warnapura


Swimming

* Matthew Abeysinghe *
Kyle Abeysinghe Kyle Abeysinghe (born 4 February 2000) is a Sri Lankan national swimmer who has represented his country at several international competitions. At the domestic level, Abeysinghe holds numerous national records, has been national champion severa ...
*
Cherantha de Silva Cherantha De Silva (born 12 July 1996) is a Sri Lankan medal-winning swimming (sport), swimmer, who has represented his country at 6 World Aquatics Championships, 3 FINA World Cup's, 2 Commonwealth Games, 1 Asian Games as well as 1 South Asian ...


Technologists

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Chamath Palihapitiya Chamath Palihapitiya (born 3 September 1976) is a Sri Lankan-born Canadian and American venture capitalist, engineer, SPAC sponsor, founder and CEO of Social Capital. Palihapitiya was an early senior executive at Facebook, working at the compan ...


Trade unionists

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Siritunga Jayasuriya Siritunga Jayasuriya was a contestant in the Sri Lanka presidential election in 2005. He received 35,405 votes, 0.36% of the votes cast and came third. He is a trade unionist and leader of the United Socialist Party. He was formerly a member of t ...
* I. J. Wickrema


Writers

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Shehan Karunatilaka Shehan Karunatilaka (born 1975) is a Sri Lankan writer. He grew up in Colombo, studied in New Zealand and has lived and worked in London, Amsterdam and Singapore. His 2010 debut novel '' Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew'' won the Commonwea ...
*
Gunadasa Amarasekara Gunadasa Amarasekera (born 1929) is a prominent Sinhala writer, poet, and essayist from Sri Lanka. Early life and education Gunadasa Amarasekera was born in Yattalamatta in Galle District. He was educated at Mahinda College, Galle and Nalanda ...
*
Sugathapala de Silva Sugathapala De Silva (4 August 1928 – 28 October 2002) was an acclaimed Sri Lankan dramatist and novelist, translator, radio play producer, and Sinhala Radio Play writer. Biography Early life Sugathapala De Silva was born on 4 August 1928 M ...
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Brendon Gooneratne Brendon Gooneratne (28 March 1938 – 21 June 2021) was a Sri Lankan scholarly method, scholar and physician. Educated at Royal College Colombo, Gooneratne gained his MBBS (Hons) from the University of Ceylon, Colombo and went on to gain a DAPE f ...
*
Regi Siriwardena Kala Keerthi Regi Siriwardena (15 May 1922 – 15 December 2004) was a Sri Lankan academic, journalist, poet, writer, playwright and writer of screenplays. Early life and education Reginald Siriwardena (known as 'Reggie' until the 1980s) wa ...


References


See also

* List of Sri Lankans *
Sinhalese people Sinhalese people ( si, සිංහල ජනතාව, Sinhala Janathāva) are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group native to the island of Sri Lanka. They were historically known as Hela people ( si, හෙළ). They constitute about 75% of t ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Sinhalese People S *
Sinhalese Sinhala may refer to: * Something of or related to the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka * Sinhalese people * Sinhala language, one of the three official languages used in Sri Lanka * Sinhala script, a writing system for the Sinhala language ** Sinha ...