Kala Suri Kala Keerthi Dr. Keselgaspe Manatunga Jayalath Manoratne ( si, කෙසෙල්ගස්පේ මනතුංග ජයලත් මනෝරත්න; 12 June 1948 – 12 January 2020), popularly known as Jayalath Manoratne, was an

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lit ...

in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He was a lecturer by profession as well as a director and producer. A highly versatile actor from drama to comedy, Manoratne won awards at OCIC (International Catholic Organization for Cinema and Audiovisual), Presidential, Sarasaviya, Raigam Tele'es, Sumathi and the State Literary and Drama festivals. He was the best actor back to back in 1991 and 1992 for his performance in ''Socrates'' and ''Dvitva''. He is considered by critics as one of the five actors who have dominated the Sri Lankan Stage. He died on 12 January 2020 while receiving treatment for cancer at the age of 71.

Personal life

Manoratne was born on 12 June 1948 in Dehipe,

Nuwara Eliya Nuwara Eliya ( si, නුවර එළිය ; ta, நுவரெலியா) is a city in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its name means "city on the plain (table land)" or "city of light". The city is the administrativ ...

as the youngest son in the family of six children. His father Keselgaspe Manatunga Perera was a lorry driver and mother Agalakotuwa Herath Mudiyanselage Leela Kumari was a housewife. He undertook his education at the Dehipe Primary School and Poramadulla Central College. Jayalath has three brothers, Manatunga Seneviratne, Manatunga Wijeratne and Manatunga Ariyaratne and two sisters, Indra Kumari and Mallika Kumari. At an early age, his music teacher, Sunil Sriyananda, recognised his abilities and encouraged him to take up acting and singing. During his school times, he engaged in several educational as well as extra curricular activities such as Secretary of Sinhala Literary Association (1965), President of the Theater Council (1966), President of the Sinhala Association (1967–68) and Committee member of the Drama Board and Gandharva congregation (1969). Manoratne was the Student Leader at Boys' Hostel in 1965–66. In 1966, he became the Senior Most Valuable Player in College Inter-Athletic Championship. After completing his secondary education with Geography, Sinhala and Buddhist Civilization for G.C.E A/L, he attended the

University of Peradeniya The University of Peradeniya ( si, පේරාදෙණිය විශ්වවිද්‍යාලය, ta, பேராதனைப் பல்கலைக்கழகம்) is a public university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University ...

, where he continued to study drama under the guidance of Professor

Ediriweera Sarachchandra Dr. Veditantirige Eustace Reginold de Silva (later became Veditantirige Ediriweera Ranjitha Sarachchandra) (3 June 1914 – 16 August 1996; Sinhala: මහාචාර්ය එදිරිවීර සරච්චන්ද්‍ර), popularly ...

. Manoratne completed his master's degree from University of Sri Jayewardenepura, also obtaining a PhD. He was the only postgraduate to obtain a First Class Degree in 1995. In 2013, he accepted an honorary

Doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''l ...

( D. Litt) from

. In 1981, he completed an external diploma in Rural Development from University of Colombo. He was married to Tamara Jayanthi since 1979 to his death. The couple has one daughter, Uthpala Indeewari and one son, Bhanuka Prabuddha. Uthpala is married to Shivanka Perera and Bhanuka is married to Hiranya Dulashini Gamaariya.

Stage drama career

In 1966 Manoratne started acting when he was a school student, making his acting debut in the stage drama ''Aspha Gudung'', which was selected for the finals of the annual provincial inter-school drama competition and won the Certificate of Excellence in Performance at the All Island Inter-School Drama Competition. Originally playing minor roles in plays as ''Maname'', ''Sinhabahu'' under Sarachchandra's guidance, Manoratne embarked on a mainstream acting career, beginning with the operatic play ''Premato Jayati Soko'' with the role "Uddala Bamuna". Whilst performing in this play he met his future wife, Tamara Jayanthi. Manoratne went to Nuwara Eliya Kachcheri to get a job and at that time, he produced remakes of Sarachchandra's plays ''Raththaran'' and ''Elowa Gihin Melowa Awa''. He has acted under all the five major stage drama directors in Sri Lankan history - Sarachchandra, Sugathapala de Silva,

Dayananda Gunawardena Hettipathirannehelage Dayananda Gunawardena ( Sinhala: දයානන්ද ගුනවර්ධන) (15 October 1934 – 24 June 1993), better known as Dayananda Gunawardena, was a Sri Lankan playwright, actor, lyricist, dramatist, radio play ...

Gunasena Galappatty Gunasena Galappatty (born June 7, 1927, in Dikwella in Matara, Sri Lanka) was a Sri Lankan dramatist, director, producer, and Sinhala radio play writer regarded as the pioneer of suspense drama in Sri Lanka. Education Galappatty attended Dikwell ...

and

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 televis ...

. In 1980, he produced his maiden theater play ''Mahagiri Damba''. His only translation drama play came through ''Puthra Samagama'' produced in 1985. It is the adaptation of Russian play ''The Elder Son'' by Alexander Vampilov. In 1988, he produced the popular play ''Thalamala Pipila'' and then ''Andarela'' in 1993. The play ''Andarela'' also brings Manoratne's first documentary role. In 1996 he produced ''Guru Tharuwa'' and then ''Sanda Gira'' in 1998. He continuously produced plays of many genres in following years including ''Kaneru Mal'' (2000), ''Lokaya Thani Yayak'' (2005), ''Makara remake'' (2007), ''Sudu Redi Horu'' (2008), ''Buruwa Mahaththaya'' (2012), ''Sellam Nirindu'' (2013) and ''Handa Nihanda'' (2016). During the 26 consecutive years from 1980 to 2016, he made nearly 15 plays. From that time on Manoratne acted in over 80 plays, and directed eleven plays of his own. His play ''Andarela'' won the State Literary Award in 1995 and then ''Guru Tharuwa'' won State Literary Award in 1996. In 2014, Manoratne performed in a theater festival named ''Dawas Pahalos Daha (fifteen thousand days)'', which showcased a collection of eight plays representing different periods and issues and produced by Manoratne himself. These eight stage plays were ''Lokaya Thani Yayak'', ''Sellam Nirindu'', ''Thalamala Pipila'', ''Buruwa Mahaththaya'', ''Guru Tharuwa'', ''Andarela'' and ''Puthra Samagama''.

Notable stage dramas

*''Ahas Maliga'' *''Andarela'' *''Andirale Nadagama'' *''Angara Ganga Gala Basi'' *''Ape Panthi Kamaraya'' *''Api Gewanne Na'' *''Asaatha Manthare'' *''Aspha Gudung'' *''Buruwa Mahaththaya'' *''Chitrage Prema Kathawa'' *''Debiddo'' *''Diwes Helanu Mena'' *''Don Juan'' *''Dunna Dunu Gamuve'' *''Dvitva'' *''Elowa Gihin Melowa Awa'' *''Gajaman Puwatha'' *''Guru Tharuwa'' *''Handa Nihanda'' *''Hiru Nathi Lowa'' *''Horu Samaga Heluwen'' *''Jasaya Saha Lenchina'' *''Kaneru Mal'' *''Lokaya Thani Yayak'' *''Lucinde'' *''Maala Walalu'' *''Maa Wani Bilinda'' *''Madhura Javanika'' *''Madhura Pura'' *''Magul Prastava'' *''Maha Giri Damba'' *''Mahe Hene Kathawa'' *''Maha Hene Riri Yaka'' *''Mahasara'' *''Makara'' *''Maname'' *''Mayadevi'' *''Megha'' *''Modara Mola'' *''Naaga Gurula'' *''Nari Bena'' *''Nariya Saha Keju'' *''Nelum Pokuna'' *''Oththukaraya'' *''Pematho Jayathi Soko'' *''Perahera Enawo'' *''Pokuru Wassa'' *''Puthra Samagama'' *''Raassa Saha Paraassa'' *''Raththaran remake'' *''Ratu Hattakari'' *''Rhinoceros'' *''Sahathika Nokala Maranayak'' *''Sanda Gira'' *''Sapiriwara Mathin'' *''Satha Saha Satha'' *''Sathuru Mithuru'' *''Sellam Nirindu'' *''Serade Seetha'' *''Sihina Sappuwa'' *''Sinhabahu'' *''Siri Sangabo'' *''Socrates'' *''Subhasadhaka'' *''Subha Saha Yasa'' *''Suddek Oba Amathai'' *''Sudu Redi Horu'' *'' Tharavo Igilethi'' *''Thawath Udesanak'' *''Thala Mala Pipila'' *''Ukdandu Ginna'' *''Wasudeva'' *''Wessanthara'' *''Yathra''

Television

Manoratne started his television career with the drama ''Aebeddiya'' of Parakrama Niriella. Then he showcased his ability through many serials such as ''Doo Daruwo'', ''Sindui Bindui'', ''Gamperaliya''. His role as "Punsiri" in ''Doo Daruwo'' became highly popularized. He became popular in comedy roles in ''Bodima'' and then in ''Ramya Suramya''. In 2005, Manoratne played triple roles for the first time in Sri Lankan teledrama history in a miniplay directed and scripted by himself, titled ''Thunpath Ratawaka Lassana''. In 2006, he directed the serial ''Mage Kaviya Mata Denna''. Apart from acting, Manoratne also directed many television serials such as ''Sekku Gedara'', ''Ransirige Sangramaya'', ''Mage Kaviya Mata Denna'', ''Thunpath Ratawaka Lassana'', ''Eeye Ada Saha Heta'' and ''Thaththe Api Awa''. He also directed single episode miniplays such as ''Bappage Paminima'', ''Aege Awurudda'', ''Raja Thun Kattuwa'', ''Nidahasa'', ''Seettuwa'', ''Denna Demallo'', ''Sathuru Mithuru'', ''Duppathunda Adaraya Karathi'', ''Santhapaya'' and ''Buddha Puthra''.

Selected television serials

* ''Abeddiya'' * ''Arungal'' *''Bodima'' *''Bumuthurunu'' *''Deiyo Sakki'' * ''Deweni Yuddhaya'' * ''Deweni Gamana'' *'' Doo Daruwo'' * ''Doratu Rakinno'' * ''Dumriya Andaraya'' *''Eeye Ada Saha Heta' *''Gal Pilimaya Saha Bol Pilimaya'' * ''Gajaman Nona'' *''Gamperaliya'' *''Ganga Saha Nissanka'' *''Hath Pana'' * ''Hiru Sandu Hamuwe'' *''Hiruta Muwawen'' *''Irata Handana Mal 2'' * ''Jeewithaya Dakinna'' *''Kande Gedara'' *''Madol Doowa'' * ''Mage Kaviya Mata Denna'' *''Manik Nadiya Gala Basi'' *''Man Nathida'' * ''Minissu'' *''Moragiri Kanda'' *''Nomerena Minissu'' *''Nopipena Mal'' * ''Passe Gena Manamali'' (1989) *''Pateelage Kathawa'' * ''Pawara Menuwara'' *''Punchi Patau'' * ''Ramya Suramya'' *''Ranketi Doni'' * ''Roda Hatara Manamalaya'' *''Sabanda Eliyas'' *''Sakisanda Eliyas'' *''Samanali'' * ''Sanda Amawakai'' *''Sandara Vandana'' *''Sasara Sanda'' *''Saradiel'' * ''Sedona'' *''Senehasata Amanthranayak'' *''Sindui Bindui'' *''Sooriya Kusuma'' * ''Thunpath Ratawaka Lassana'' * ''Uthuwankande Sura Saradiyel'' * ''Veeduru Mal'' * ''Vinivindimi'' *''Visithunweni Horawa'' * ''Walakulu'' * ''Wanabime Sirakaruwo'' * ''Warna'' *''Wetath Niyarath'' * ''Weten Eha''

Radio Play

''Tharuwan Saranai''

''Bashmanthara''

Author works

*''Dolos Mahe Pahana'' *''Dawasa Thawamath Tharunai'' *''Minihata Ninda Yanda Ati'' *''Piyadasa saha Kumariya'' *''Sindu Bindu'' *''Sinhala Naatye Prasangika Kalathmaka Wardhanaya'' *''Wahi Enathuru''

Illness and death

Manoratne suffered from a brain cancer for sometime. On 13 November 2018, he was admitted to a private hospital, Colombo at 2.00 p.m and underwent a surgery for a brain tumor. After the surgery he continued to work in dramas for a brief period, when the illness got worse. He continued to take medical treatment from Apeksha Cancer Hospital, Maharagama since mid 2019. On 12 January 2020, he died while receiving treatment at the hospital. Funeral took place on 15 January 2020 and cremated at Boralesgamuwa.

Filmography

Manoratne started his cinema career with a minor role in ''Thilaka and Thilaka'' in 1979. Then he entered professional cinema acting through the 1979 film '' Handaya'' which was directed by Titus Thotawatte. Since then, he has acted in more than 30 films across many genres of drama, romance, thriller and comedy. He was a recipient of Kalasuri and Kala Keerthi due to his enormous contribution to the drama career. Some of his notable films include ''Sooriya Arana'', ''Ho Gaana Pokuna'', ''Bherunda Pakshiya'' and ''Walapatala'', where he was awarded for best actor and best supporting actor in many ceremonies. His final film act came through Theja Iddamalgoda's debut film ''Ashavari''.

Awards and accolades

He has won several awards at the local stage drama festivals and television festivals, both for acting and direction. * State Literary Awards – for his two books ''Andarela'' and ''Guru Tharuwa'' * Manoratne's script ''Thalamala Pipila'' is prescribed for G.C.E O/L syllabus.

State Literary Awards

, - , , 1974 , , , ''Rathu Hattakari'' , , Best Actor , , , - , , 1985 , , , ''Puthra Samagama'' , , Best Actor , , , - , , 1988 , , , ''Thalamala Pipila'' , , Best Actor , , , - , , 1988 , , , ''Thalamala Pipila'' , , Best Director , , , - , , 1988 , , , ''Thalamala Pipila'' , , Best Script , , , - , , 1990 , , , ''Socrates'' , , Best Actor , , , - , , 1991 , , , ''Dvitva'' , , Best Actor , , , - , , 1993 , , , ''Andarela'' , , Best Script , , , - , , 1995 , , , ''Andarela'' , , Best Play , , , - , , 1996 , , , ''Guru Tharuwa'' , , Best Script , , , - , , 1996 , , , ''Guru Tharuwa'' , , Best Play , ,

Sarasaviya Awards

, - , , 1988 , , , ''Mangala Thegga'' , , Best Supporting Actor , , , - , , 2004 , , , ''Sudu Kaluwara'' , , Best Supporting Actor , , , - , , 2007 , , , ''Berunda Pakshiya'' , , Best Supporting Actor , , , - , , 2015 , , , ''Ho Gaana Pokuna'' , , Best Supporting Actor , ,

Raigam Tele'es

, - , , 2009 , , , ''Arungal'' , , Best Actor , , , - , , 2013 , , , ''Service to the drama'' , ,

Prathibha Prabha Award The Raigam Tele'es Prathibha Prabha Award is presented annually in Sri Lanka by the Kingdom of Raigam for the artists who devoted their life to the improvement of Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. The award was first given in 2007. The ...

, ,

Sumathi Awards

, - , , 2002 , , , ''Sanda Amawakai'' , ,

Best Actor Best Actor is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actors in a film, television series, television film or play. The term most often refers to the ...

, , , - , , 2004 , , , ''Ramya Suramya'' , , Best Script , ,

Hiru Golden Film Award ''Hiru Golden Film Awards'' (Sinhala:හිරු රන් සිනමා සම්මාන) is an award bestowed to distinguished individuals involved with the Sri Lanka's silver screen, awarded by the Asia Broadcasting Corporation, Sri Lank ...

, - , , 2016 , , , ''Ho Gaana Pokuna'' , , Best Comedian , ,

References

External links

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දොළොස් මහේ පහන දල්වා 49 වසරකට පසු

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දිවිමඟ විසිතුරු

ජ්‍යේෂ්ඨ සහ ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨ මනෝ

මනෝ ගැන මනෝ කී කතා

මනෝරත්නගේ නිමල ළමාවියේ මිහිරිමතකය

ඔහුගේම රංගනවේදයක් ලංකාවට හඳුන්වා දුන්නා

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Manoratne, Jayalath 1948 births 2020 deaths Deaths from brain tumor Sri Lankan male television actors Sinhalese male actors Sri Lankan male film actors