Sri Lankan film actor and former member of Sri Lankan Parliament, Malini Snehailatha Fonseka. File | Photo Credit: Hindu
Famous Sri Lankan actor Malini Fonseka – who played the female lead role in the Tamil film ‘Pilot Premnath’ [1978] Shivaji Ganesan starring – died in Colombo on Saturday (May 24, 2025). She was 78 years old.
After making her acting debut in the Sinhala Theater early in the 1960s, Ms. Fonseka won several awards and became an artist and film star.
She became familiar with the Indian audience with her role in ‘Pilot Premnath’, a joint Indo-Sri-Srilankai production directed by AC Trilokchender, which was shot at several scenic locations on the island. In a piece of 2023 on actor Shivaji Ganesan, senior journalist DBS Jyaraj pointed to the vibrant song ‘Buyanta Menic’ in the film, sung by LR Ishwari and Ae Manoran, based on the popular Sri Lanka’s popular music form ‘Bela’. The film was a hit in both countries.
Ms. Fonseca was also a member of the Parliament representing the alliance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa from 2010 to 2015 through the ‘National List’, which allocates seats for political parties based on her share of votes according to Sri Lanka’s proportional representation system. She remained a staunch supporter of Shri Rajapaksa.
Years after the end of the Civil War, Ms. Fonseca, along with other top Sri Lankan actors, invited her counterparts in Tamil Nadu to visit Sri Lanka and assess the post -war situation, when the South Indian Artist Association saw a fast in support of the Sri Lanka Tamil reason.
“The Sri Lankan film industry has borrowed many views, techniques and technicians in Tamil Nadu. Two film industries have had a very friendly and positive relationship since the 1950s. We want it to be continued,” said Ms. Fonseka. Hindu in 2013. “It was a pleasure to work with Shivaji Ganesan,” she said.
In 2019, Ms. Fonseca inaugurated the Women International Film Fest by Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) at St. Teresa College, Kochi, and called for more cooperation between technicians from India and Sri Lanka.
Officials announced that Ms. Fonseca’s funerals would be held on Monday with state honors.
Published – May 24, 2025 06:19 pm IST
