Wijeratne Miyuri Samarasinghe (15 March 1939 – 6 February 2021: as ), popularly known as Miyuri Samarasinghe, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Apart from acting, she also worked as a dancer, scriptwriter, producer and director. She was serving as the president of Sudarshi Institute.

Personal life She was born on 15 March 1939 in Moratuwa. She first attended Holy Rosary Catholic School, Moratuwa and then went to Musaeus College. At the age of 14, she was able to perform upcountry and low country dances under the guidance of Jayantha Algama. Therefore, she was selected to perform the middle and end dances of the monthly radio show.

She worked for the Sinhala Cultural Institute (Sudarsi) as a teacher, holding various positions.

She married at the age of 17 and by the age of 24, she was a mother of four children. She met her husband Piyal Samarasinghe during school days. The couple has three daughters - Sujeewa, Deepthi, Awanthi - and one son, Ruwan. Deepthi and Awanthi are twins. Her husband Piyal died in 1979, when she was 39 years old.

She died on 6 February 2021 at the age of 81 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Acting career While still in school, she entered the Radio Ceylon and later went on to various radio programs with musician M. K. Rocksamy. She became a permanent member of the Maasika Reguma program. Meanwhile, she attended to radio drama screen test conducted by Dharma Sri Wickramasinghe and became one of the top five scorers. At that time, she joined other young artists in the radio such as Geetha Kanthi Jayakody and Niranjala Sarojini for programs such as Baloli Loli Loli. Although she moved away from art with her marriage, she later joined Mercy Edirisinghe for Welikala Ratna's stage play Aluth Dawasak.

Then she received many opportunities for acting in stage plays such as Ran Kanda, Umathusan Warusawa, Bammanno, Uruvisi, Hitha Honda Ammandi, Nattukkarayo, Nekatha, Othello, Sivamma Dhanapala, Lora and Nawasiya Anu Nawaya. She has acted in over 300 stage plays and produced and directed 10 plays. In 1981, she won the Award for Best Actress at Presidential Festival for the play Nawasiya Anu Nawaya. At the same year, her production Hima Kurullo received four awards at the Golden Design Awards for Best Actor, Actress, Script and Production. In 1983, she wrote and directed the short drama Loka Dekak Athara, where she won the Best actress award. Then she directed the play ''Parasakwala Peyak. It also won awards for the Best Actress and Best Production. She has appeared in over 300 different stage plays such as: Hita Honda ammaṇḍi, Pārā, Dēśapāluvā, Otelō, Næṭṭukkārayō, and Nækatha.

While she was still active on stage, she made her film debut with the film Baduth Ekka Horu with a minor role. Her first major role in films came through 1973 film Miringuwa directed by Amarasena Kumarasinghe. Since then, she has acted in many films under renowned filmmakers, including Podi Vijay, Adhishtanaya, Ridee Thella, Madol Duwa, Viragaya, Yahalu Yeheli and Adara Hasuna.

She entered television dramas with the New Year teledrama Erabadu Mal directed by Bandula Vithanage. After that she appeared in many motherly roles in over 500 tele serials such as Irata Handana Mal, Ira Paya, Ganga saha Nissanka, Sannaliyane, Nedeyo, Sihina Nimnaya, Sura Asura, Damini, Passe Gena Manamali and Sudo Sudu. She was also awarded the actress who acted in the most teledramas. She won Presidential Awards for Best Performance in 1976 and then Best Actress Award for drama Kemmura in 2002.

A concert Miyuri Samarasinghe Rangabhinandana organized by the Department of Culture and the Tower Hall Theater Foundation to pay tribute to her was held at the Maradana Tower Hall Theater on 4 October 2015. As she passed the 50th anniversary of her drama career, she wrote her life story and published a book titled Kala Lowe Mama Ipadunemi.

She has directed and produced nine stage dramas - Loka Dekak Athara, Parasakwala Peyak, Ammai Puthai, Hima Kurullo, Paara, Anna Karonina, Sapatheru Hamine, Abarthuwak, Miyuri Rangamala - and produced one play Muthu Aete. She was awarded the honorary title of Maanava Hithavadee Keerthi Sri Veeraputra Deshabandu in June, 2019 for the service towards drama in Sri Lanka.

Selected Television series Amarapuraya Damini Doo Daruwo Ganga Saha Nishshanka Giraya Hiruta Pipena Suriyakantha Irata Handana Mal Malsara Akunu Niranandaya Passe Gena Manamali Sansara Sakmana Sihina Nimnaya Sura Asura

Filmography Year Film Role Ref. 1969 Baduth Ekka Horu Beach layer 1972 Sithijaya 1976 Madol Duwa Upali's mother 1976 Vanarayo 1977 Eya Dan Loku Lamayek School trip teacher 1978 Madhuwanthi 1978 Saara 1978 Anupama Louie's wife 1979 Samanmali 1979 Nuwan Renu Mrs. Perera 1979 Visihathara Peya 1981 Ridee Thella 1982 Yasa Isuru Suraj and Suramya's aunt 1982 Adhistana 1982 Yahalu Yeheli Karunawathie 1983 Sumithuro Harassed woman 1983 Siw Ranga Sena 1983 Sister Mary Church servant 1984 Wadula Gatambi 1984 Muthu Menike 1984 Walle Thanu Maliga Cyril's mother 1984 Veera Madduma Bandara Second Queen 1985 Yuganthaya 1986 Gimhane Gee Naade Aunty 1986 Avurudu Da 1986 Aadara Hasuna 1987 Yugayen Yugayata 1987 Podi Vijay 1987 Mangala Thegga Mrs. Fernando 1987 Viragaya Gunawathie 1990 Pem Raja Dahana 1991 Keli Madala Gunawathie 1992 Sinha Raja 1992 Umayangana 1992 Salli Thibunata Madi 1993 Nelum Saha Samanmali 1994 Pawana Ralu Viya 1994 Handana Kinkini 1994 Yuwathipathi Janaraja's mother 1995 Maruthaya Dharme's associate's wife 1995 Ayoma 1996 Obatai Me Aradhana 1996 Sihina Deshayen 1996 Hitha Hondanam Waradin Na 1996 Bawa Sasara 1997 Bawa Duka Peduru's mother 1997 Bawa Karma 1998 Anthima Reya 1999 Salupata Ahasata 1999 Sathyadevi Aggie 2000 Salupata Ahasata 2 2001 Jack and Jill 2002 Kamasuthra Nelum's mother 2002 Rosa Patikki 2003 Sonduru Dadabima Kamal's mother 2003 Bheeshanaye Athuru Kathawak Sopina 2003 Sudu Salu Amara's mother 2005 Samantha 2005 Alu Yata Gini 2006 Samunoganna Sugandhika 2006 Bherunda Pakshiya 2008 Rosa Diganthe 2012 Vijaya Kuweni 2013 Ira Laga Wadi 2015 Aathma Warusha 2016 Paththini Villager 2017 Hima Tharaka 2017 Sellam Nethnam Lellam TBD Back to School

References

External links Chat With Miyuri Samarasinghe