News
Gamini Abeysinghe and Kamalangani Perusinghe’s legacy shines on
Sujeeva Nivunhella reporting from London
In a vibrant celebration of Sri Lankan theatrical heritage, the echoes of Sugathapala de Silva’s renowned 1960s stage play Bodingkarayo recently reverberated through the halls of the Winston Churchill Theatre in Ruislip, London.
The curtains rose once again, but this time under the expert guidance of veteran film star Gamini Abeysinghe, who transported this classic onto the international stage.
Abeysinghe, a luminary of 1960s cinema, handpicked a cast from the Sri Lankan community living in the UK, meticulously honing their talents to breathe life into the iconic play. The packed auditorium bore witness to the masterful rendition, warmly acknowledging the immense dedication poured into the production by both the producer and the actors.
Gamini
The cast included Achala Walpola, Lionel Bandara, Vithana Dhanaratne, Buminda Karunatilleke, Pandula Ranatunge, Ruwini Ranatunge, Amitha Kularatne, Hema Koralalage, Dulari Dilki Dissanayake, Milakshi Gunathilleke, Chameera Dondenu, Dulanjali Alahapperuma and Mihiri Ranawake, each contributing to the Sinhala stage hit of yesteryear replayed for the London audience.
This wasn’t the first time Abeysinghe had orchestrated such a revival. In 2012, he brought R.R. Samarakoon’s Kelani Palama to life in London, assembling a cast from the Lankan talent pool in the UK drawing audiences to numerous shows across the UK and Paris.
In an exclusive interview with this correspondent, Abeysinghe reminisced about his humble beginnings in the industry recalling his journey from Galle to Colombo in response to a newspaper advertisement in 1957. This led him to his debut in the film Daskama..
“Karunaratne Abeysekara was impressed by my performance and gave me the screen name Gamini Abeysinghe,” he reflected. “I was the first Gamini on the Silver Screen even before Gamini Fonseka.”
He fondly recounted his collaborations with Sinhala cinema stalwarts including D.R. Nanayakkara, Rukmani Devi, Tony Ransinghe, Malani Fonseka, Fareena Lai, Don Sirisena, Asoka Ponnamperuma, Lionel Deraniyagala, David Dharmakeerthi, L.M.Perera, Tissa Wijesurendra, Vijaya Kumaratunge, Wimal Kumara de Costa, Roy de Silva, Sumana Amarasinghe, Dommie Jayawardane, Bandu Samarasinghe, Eddie Junior and Mark Samaranayake acknowledging their contributions to his early years in the industry.
“I’ve acted in nine films including Me Desa Kumatada, Hadawathaka Wasanthaya, Sinawai Inawai, Sangeetha, and Sudu Pareviyo before I migrated to England in 1975,” he added.
In the diaspora, Abeysinghe’s dedication to fostering Sri Lankan culture remained strong. He actively engaged with the Sinhala Association of the United Kingdom, steering annual Sinhala New Year events and nurturing local talent through the establishment of the “Hela Parapura” cultural society.
While Abeysinghe carved his path in theatre and cinema, his life intertwined with that of Kamalangani Perusinghe, a renowned dancing teacher in Sri Lanka. Their love story began in Colombo when Abeysinghe, merely 15-years old, met Kamalangani, then 14.
Kamalangani, a protégé of the famed dancer Panibharatha, came into the limelight in the 1960s, leaving an indelible mark with her performances in ballets like Sama Vijaya and Bathe Upatha. Speaking to this correspondent, she shared her journey from teaching at Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya in Panadura to becoming a lecturer at the Teachers’ College of Aesthetic Education, Giragama, before relocating to England.
She established the Kamalagani Art Center in the UK meeting the need of the Lankan commuity in the UK by teaching dance to numerous children and adults.Together, Abeysinghe and Kamalangani have created a legacy that continues to thrive through their tireless dedication to keeping Sri Lankan performing arts alive in distant lands.
The Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake stated that the government has taken a policy decision to continue, without interruption, “School Nutrition Programme’’ aimed at reducing anemia among schoolchildren, which is being implemented with the assistance of the World Food Programme.
He made these remarks on Wednesday (23), during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat with representatives from relevant Ministries and government institutions involved in the programme, along with officials from the World Food Programme, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Pathfinder Foundation.
The school meal programme, aligned with the government’s initiative to provide nutritious lunch to primary school students in districts identified as having high levels of malnutrition, specifically targets the reduction of iron deficiency among schoolchildren. The initiative is jointly coordinated by the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Provincial Councils, the Food Promotion Board and the Partnership Secretariat for the World Food Programme Cooperation. The government has allocated Rs. 32 billion for this programme for the current year.
A pilot project is currently being implemented in four selected districts. Based on a formal health and nutrition study assessing the outcomes of this pilot project, there are plans to expand the programme island-wide. The study aims to determine the extent to which iron deficiency among schoolchildren can be reduced through this initiative.
As part of the programme, fortified rice enriched with iron and folic acid will be included in the school meals to specifically address anemia among students.
The World Food Programme, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gateway Foundation and the Pathfinder Foundation have pledged their continued support for this effort.
Present at the occasion were Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Dr. Anil Jasinghe, and Secretary to the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Malarmathy Gangatharan, along with other government officials and representatives from partner organizations.
[PMD]
Latest News
Heat index at ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 23 April 2025, valid for 24 April 2025
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota districts
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Retired SSP Shani Abeysekera, serving the Police Department again, has been appointed to the committee headed by Senior DIG Asanka Karawita, tasked with studying the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) report on the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.
The other members of the team are DIG, CID, Director, CID and Director Terrorism Investigation Division (TID)
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday said that Abeysekera had been one of the law enforcement officers whose conduct raised eyebrows over the years as regards the failure on the part of the CID to thwart the Easter Sunday attacks.
The National Police Commission approved the reappointment of SSP Abeysekera on contractual basis for one year, with effect from 10 Oct., 2024.
Abeysekera backed Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s presidential election campaign as a member of the retired police collective.
“School Nutrition Programme’’to continue, without interruption
Heat index at ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota districts
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