Edna Sugathapala

Edna Kamala Yeromani (born 3 January 1946 – died 14 March 2018 as එඩ්නා සුගතපාල) [Sinhala]), popularly as Edna Sugathapala, was an award-winning actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[1] She is also a pianist, vocalist and astrologer. She is the only artiste in the Sri Lankan cinema who worked as a professional astrologer.[2] She is best known for the roles in films Miringuwa, Senehasa and Tharanaya.

Edna Sugathapala
එඩ්නා සුගතපාල
Born
Edna Kamala Yeromani

(1946-01-03)January 3, 1946
Gorakana, Panadura
DiedMarch 14, 2018(2018-03-14) (aged 72)
Nawaloka Hospital
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationGood Shepherd Convent
Holy Family Convent
OccupationActress, Singer, Astrologist
Years active1966–2019

She died on 14 March 2018 while receiving treatments at Colombo Nawaloka Hospital.[3] According to her wish, the body was handed over to a Medical College.[4]

Personal life

She was born on 3 January 1946 at Gorakana, Panadura.[5] She completed her education from Good Shepherd Convent, Colombo and then from Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya. Her mother Swarna Mary Bernadeth was a film producer.[6] Edna married on 28 February 1973.[7] She has one daughter, Veena.[8]

Career

At very small age, Sugathapala acted with Late Rukmani Devi for the song Doy Doyya Putha in the film Daiwayogaya.[4] She started his acting career through the play Gehenu Hatana produced by Dick Dias in 1966.[6] Apart from acting, she played piano and accordion in the playback music for films Surayangeth Suraya and Me Desa Kumatada.[9]

She started musical career at the age of 6. She graduated from Trinity College London examinations in piano.[5] In 1978, Sugathapala released her first music album Veena.[10] The songs were written by Karunaratne Abeysekera and music directed by Mohamed Sally. She also involved for duets sang with H.R. Jothipala. Sugathapala holds the record by being the only Sri Lankan actress to play as a professional musician in a musical orchestra in a film.[10] Her maiden cinematic experience came through 1966 film Senasuma Kothanada directed by K.A.W. Perera with a dance in song Sulan Kurullo.[11][12]

On 14 March 2015, she celebrated 50 years of artistic career by releasing CD with instrumental music titled Veena.[5] The ceremony was held at Mahaweli Centre, Colombo. Sugathapala wrote a book Sugatha Chintha.[6] In 2019, she returns to cinema after a break of a decade with the film Iskoleta Man Awa.[13]

She also acted in few television serials such as Sakura Mal,[14] Makara Vijithaya,[15] Rankira Soya [16] and Kindurangana.[17]

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
1966Senasuma Kothanada
1969Senehasa
1969Surayangeth Suraya[18]
1972Miringuwa
1972Edath Suraya Adath Suraya
1972Veeduru Gewal
1982Newatha Hamu WemuArt show announcer
1984Hitha Honda Kollek
1985Rosy
1985Obata Divura Kiyannam1st Doctor
1988Gedara Budun Amma
1997Tharanaya
2000UndayaBeatrice aunty[19]
2019Iskoleta Man AwaPrincipal's mother[20]

References
  1. "Actresses in Sri Lankan cinema - Edna Sugathapala". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  2. "Edna no more". Daily News. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  3. "Veteran Sri Lankan actress Edna Sugathapala passes away". News Tube. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  4. "Yesteryear Actress Edna Sugathapala Passed Away". emanthi. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  5. "A series of articles exploring the art world of the past". Sarasaivya. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  6. "Edna Sugathapala: Scripting humility into life". Fragments. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  7. "Edna Sugathapala who made amazing predictions". Divaina. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  8. "Edna Sugathapala died". Hiru FM. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  9. "Edna Sugathapala bids adieu". Sri Lanka Mirror. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  10. "Edna Sugathapala celebrates golden jubilee in art with 'Veena'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  11. "Edna Sugathapala filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  12. "Edna Sugathapala filmography". IMDb. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  13. "Edna Sugathapala Returns To The Silver Screen With 'Iskoleta Man Awa'". Asian Mirror. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  14. "'Sakura Mal' blooms on small screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  15. "Makara Vijithaya has unusual plot". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  16. "'Rankiri Soya' gives kids a hand". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  17. "Kindurangana". Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  18. "Old films back in action". nawacinema. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  19. "KAW toys with new idea". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  20. "Children's movie highlighting the value of education". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 August 2019.


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