Henry Jayasena
හෙන්රි ජයසේන
Born
Bastian Koralage Henry Rudrigo Jayasena

(1931-07-06)6 July 1931
Gampaha, Sri Lanka
Died11 November 2009(2009-11-11) (aged 78)
Colombo South (Kalubowila) General Hospital - Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationLorenz College Gampaha
Nalanda College Colombo
Occupation(s)Film, television, and stage actor, Playwright and Director
Years active1958–1999
Known forActing, Cinema, Theatre
SpouseManel Ilangakoon (m. 1962)
ChildrenSudaraka Jayasena
AwardsDoctor[1]

Kala Keerthi[2] Dr[3][4][5] 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 television.[6][7] With a career spanning more than four decades, Jayasena is considered one of the best dramatists in Sri Lankan drama.[8]

Personal life

He was born on 6 July 1931 in Bendiyamulla, Gampaha. He attended the Gampaha branch of Lorenz College for primary education. He then attended Nalanda College Colombo for his secondary education. During his time at the school, he was classmates with many successful people, among who were Dr. Dharmasena Attygalle, Karunaratne Abeysekera, Dr. Harischandra Wijayatunga, Dr. Hudson Silva, Hon. Rupa Karunathilake,

Jayasena was married to fellow actress Manel Ilangakoon in 1962. Manel played the lead role in Jayasena's play Kuweni and won the best actress award for her performance at the State Drama Festival. The couple has one son, Sudaraka Jayasena.[9] Manel has acted in many popular television serials such as Ekagei Kurullo, Sathpura Wasiyo and Hiru Kumari. She died in 2004 at age 68.[10]

Early career

Prior to acting, Jayasena began his career as an assistant teacher of English at the Dehipe Primary School in Padiyapellela in the Nuwara Eliya district in 1950.[9] While teaching at the school, he directed his first stage play, Janaki. However, Jaysena left this post a few months later after passing the General Clerical Service Examination and securing a job with the Public Works Department (PWD) of Sri Lanka.[11]

Before retiring from government work, he also served as Deputy Director for the National Youth Services Council in the Arts and Sports Division as well as the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation in Programs Division.[9]

Golden career

While with Public Works Department, Jaysena created many of his most famous plays, including Pawkarayo [12] (1958), Janelaya (1962), Kuweni (1963), Thavath Udesenak (1964), Manaranjana Wedawarjana (1965), Ahas Malilga (1966), Hunuwataye Kathawa (1967), Apata Puthey Magak Nethey (1968), Diriya Mawa (1972), Makara (1973) and Sarana Siyoth Se Puthini Habha Yana (1975).

Jaysena started his cinema career with the 1959 film Sri 296 with the role "Jayaweera". During the 1960s, Jaysena played the starring roles of "Piyal" in Gamperaliya (1964), "Azdak" in Hunuwataye Kathawa (1967) and "Lalith" in Dahasak Sithuvili (1968) and Avurududa (1986).[13]

He also worked consistently in television series after the introduction of television to Sri Lanka in the late 1970s. Jayasena was involved with the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation from its early beginnings in the 1980s. He portrayed the role of "Sudu Seeya" in the tele drama Doo Daruwo directed by Nalan Mendis and written by Dr. Somaweera Senanayaka.[13] The serial became highly popularized and was awarded at many local television award festivals. It was the longest tele drama telecast during the 1990s in Sri Lanka.

Jayasena retired from acting in 1999 due to treatments for a terminal disease.[9] However, he made two supporting appearances in two films, Punchi Suranganavi in 2002 and Randiya Dahara in 2004.

Selected stage plays

  • Harischandra
  • Janelaya'
  • Thavath Udesanak
  • Manaranjana Wedawarjana
  • Ahas Maliga
  • Hunuwataye Kathawa
  • Kuweni
  • Apata Puthe Magak Nathe
  • Diriya Mawa
  • Makara
  • Sarana Siyoth Se Puthuni Haba Yana

Beyond acting

Apart from acting, he also worked as a screenplay writer, lyricist and author. He contributed to the local newspaper by writing for the "Artscope page" of the Sri Lanka Daily News for many years.[9][13]

Author work

  • Minisun Woo Daruwo
  • Hunuwataye Kathawa [14]
  • Karaliyaka Kathawak
  • Niliyakage Kathawak
  • Nim Nethi Kathawak
  • Balga Gilano
  • Adarshawath Baenku Niyamuwaku A Gaman Maga
  • Sudu Seeyage Kavi Sindu
  • Play Is The Thing
  • Kuweni
  • Janelaya

Legacy

In 2003, Jayasena was presented with Nalanda Keerthi Sri award by his school Nalanda College, Colombo.[15][16][17]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1959Sri 296Jayaweera
1959Gehenu GetaBandula
1963Wena Swargayak Kumatada
1963GamperaliyaPiyal[18]
1963Suhada Sohoyuro
1964Heta Pramada WadiManager
1966Seegiri KashyapaChandra Deva[19]
1967Sadol Kandulu
1968Dahasak SithuviliLalith[20]
1972Atheethayen Kathawak
1972Miringuwa
1977Maruwa Samaga WasePolice Inspector
1979PalagetiyoGunadasa
1979DutugemunuKing Kavanatissa (voice)
1979HandayaPerera[21]
1980Hansa VilakDouglas Ranawira[22]
1980Ganga AddaraHead Doctor
1981BaddegamaVillage Headsman[23]
1981Soldadu UnneheWillie 'Mahattaya'
1981SooriyakanthaKirthi Bandara
1982Thana GiraviDoctor Siri Kulasekara / Douglas Kulasekara
1982Kadawunu Poronduwa remakeDoctor
1983KaliyugayaPiyal
1984Hima KatharaCaptain
1984Ammai Duwai
1986Avurududa
1988Sandakada PahanaShelterer
1993Ordinary MagicPriest
1996Amanthaya
2002Punchi SuranganaviDoctor
2004Randiya DaharaSamantha's father

References

  1. ↑ "New Year 2006 : Hopes and aspirations". Sunday Observer - Lakehouse Newspapers. 1 January 2006. Archived from the original on 14 November 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  2. ↑ National Awards Conferred by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka
  3. ↑ In memory of Henry
  4. ↑ A decade of dedicated service
  5. ↑ Punchi Theatre needs financial backing
  6. ↑ "Actors in Sinhala cinema - Henry Jayasena - හෙන්රි ජයසේන". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  7. ↑ "Henry Jayasena - හෙන්රි ජයසේන filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  8. ↑ "Sri Lankan Stage Drama". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Taking Center Stage! Henry Jayasena a Legendary Actor And Playwright". Hi.lk. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  10. ↑ "Stars that shape our telly screen and say goodbye to us". aniwa.lk. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  11. ↑ "Henry Jayasena". Upali Group of Companies. 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  12. ↑ Dr Henry Jayasena - some personal reflections
  13. 1 2 3 "Remembering Henry Jayasena". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  14. ↑ "Grusha, Natella, Aniko and Ludovica". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  15. ↑ Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara nominated for Nalanda Keerthi Sri 2010
  16. ↑ Nalanda Keerthi Sri
  17. ↑ Effervescent thespian
  18. ↑ "All about the blockbuster film "Gamperaliya"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  19. ↑ "All about Seegiri Kashyapa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  20. ↑ "All about Dahasak Sithuvili". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  21. ↑ "All about Handaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  22. ↑ "All about "Hansa Vilak"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  23. ↑ "All about Beddegama". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
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