Swarna Mallawarachchi

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Swarna Mallawarachchi (born 1 August 1948: Template:Langx), is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema. Often known as the "Golden star of Sinhalese cinema", Swarna began her acting career whilst still a schoolgirl, starring in the 1966 blockbuster film Sath Samudura directed by Siri Gunasinghe.^[1] During a career spanning over 40 years, Swarna has won the 'Best Actress Award' 26 times, most by a Sri Lankan actress.^[2]

Personal life

She was born on 1 August 1, 1948. ^[3] in Kosgas Junction, Grandpass, Colombo. She completed her education at Vijayaba Maha Vidyalaya, Grandpass.^[4]

In a Colombo municipal election, Swarna, along with other communist leaders such as Peter Kehnemann and K. P. de Silva, fielded Abeysena, a candidate from his party in the Northern Grandpass division.

Swarna has one daughter named Naredra Bandaranayake.

Career

In school, she collaborated with her friend Kanthi Kalyani Atugoda for the handwritten school magazine "Pipena Kumudu." Through the magazine, she showcased her abilities.

Swarna left Sri Lankan cinema for a brief period in the 1970s to live abroad. When she returned after a four-year absence, there was an influx of new actresses. Swarna accepted supporting roles from directors during this period and obtained the Best Actress awards for these roles during these years.^[5]

In 1983, she played the main role of 'Ranmali' in the thriller drama film Dadayama directed by Vasantha Obeysekera. After receiving positive reviews by the critics, she won the Best Actress award at the Sarasaviya Awards for the role.

She has been appointed the UNHCR ambassador for women's rights in Sri Lanka since 2004.

Swarna's truly unique role as an actress is evident in films such as Vasantha Obeysekera's Dadayama (The Hunt) and Kadapathaka Chayava (Reflections in the Mirror), Dharmasiri Bandaranayake's Suddhilage Kathawa (The Story of Suddhi) and Bava Duka / Bava Karma, Sumitra Peries' Sagara Jalaya (Letter Written in the Sand) and Prasanna Vithanage's Anantha Rathriya (Dark Night of the Soul).^[6]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role
1967	Sath Samudura	Soma ^[7]
1969	Hanthane Kathawa	Subhadra ^[8]
1970	Thunman Handiya	Yasawathi
1970	Nim Wallala
1971	Samanala Kumariyo Samaga Api Kawadath Surayo
1973	Mathara Achchi	Sumithra aka Sumi
1973	Gopalu Handa
1973	Hondama Welawa
1974	Ahas Gauwa	Vijitha
1980	Muwan Palessa 2
1980	Sankhapali	Sugala
1980	Hewanali Eda Minissu
1980	Hansa Vilak	Miranda Ranaweera ^[9]
1980	Sinhabahu	Supra
1981	Anjana	^[10]
1981	Chanchala Rekha	Kamala
1982	Ridee Nimnaya	Leelawathi
1982	Kiri Suwanda
1982	Kala Mal
1982	Biththi Hathara	Samara
1982	Yahalu Yeheli	Gina
1983	Dadayama	Rathmali Kekunawela ^[11]
1983	Samanala Sihina
1983	Muwan Palessa 3
1984	Maya	Kumari's mother ^[12]
1985	Suddilage Kathaawa	Suddi ^[13]
1985	Doringe Sayanaya
1985	Karadiya Walalla
1986	Maldeniye Simion	Gunawathi ^[14]
1987	Yugayen Yugayata
1987	Kawuluwa
1988	Sagara Jalaya Madi Haduwa Oba Sanda	Heen Kella
1989	Kedapathaka Chaya	Nandawathi Bandara
1993	Madara Parasathu	Chithra
1994	Mee Haraka	Yamuna Nanayakkara
1995	Ayoma	Ayoma
1997	Bawa Duka	Nona Hami
1997	Bawa Karma	Nona Hami
1998	Chanda Kinnari
2001	Anantha Rathriya	Weerasinghe Arachchige Piyumi
2004	Premawanthayo
2014	Thanha Rathi Ranga	Manorani
2016	Age Asa Aga
2023	Dada Ima	Rohini Kekunawela^[15]
2025	Rani	Manorani Saravanamuttu