Malani Fonseka Queen of Cinema

 'I Love You All' Malani Fonseka final message to her fans.                                               Hela Cinema actress queen malani fonseka says goodbye to her life . 25th May 2025 @ 9.07pm at the Sri Lanka film corporation ,Colombo 7 , A large number of people, including

prominent politicians and renowned

artistes, gathered at the National Film

Corporation yesterday to pay their final

respects to the late veteran actress Malini

Fonseka, revered as the Queen of Sri Lan-

kan cinema. Her remains were placed at

the Tharangani Hall of the National Film

Corporation for public viewing.

The final rites of Malini Fonseka were

scheduled to be held with full state hon-

ours at Independence Square premises

today (26). Accordingly, the state funeral

ceremony will take place at Independence

Square, Colombo today evening.

A discussion regarding the arrange-

ments for the state funeral was held Satur-

day (24) at the Presidential Secretariat,

under the leadership of Buddhasasana,

Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister

Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi and Secretary

to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath

Kumanayake. It was during this meeting

 .that the official arrangements were con-

firmed.

Extensive discussions were held regard-

ing the necessary arrangenments to pro-

vide appropriate facilities for the public

arriving from across the country to pay

their final respects to the remains of

Malani Fonseka.

The meeting was also attended by Sen-

ior Additional Secretary to the President

Roshan Gamage, Secretary to the Minis-

try of Public Administration S. Aloka

Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of

Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural

Affairs Prince Senadheera, along with

members of Malani Fonseka's family, fel-

- low artistes and other digmitaries.

Wanniarachchige Malini Senehelatha

Fonseka, born on April 30, 1947, was a

celebrated Sri Lankan actress, director,

and former Member of Parliament. With

a career spanning over six decades, she

starred in more than 140 films, beginning

with her debut in Punchi Baba (Little

Baby) in 1963. Over the years, she

received numerous national and interna-

tional accolades for her outstanding con-

tributions to the arts.

She appeared in several critically

acclaimed and beloved films, including

Nidhanaya by Lester James Peries, Siripa-

la Saha Ranmenika by Amaranath Jay-

athilake, and Eya Den Loku Lamayek and

Bambaru Awith by Dharmasena Pathiraja.

Malini Fonseka also made history as Sri

Lanka's first female teledrama director,

having both directed and acted in the

ground-breaking television drama 'Nirupa-

mala'. Honoured both at home and

abroad, she was a cultural icon whose

artistic legacy continues to inspire genera-

tions in Sri Lankan cinema and perform-

ing arts. Malini Fonseka passed away on

Saturday (24) at the age of 78, while

undergoing treatment at a Colombo hos-

pital.