Kala KeerthiNational Awards Conferred by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka DrIn memory of HenryA decade of dedicated service Punchi Theatre needs financial backing 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. With a career spanning more than four decades, Jayasena is considered one of the best dramatists in Sri Lankan drama.

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. Manel has acted in many popular television serials such as Ekagei Kurullo, Sathpura Wasiyo and Hiru Kumari. She died in 2004 at age 68.

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. 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.

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.

Golden career While with Public Works Department, Jaysena created many of his most famous plays, including Pawkarayo Dr Henry Jayasena - some personal reflections (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).

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. 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. 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.

Author work Minisun Woo Daruwo Hunuwataye Kathawa 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.Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara nominated for Nalanda Keerthi Sri 2010Nalanda Keerthi SriEffervescent thespian

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref. 1959 Sri 296 Jayaweera 1959 Gehenu Geta Bandula 1963 Wena Swargayak Kumatada 1963 Gamperaliya Piyal 1963 Suhada Sohoyuro 1964 Heta Pramada Wadi Manager 1966 Seegiri Kashyapa Chandra Deva 1967 Sadol Kandulu 1968 Dahasak Sithuvili Lalith 1972 Atheethayen Kathawak 1972 Miringuwa 1977 Maruwa Samaga Wase Police Inspector 1979 Palagetiyo Gunadasa 1979 Dutugemunu King Kavanatissa (voice) 1979 Handaya Perera 1980 Hansa Vilak Douglas Ranawira 1980 Ganga Addara Head Doctor 1981 Baddegama Village Headsman 1981 Soldadu Unnehe Willie 'Mahattaya' 1981 Sooriyakantha Kirthi Bandara 1982 Thana Giravi Doctor Siri Kulasekara / Douglas Kulasekara 1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa remake Doctor 1983 Kaliyugaya Piyal 1984 Hima Kathara Captain 1984 Ammai Duwai 1986 Avurududa 1988 Sandakada Pahana Shelterer 1993 Ordinary Magic Priest 1996 Amanthaya 2002 Punchi Suranganavi Doctor 2004 Randiya Dahara Samantha's father

References

External links

Author work by Henry Jayasena Henry Jayasena‘A gifted and decent human being….’ Henry Jayasena's overarching influence on Sinhala theatre https://web.archive.org/web/20120523211707/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/01/15/fea24.html Azdak of Sinhala theatre leaves the stage Drama in full flower Manel felicitated at 'Janakala Prasada Pranama Ulela'