Samaraweera Asoka Ponnamperuma (born 3 May 1936 – died 2 April 1993 as අශෝක පොන්නම්පෙරුම) [Sinhala]) was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a singer, scriptwriter and filmmaker. Considered as "Sri Lanka's Sivaji Ganeshan", Ponnamperuma has acted more than 40 films in a career spanned for more than three decades.
Personal life He was born on 3 May 1936 in Colombo. His father Don Charles Ponnamperuma was a journalist, who worked as editor-in-chief of the Buddhist paper Sinhala Bauddhaya in 1950. His mother was Premawansha Mithrawaththa. Ashoka completed his education from Ananda College.
He was married to a fellow film actress, Manel Lona Elizabeth Perera. The wedding was celebrated on 4 December 1965. Manel first acted in the film Deepashika and then appeared in few films such as Sihina Hathak, Sekaya, Layata Laya, Ruhunu Kumari and Sanda Nega Eddi. The couple has three sons - Anuradha, Sumedha, Chaminda and one daughter, Manjula. Asoka and Manel co-acted in few films such as Layata Laya, Dehadaka Duka, Ruhunu Kumari and London Hamu.
He died on 2 April 1993 at the age of 56 from heart attack. Although all funeral work is to be completed within 24 hours after his death, his request was unable to comply due to curfew in the country and the delay in the post mortem.
Career At the age of 14, he started to act in school stage dramas. Then he mastered music under R. A. Chandrasena. He won the first place in all island music competition in that year, which got the attention from musician Lionel Edirisinghe. Asoka met his acting hero L. M. Perera in a tea shop and asked about acting in a film. After few days, he received a message about a role and moved to Colombo. In 1958, his maiden cinema acting came through the film Suneetha directed by P. Neelakantan with a dual role. Then he acted in many popular films such as Sihinaya, Sundara Birinda, Suwineetha Lalani, Ganthera and Samiya Birindage Deviyaya. In 1969, he won the award for the Best Supporting actor for the film Indunila at Sarasaviya Film Festival.
Asoka wrote the book Mal Manda Bisaw which is based on a true story about a prostitute that he met at Maradana Police Station. Then he wrote the book Ai Mata Mehema Une. By using the book, he script his first film direction Pradeepa which was screened on 2 July 1982.
Filmography Year Film Role Ref. 1958 Suneetha 1958 Sihinaya 1959 Sirimali 1960 Sundara Birinda 1961 Ganthera 1961 Suvineetha Lalani 1962 Suhada Divi Piduma 1963 Suhada Sohoyuro 1964 Heta Pramada Wadi 1964 Kala Kala De Pala Pala De 1964 Subasarana Sapa Sithe 1964 Samiya Birindage Deviyaya Doctor Nihal 1964 Patachara 1964 Sasaraka Hati 1964 Sithaka Mahima 1965 Sathutu Kandulu 1965 Hithata Hitha 1965 Sweep Ticket 1966 Athulweema Thahanam 1966 Layata laya 1966 Sudu Duwa 1966 Sanda Naga Eddi 1966 Sanasili Suwaya 1966 Maha Re Hamuwu Sthriya 1967 Ranrasa 1967 Ipadune Ai 1967 Iwasana Dana 1968 London Hamu 1968 Hangi Hora 1968 Indunila 1968 Dehadaka Duka 1969 Kohomada Wade 1969 Pick Poket 1969 Pancha 1973 Suhada Pathuma Lalitha's husband 1973 Sinavai Inavai 1974 Shanthi 1975 Hadawathaka Wasanthaya Sriyani's father 1975 Damayanthi 1975 Sadhana 1976 Ran Thilaka 1977 Sudu Paraviyo Vasala Nilame 1979 Jeevana Kandulu 1979 Ran Kurullo Soysa 1984 Kokila
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