Abeykoon Mudiyanselage Thalatha Abeykoon (17 July 1937 – 17 September 2003 as ) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Thalatha Gunasekara, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema. She is the mother of popular actress Nadeeka Gunasekara.
Personal life Gunasekara was born on 17 July 1937 in Gampola, Kandy, Sri Lanka as the eldest of the family with five siblings. Her father, Tikiri Banda Abeykoon from Gampola was a Government Health Inspector. Her mother, Leelawathi Abeykoon Menike had the longest surname in the history of Sri Lanka castes where her birth name was Akkada Mukkada Weera Rambukkada Rambuke Jayagath Diyathilaka Koralege Ilanganthilaka Mudiyanselage Leelawathi Ilanganthilaka. It was a noble caste of Kandy who paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic with jasmine flowers. Thalatha had two younger sisters, Sita and Sri Kanthi; and two younger brothers, Senarath and Sena.
She received her primary education at Kingswood College, Kandy. After that, she studied at Hillwood College, Kandy amidst the strict rules of his parents. At school, she studied western music and got prizes for playing the piano.
She was married to Dissanayake Wijesuriya Stanley Gunasekara from Udahenatenna. He worked at Nawalapitiya and Pussellawa post offices. He later served as the Deputy Postmaster General. The couple had one son: Priyantha and four daughters: Nadeeka, Ganga, Vidya and Yamuna, all are actresses. Stanley died on 18 April 2010.
Nadeeka was born on 13 May 1958 in Kandy. In 1973, she attended Pushpadana Girls' College, Kandy and finally to Vishaka College, Bandarawela. She completed A/L from the art stream in Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy. She is married to businessman Suren Hapuarachchi and in 2004, the couple had one daughter, Thenuki Sehansa. She is an actress who starred in several popular blockbuster films in Sinhala cinema including; Kanchana, Chanchala Rekha, Biththi Hathara, Thani Tharuwa, Ahinsa, Oba Mata Wiswasai, Angara Dangara and Daruwane.
Nadeeka's sister Ganga acted in the films Adishtana, Okkoma Rajawaru and Kanchana. Vidya acted in the films Adishtana and Me Desa Kumatada whereas and Yamuna acted in the teledrama Hingana Kolla.
She died on 17 September 2003 at the age of 66.
Early life After passing the Senior Examination in English medium, she went to Zahira College, Gampola to do further University Entrance. While studying at University Entrance, the principal assigned to teach senior students as well. At the age of 17, she received her first appointment as an English Assistant Teacher at St. Andrew's College, Nawalapitiya where she got to teach her peers. Some popular students were Jenny Winifrida (film actress) and K.S. Venkat (Film Director) and Ahangama Piyasena (Film Actors). In 1957, she was appointed as an English teacher in the Government College, Pussellawa.
Cinema career Thalatha became interested in acting in a film after seeing Rukmani Devi's performance. This passion grew up when she saw Wimala Vanzia, a friend who lived in Gampola, playing the lead role in the film Dingiri Menika in 1955. One day Wimala forcibly asked Thalatha for a photo and sent it to the producer of the film Deiyanne Rate, S. V. D. S. Somaratnethe. Then Somaratne sent the photo to director Ramachandran. Later, she was cast in the lead role of 'Katherine', but she did not get the chance because of her parents' strong reluctance.
After her marriage, she received an invitation from renowned filmmaker Lester James Peries. During this time the filming of 'Gamperaliya' has begun. She was selected for the role 'Nanda' in the film. However, she lost the role because she is taller than Gamini Fonseka and Henry Jayasena who played the lead roles.
After few years, she sent an application for a film that Cinemas was producing without a name after seen an advertisement in the 'Sunday Observer' newspaper. In 1963, she made her maiden cinema appearance with the film Adata Wadiya Hitha Hondai directed by Indian filmmaker Masthan. In the film, she played the kind wife of the villain played by Christy Leonard Perera. Her first lead role came through the film Sapatha Soya as a wife beaten by a drunken husband.
Then she appeared in several early Sinhala films including, Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe, Samiya Birindage Deviyaya and Patachara. Some of her most dramatic roles came through the film Abhirahasa where she plays the stepmother who falls in love with Vijaya Kumaratunga, a servant of a wealthy household. Then she made a critically acclaimed role of 'Namakka' in the film Podi Malli. Then she appeared several blockbuster films such as Nidhanaya, Sikuruliya, Davena Pipasaya, Hathara Denama Surayo, Hingana Kolla, Sadahatama Oba Mage, Apeksha, Nomiyena Minisun and Maldeniye Simion.
In 1998, she became a film producer and screenwriter with the 1998 film Aye Obata Barai.
Filmography Year Film Role Ref. 1963 Adata Vediya Heta Hondai 1964 Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe 1964 Patachara 1964 Samiya Birindage Deviyaya 1965 Sepatha Soya Shantha 1966 Sihina Hathak Anula 1966 Kommissar X Bartender 1966 Sanda Naga Eddi 1967 Rena Giraw Villager 1967 Okkoma Hari 1967 Sura Chauraya 1968 Singithi Surathal 1968 Golu Hadawatha 1968 Bicycle Hora 1968 Indunila 1968 Ataweni Pudumaya 1969 Kohomada Wade 1969 Paara Walalu 1969 Pancha 1970 Aathma Pooja 1971 Abhirahasa Mrs. Wanigasekara, step mother 1971 Davena Pipasa 1971 Hathara Denama Surayo Nilmini's step-mother 1972 Nidhanaya Willie's childhood nanny 1972 Veeduru Gewal Menaka's lure 'Ira' 1972 Me Desa Kumatada Vijay's mother 1972 Vanaraja Assistant Director 1974 Vasthuwa 1974 Kasthuri Suwanda Maya 1975 Suraya Surayamai 1975 Sikuruliya 1976 Loka Horu 1977 Sakunthala 1977 Sikuru Dasawa 1978 Janaka Saha Manju Manju's mother 1978 Apeksha 1978 Ahasin Polowata 1979 Samanmali 1979 Hingana Kolla Annie 1979 Raja Kolla Hopper seller 1979 Anusha Mrs. Ratnayake's sister 1979 Podi Malli Nam 'Akka' 1980 Kanchana 1980 Sasaraka Pathum 1981 Vajira Vajira's aunt 1981 Chanchala Rekha Sirisena and Chutti's mother 1982 Sakvithi Suwaya Malini's sister-in-law 1982 Thani Tharuwa Tanuja 1982 Jeewithayen Jeewithayak 1982 Sithara 1983 Samuganimi Ma Samiyani 1983 Hasthi Viyaruwa 1983 Hithath Hondai Wedath Hondai 1984 Binari Saha Sudu Banda Yaso 1984 Sahodariyakage Kathawa 1984 Birinda 1985 Kirimaduwal 1986 Maldeniye Simion Rosalin 1987 Yugayen Yugayata 1989 Sebaliyo 1991 Salambak Handai 1991 Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya 1991 Keli Madala Sugala 1991 Bambara Kalapaya 1992 Sisila Gini Gani Mrs. Dunuwilla 1992 Chandi Rajina 1992 Me Ware Mage 1992 Oba Mata Wishwasai 1992 Sinhayangeth Sinhaya Rohini's mother 1993 Sagara Thilina 1993 Bambasara Bisaw 1994 Nomiyena Minisun 1995 Rodaya 1996 Anantha Rathriya Narmada's mother 1996 Sihina Vimane Kumariya Nilmini's mother 1996 Mal Hathai 1997 Puthuni Mata Wasana 1997 Goodbye Tokyo 1998 Aeya Obata Barai Sahan's Auntie, Screenwriter, Producer, Lyricist 1998 Anthima Reya 1999 Ayadimi Samaa Tikiri's mother 1999 Anduru Sewaneli 1999 Mandakini 2000 Anuragaye Ananthaya Scholarship reneger 2001 Poronduwa 2002 Surapurata Kanyaviyak
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