Gamini Fonseka
Gamini Fonseka MP | |
|---|---|
Gamini Fonseka | |
| 3rd Governor of the North Eastern Province | |
| In office 13 January 1995 – 20 October 1998 | |
| President | Chandrika Kumaratunga |
| Preceded by | Lionel Fernando |
| Succeeded by | Asoka Jayawardena |
| Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 9 March 1989 – 24 June 1994 | |
| President | Ranasinghe Premadasa D. B. Wijetunga |
| Prime Minister | D. B. Wijetunga Ranil Wickremesinghe |
| Preceded by | Norman Waidyaratne |
| Succeeded by | Anil Moonesinghe |
| Member of Parliament for Matara District | |
| In office 9 March 1989 – 24 June 1994 | |
| Majority | 19,618 preferential votes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka 21 March 1936 |
| Died | 30 September 2004 (aged 68) |
| Party | United National Party |
| Spouse |
Dorothy Margaret Valancia
(m. 1962) |
| Domestic partner | Angela Seneviratne |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia |
| Occupation | Actor, film director, politician |
| Known for | Cinema Sakwithi |
Kala Keerthi Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka (Sinhala: සෙම්බුගේ ගාමිණි ශෙල්ටන් ෆොන්සේකා; 21 March 1936 – 30 September 2004) was a Sri Lankan film actor, film director and politician. Often considered one of the greatest actors in Sinhala cinema, Fonseka dominated the industry in the 1960s and 1970s and won several Best Actor and Popular Actor awards throughout his career. Some critics and audiences regard Gamini Fonseka as the greatest actor in the Sri Lankan film industry, while others argue that title belongs to Joe Abeywickrama. Fonseka was the first to die among the three “crowned kings” of Sri Lankan cinema, followed by Joe Abeywickrama and then Tony Ranasinghe.
Apart from acting, he also served as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 1989 to 1994 and the Governor of the North Eastern Province from 1995 to 1998.He also worked as a Director of the Capital Maharaja Group from 1998 to 2003.
Fonseka died on 30 September 2004 at the age of 68 at his residence in Ja-Ela.