13 Facts About Iranganie Serasinghe

Since her debut in Rekava, Serasinghe has become recognized for playing motherly figures in various films and television serials.

Iranganie Serasinghe is the aunt of former president Ranil Wickramasinghe.

Iranganie Serasinghe was born on June 9,1927, in Mudungomuwa, Ruwanwella, Sri Lanka, to Joseph Hercules Meedeniya, Rate Mahatmaya of Ratnapura and Violet Ellawela.

Iranganie Serasinghe's mother was the sister of Nanda Ellawala's father, who was a Member of Parliament for Ratnapura.

Iranganie Serasinghe had three siblings: Indrani Meedeniya, Kamani Vitharana, who married Professor Tissa Vitharana and Mahinda Meedeniya.

Iranganie Serasinghe died in her first year away, at a time when Marxist ideas were the norm.

Iranganie Serasinghe immersed herself in the Ceylon theater scene while there under the guidance of Professor E FC Ludowyk; she became a proficient dancer with lessons from Chitrasena.

Iranganie Serasinghe was the first student to study drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School under the guidance of Professor Ludowyk.

Iranganie Serasinghe eventually graduated with an arts degree and traveled to London with letters of recommendation from Ludowyk following a marriage to Professor Dissanayake.

Iranganie Serasinghe was first married to a contemporary student at the university and later became a specialist dentist, Professor S B Dissanayake.

Iranganie Serasinghe was then married to fellow actor Winston Serasinghe, during playing English stage plays.

The Lionel Wendt Art Centre theater portion of the center opened on 12 December 1953 with the production of Maxim Gorky's "The Lower Depths", starring Iranganie Serasinghe and produced by Neuman Jubal.

Accordingly, Iranganie Serasinghe is the first Sri Lankan actress to have received an academic training in acting.