20 Facts About Malini Fonseka

Malini Fonseka has made a record by winning the Slim Nielsen Peoples' Award for the Most Popular Actress twelve times in a row.

Malini Fonseka is a former Minister of the Sri Lankan Parliament, a position offered in appreciation for her strong support for Mahinda Rajapaksha.

Malini Fonseka was born as the third of eleven siblings to Gilbert Fonseka, a Government Press worker and Seelwathie Fonseka at Peliyagoda, Kelaniya.

Malini Fonseka started her acting career with stage dramas with "Noratha Ratha" in 1963.

In 1968, Malini Fonseka won a national award for Best Stage Drama Actress for her performance in Akal Wessa.

Malini Fonseka has since played the lead role in 14 stage dramas.

Malini Fonseka entered the cinema industry through one of her brothers, Ananda Fonseka, who was both a film director and producer, and was introduced as a cinema actress by Tissa Liyansuriya and Joe Abeywickrama.

Malini Fonseka made her film debut with Tissa Liyansuriya's Punchi Baba in 1968, followed by Abudasse kale, Dahasak Sithuwili and Adarawanthayo in the same year.

Malini Fonseka has acted in over 140 movies since then, some of which were international movies.

Malini Fonseka paired up with popular Indian Tamil actor, Sivaji Ganeshan in Pilot Premnath in 1978.

Malini Fonseka's career was enhanced by her work alongside Gamini Fonseka who had a long journey in the history of the silver screen in Sri Lanka.

Malini Fonseka achieved a significant milestone with Sasara Chetana in 1984 as both the director and the producer.

Malini Fonseka has been praise for her performance in Manalada Puthe Kiri Dunne, Pitagamkarayo, Kemmura, and Ambu Daruwo teledramas.

Malini Fonseka won the Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Awards for her roles in Pitagamkarayo and Kemmura.

Malini Fonseka became the first female teledrama director in the history of Sri Lankan teledramas when she both directed and acted in her first teledrama Nirupamala.

Malini Fonseka further solidified her mark as a teledrama director with successful creations such as Sanasili Suwanda.

Malini Fonseka acted in the Buddhist dramatic film Uppalawanna directed by Sunil Ariyaratne.

In 2024, Malini Fonseka took on an incredible role in the music video for Eya Wasanthaya Nowe by the promising young vocalist Chapa Jayaruk.

Malini Fonseka was the first Sri Lankan actress to reach international heights and earn international recognition, winning a special Jury award at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1975; a first of her many international awards.

Malini Fonseka won an award at the New Delhi Film Festival in 1977.