Punya Heendeniya was born on 31 July 1938 in Mirigama, Sri Lanka as the fifth child in a family with seven siblings.
13 Facts About Punya Heendeniya
1.
2.
Punya Heendeniya's father M A Hindeniya was a land owner and planter in Mirigama.
3.
Punya Heendeniya was first educated at Mirigama Primary School.
4.
Punya Heendeniya went to Mirigama Maha Vidyalaya after the age of six to study in English medium.
5.
Punya Heendeniya was a member of the school netball team.
6.
Punya Heendeniya has three elder sisters: Daya, Sheela, Ramya, one elder brother, Weerawardhana and two younger brothers: Amara and Karunasinghe.
7.
Ramya Heendeniya acted in the film Kurulu Bedda with Punya, and was the mother of journalist and writer Pushkara.
8.
Punya Heendeniya married Dr Milroy Nanayakkara and had two children with her husband, they have six grandchildren.
9.
Punya Heendeniya was lucky enough to learn dancing under renowned dancer S Panibharatha.
10.
Punya Heendeniya learned music under her school master, S D David Appuhamy.
11.
Panibharatha was assigned to do a dance performance in Sirisena Wimalaweera's film Asoka where Punya Heendeniya had the opportunity to perform in that dance item.
12.
John Amaratunga, the producer of the Sikuru Tharuwa came in search of Punya Heendeniya and informed that she has been selected for the lead role in the film Gameperaliya directed by Lester James Peries.
13.
Punya Heendeniya received several awards for his critics acclaimed role in the film.