Denawaka Hamine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dona Meraya Denawaka (1906–2002) was a Sri Lankan actress. "The grand old lady" was known for portraying elderly characters.
Hamine was born February 20, 1906 in Imbulgoda, Gampaha. She was by profession a school teacher until a chance encounter with G. D. L. Perera, when she accompanied a young actress, led to her being asked to audition for the role of an elderly mother in the play Kandulu. Due to her masterful performance in the role, Perera recruited Hamine when he formed his drama group Kala Pela and she played in the Kala Pela productions Manamalayo, Sakkarawattang and Soma (as Nonnohamy). She was honored with a merit award at the Arts Council Drama Festival for Totupola in 1964.[1]
Hamine made the transition to film smoothly reprising her role in Soma when it was adapted to cinema by Perera. In Sath Samudura (1968) she played the mother of two grown-up sons. For the role she was given the Best Character Actress Award by a special government council headed by Gunapala Malalasekera. It was presented by the Sri Lankan prime minister Dudley Senanayake.[1]
In the 1970s Hamine appeared in Kolomba Sanniya and Matara Achchi. In 1987, she received the Kalasuri title.
Hamine did work in television with roles in teldramas like Kopi Kade. In 1998 she received a honorary award for her contributions to Sinhala Cinema from the Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga.[1]
