Ranjan Ramanayake

Honourable
Ranjan Ramanayake
MP
Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment & Welfare
Assumed office
4 September 2015
President Maithripala Sirisena
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
Minister S. B. Dissanayake
Deputy Minister of Social Services & Live Stock
In office
21 January 2015 – 17 August 2015
President Maithripala Sirisena
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
Minister P. Harrison
Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament
for Gampaha District
Assumed office
2015
Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament
for Ratnapura District
In office
2010–2015
Personal details
Born (1963-03-11) 11 March 1963
Negombo
Nationality Sri Lanka
Political party United National Party
Relations Vijaya Kumaranatunga, Jeewan Kumaranatunga, Chandrika Kumaratunga
Residence No D 4, MPP Housing Scheme, Madiwela, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte.
Alma mater Maris Stella College, Negombo
Profession Actor
Religion Roman Catholic
Website ranjanramanayake.net

Sadda Vidda Rajapakse Palanga Pathira Ambakumarage Ranjan Leo Sylvester Alphonsu; abbreviately as S.V.R.P.P.A.R.L.S. Alphonsu, popularly known as Ranjan Ramanayake (Sinhala:රන්ජන් රාමනායක; born 11 March 1963 Negombo, Sri Lanka) is an award winning actor,[1] film director, singer, writer, philanthropist turned politician in Sri Lanka, who is the current Deputy Minister of "Social Empowerment & Welfare".[2] He was the Former the Deputy Minister of Social Services, Welfare and Livestock Development Under Good Govenence in 2015.[3][4]

Ranjan is considered to be one of the biggest film stars in Sinhala cinematic history with a massive fan following, who has won the Sarasaviya Best Actor Award as well as being the Most Popular Actor consecutively for 14 years up to now. Also known (Referred by the public) as "Sri lankan Super Star", he has appeared in over 75 sinhalese films in genres ranging from romance to action and comedies, starting his career appearing in theatre, stage and several television series.

Early life

Ramanayake was born on 11 th March 1963 in Negombo.He is the youngest in the family of two children, son of Rose Bridget Alphonsu and Simon Alphonsu, District Inspector at Ceylon Government Railway(CGR). He studied at Maris Stella College, Negombo. He added 'Ramanayake' to his name as a mark of respect to the film maker who first opened him the doors in the filmworld as a lead actor.[5]

Cinema

Ramanayake's first leading role was in the commercial film "Jaya Kothenada" but his first film was " Christhu Charithaya" by Dr. Sunil Ariyarathne, which was in a crowded scene and maintained his status as a commercial film star through the 1990s. Ramanayake has occasionally branched out into more serious roles such as in Lester James Peries' Awaragira but continues to be known for his commercial roles. Recently he has taken more control over his commercial film roles working as a director and screenwriter on the popular Parliament Jokes, One Shot and Leader, breaking box office records with these films and becoming one of the most successful leading actors & directors of Sinhala cinema. Bandu Samarasinghe and Tennyson Cooray are frequent co-stars of Ramanayake. He has sung in several films including Jaya Kothenada, Naralowa Holman, Love in Bangkok and others. His song "Ran Samanala Joduwa Wage" was a hit among other songs.

Politics

Ramanayake was initially the Electoral Organizer of the Katana at Gampaha district & then became the Electoral Orgarnizer of Balangoda. In 2008, Ramanayake contested for the Chief Minister seat in Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council[6] and became the Opposition Leader in Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council. In 2010 he was elected to the Parliament from Ratnapura District from United National Party and has become one of the most spoken members of the parliament who worked as a major opposition activist against the former government of Sri Lanka. Being one of the leading vocal members, Ranjan has given utmost support towards the party to bring victory at recent Presidential Election. He is currently appointed as the United National Party Organizer of Divulapitiya in Gampaha District . Ranjan became number 1 in Gampaha district , Preferential votes of UNPs in the General Election on 17 August 2015, getting a total of 216 463 votes.

Controversy

Arrest

A school teacher from Kandy accused Ramanayaka of having swindled Rs. 1 million promising to marry her. Based on a complaint by the woman who accused, Criminal Investigation Department arrested Ramanayake on 2010.[7]

Alleged threat to talk show host

On 2010, it was alleged that Ramanayake threatened the talk show host Dilka Samanmali of Derana TV following the Derana 360 talk show.[8] Ramanayake has allegedly called Ms. Samanmali's parents over the phone and accused her of causing disrepute to him over the programme. He had also allegedly told the parents that harm may befall their daughter. Later Ramanayake denied the allegation stating that all that he gave Dilka's father was a courtesy call. Ramanayake said that he did give a call to Dilka Samanmali's father living in Australia and complained that his daughter was being biased in her show[9]

Awards

Ramanayake has won Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award 4 times.

See also

References

  1. ↑ E. M. G. Edirisinghe (22 December 2004). "No crisis in Sinhala cinema". Daily News. Lake House. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.adaderana.lk/news/32279/new-state-and-deputy-ministers-sworn-in
  3. ↑ "The Parliament of Sri Lanka – Directory of Members". The Parliament of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012.
  4. ↑ Ramesh Uvais (15 August 2005). "One on one: Ranjan tells it all in one shot". DailyMirror e-edition. Wijeya Newspapers. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Ramesh Uvais (16 May 2005). "Will 'One Shot' be banned?". DailyMirror e-edition. Wijeya Newspapers. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Ranjan promises to deliver Sabaragamuwa in one shot". The Sunday Leader Online. Leader Publications (Pvt). Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  7. ↑ Chandrika Perera and Suraj A. Bandara (15 October 2010). "Ranjan Ramanayake arrested". Daily News. Lake House. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "VIDEO:Ranjan threatens Dilka over Derana 360 programme". Ada Derana. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  9. ↑ Ishtartha Wellaboda. "Ranjan Ramanayake denies threatening talk show host (n.d.)". Nation.lk. Retrieved 2 May 2015.


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