Dr.Jayalath manoratne

 

Kala suri kala keerthi  Dr. Keselgaspe Manatunga Jayalath Manoratne ,  12 June 1948 – 12 January 2020, popularly known as Jayalath Manoratne, was an award-winning actor in sri lankan cinema,stege drama  and television. He was a lecturer by profession as well as a director and producer. A highly versatile actor from drama to comedy, Manoratne won awards at OCIC, Presidential, Sarasavi, Raigam Tele'es, Sumathi and the State Literary and Drama festivals. He was the best actor back to back in 1991 and 1992 for his performance in Socrates and Dvitva. He is considered by critics as one of the five actors who have dominated the Sri Lankan Stage . 

  In 1966 Manoratne started acting when he was a school student, making his acting debut in the stage drama Aspha Gudung, which was selected for the finals of the annual provincial inter-school drama competition and won the Certificate of Excellence in Performance at the All Island Inter-School Drama Competition.

Originally playing minor roles in plays as Maname, Sinhabahu under Sarachchandra's guidance, Manoratne embarked on a mainstream acting career, beginning with the operatic play Premato Jayati Soko with the role "Uddala Bamuna". Whilst performing in this play he met his future wife, Tamara Jayanthi. Manoratne went to Nuwara Eliya Kachcheri to get a job and at that time, he produced remakes of Sarachchandra's plays Raththaran and Elowa Gihin Melowa Awa. He has acted under all the five major stage drama directors in Sri Lankan history - Sarachchandra, Sugathapala de silva, Dayananda Gunavardana. 

In 1980, he produced his maiden theater play Mahagiri Damba. His only translation drama play came through Puthra Samagama produced in 1985. It is the adaptation of Russian play The Elder Son by Alexander Vampilov. In 1988, he produced the popular play Thalamala Pipila and then Andarela in 1993. The play Andarela also brings Manoratne's first documentary role. In 1996 he produced Guru Tharuwa and then Sanda Gira in 1998. He continuously produced plays of many genres in following years including Kaneru Mal (2000), Lokaya Thani Yayak (2005), Makara remake (2007), Sudu Redi Horu (2008), Buruwa Mahaththaya (2012), Sellam Nirindu (2013) and Handa Nihanda (2016). During the 26 consecutive years from 1980 to 2016, he made nearly 15 plays.

From that time on Manoratne acted in over 80 plays, and directed eleven plays of his own.His play Andarela won the State Literary Award in 1995 and then Guru Tharuwa won State Literary Award in 1996.

In 2014, Manoratne performed in a theater festival named Dawas Pahalos Daha (fifteen thousand days), which showcased a collection of eight plays representing different periods and issues and produced by Manoratne himself. These eight stage plays were Lokaya Thani Yayak, Sellam Nirindu, Thalamala Pipila, Buruwa Mahaththaya, Guru Tharuwa, Andarela and Puthra Samagama.

Notable stage dramas

• Ahas Maliga
• Andarela
• Andirale Nadagama
• Angara Ganga Gala Basi
• Ape Panthi Kamaraya
• Api Gewanne Na
• Asaatha Manthare
• Aspha Gudung
• Buruwa Mahaththaya
• Chitrage Prema Kathawa
• Debiddo
• Diwes Helanu Mena
• Don Juan
• Dunna Dunu Gamuve
• Dvitva
• Elowa Gihin Melowa Awa Gajaman Puwatha
• Guru Tharuwa
• Handa NNihanda Hiru Nathi Lowa 

                                    

 

He was married to Tamara Jayanthi since 1979 to his death. The couple has one daughter, Uthpala Indeewari and one son, Bhanuka Prabuddha. Uthpala is married to Shivanka Perera and Bhanuka is married to Hiranya Dulashini Gamaariya.

He died on 12 January 2020 while receiving treatment for cancer at the age of 71.