Galhenage Rathnapala Perera (; 13 November 1939 – 1 May 2023) was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. He acted in more than 600 television serials, with a career spanned over seven decades.
Early life and education
Rathnapala Perera was born on 13 November 1939 in Kirulapana, British Ceylon, as the first child of the family. The family soon after moved to Egodawatta, Boralesgamuwa. His father was a businessman and a gambling addict, while his mother was a teacher. He received his education from Rattanapitiya Ananda Vidyalaya and Kotahena Prince College, Colombo 13. He had two younger brothers and one younger sister.
Career
Perera was introduced to drama by his friend and dramatist Tissa Abeysekara. Abeysekara, along with Perera, Prema Ranjith Thilakaratna, Dharmasiri Wickramaratna, and Wickrama Bogoda formed a drama group Ape Kattiya led by dramatist Sugathapala de Silva. Perera acted in the group's stage drama Boarding Karayo. In 1962, he played a minor role in the stage play Ranthodu directed by Dharmasiri Wickramaratna. In 1963, he acted in Premaranjith Tilakaratne's debut play Waguru Bima. He had acted in seven stage plays.
His film career began with a minor role in the 1971 film Welikathara, directed by D.B. Nihalsinghe. His first major role came with his second film, Kalu Diya Dahara, directed by Manik Sandarasagara. His first television acting role was in the serial Thunkal Sihinaya, directed by Tissa Abeysekara. He portrayed numerous roles in multiple films, including the role of Malakada Bass in the serial Doo Daruwo, which was the turning point of his teledrama career, a doorway shooting victim in the film Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli, a village headman in the film Sooriya Arana, and Don Spater Senanayake in the 2018 film Nidahase Piya DS. He acted in six foreign films, which included three Indian, two American, and one German film.
Selected television serials
Adaraneeya Poornima
Adaraneeya Amma
Amaya
Ammai Thaththai
Aparna
Athuru Paara
Bim Kaluwara
Bodhi
Bogala Sawundiris
Chakraudhaya
Damini
Diyaniyo
Dolosmahe Gangawa
Ekamath Eka Rataka
Eth Kanda Lihini
Ganga Addara Kele
Gangawa Tharanaya
Handapana
Heeye Manaya
Indikadolla
Isisara Isawwa
Kadupul Mal
Kammiththa
Kapa Nasna Samaya
Kasee Salu
Katu Imbula
Kombi
Kula Kumariya
Kulawamiya
Mahagedara
Mahathala Hatana
Maheshika
Maya Agni
Mehew Rate
Monara Kirilli
Nilla Penena Manaya
Ran Mehesi
Sakki
Sanda Hiru Tharu
Sanda Maddahana
Sanda Nodutu Sanda
Sankuru Maruthaya
Santhuwaranaya
Sathyangana
Sil
Siri Sirimal
Situwarayo
Suddilage Kathawa
Sudu Hamine
Tharupaba
Theth Saha Viyali
Wanabime Sirakaruwo
Personal life and death
Perera and his wife, a teledrama producer, had two daughters and one son. His youngest daughter, Yamuna Erandathi, is a teledrama actress and an honours graduate in Information Technology.
Perera died on 1 May 2023, at age 83.
Filmography
Awards
In 1980, he won a film critics' award for his role in the movie Karumakkarayo. In 2007, he won the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the teleplay Chakrayudaya. He was awarded the Raigam Award for acting in the most number of teledramas.