  Like many of his contemporaries he too emerged from the stage and then ventured into the mini and wide screen. Pathiraja L.S. Dayananda was one of the filmmakers who contributed to the golden era of Sinhala cinema with creations like Hathdinnath Tharu, Selinage Wallawwa, Sinhabahu and Jodu Walalu.
He had directed 19 films and 24 stage plays in his career which spans over five decades. He was the first independent Sri Lankan producer to make a children’s film which was titled Enna Mage Priya Mithuro.
Dayananda entered the spotlight in 1956 with Yankin Hatana a stage play. He was still a school boy and was trained under S. Malal and took part in his play Golu Birinda. He portrayed the roles in Wanagatha Kollo, Duppath Kolla, Veera Keppitapola and later took on a more significant role in Gilbert Hewavitharana’s Ekolos Ginna.
Meanwhile the talented artiste felt the urge to pen his thoughts down on paper and compose the story into a screenplay. His first project was Hasarak Nathi Katharak in which Malani Fonseka and Vimal Kumara De Costa took on the lead roles.
In 1964 he staged Yakkage Kammala and launched a tabloid named Vedikava. He also directed and played a role in a stage drama titled Diya Sena and later directed play like Kavuruwath Ennae Nae.
Dayananda teamed up with M.N. Manamendra and set up a film production company called Sinhala Cineru. Their maiden project was Ahas Gavvuwa but due to financial difficulties the company was sold after some years.
In 1969 he directed his maiden cinematic creation Hathdinnath Tharu. It won the OCIC Award and soon Selinage Wallawwa, Jodu Walalu, Tuththiri Mal, Sinhabahu and Kivulagedara Mohottala were released.
After making the children’s film which was banned from theaters Dayananda fell into difficult times. He was paralyzed and suffered from frequent illness. Since he was in debt and had to sell his home to pay off his loans former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga presented him with a home in Kalapura, Galleface.
He later directed another two films named Sandavathige Kathawa and Hithumathe Jeewithae but the work did not take off.
“I could not make a movie which was quite up to my satisfaction. Many considered the films made before 1977 as exemplary creations,” Dayananda had noted in an interview some years back. The gifted filmmaker, playwright and actor passed away on at the age of 64.
By Ruwini JAYAWARDANA - Daily News Feb 10, 2010
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Today (Feb. 16th) marks the 22nd Death Anniversary of actor-politician Vijaya Kumaratunga who etched his name in the Sinhala cinema and the hearts of millions of film-goers in the country for ever.
Someday in January, 1960, Sub Inspector Wijeratne Warakagoda faced an audition at the Radio Ceylon. Warakagoda no doubt aced the audition and started his career as a light singer. In five decades to come, slow but steady Warakagoda would build up his versatile personality: narrator, radio artiste, singer and performer.
