
“I have come today in search of love. I have found it. I’ve always received love. I’ve given love. And I will protect that love in every way. I love you all. Thank you very much.”
These were among the tender words spoken by Malini Fonseka, the beloved Queen of Sinhala Cinema, in what would become one of her last public addresses. Her voice, filled with gratitude, echoed through the Nawaloka Hospital Auditorium in Colombo, where the Cinestar Foundation hosted a birthday tribute in her honour on April 30th, the day she turned 78.
That celebration of her life and career took on deeper meaning just days later, when news broke that she had passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.
A Star is Born
Malini Senehelatha Fonseka was born on April 30, 1947, in Kelaniya, to Gilbert and Seelawathi Fonseka. She began her early education at St. John’s College, Nugegoda, before moving to Gurukula College, Kelaniya.
Her artistic journey began in theatre. In 1963, she took her first step into performance through the stage play “Noratha Ratha.” In 1968, she won Best Actress at the National Drama Festival for her role in Akal Wessa. That same year, she made her film debut in Tissa Liyanasuriya’s Punchi Baba, marking the beginning of a new era in Sri Lankan cinema.
A Force Across Cinematic Genres
Veteran film critic Athula Samarakoon notes that when Malini entered the film industry in the 1970s, Sinhala cinema was evolving into three distinct genres: artistic cinema, entertainment films, and parallel cinema, which blended both. Malini Fonseka’s brilliance, he says, was her ability to thrive in all three spaces.
Over the decades, she starred in over 140 Sinhala films, including unforgettable titles like Nidhana, Siripala and Ranmanika, Bambaru Aetha, Kasthuri Murudha, Thushara, and Ava Johana Aadere.
Critic Bhupathi Nalin singles out Nidhana as a defining milestone. “She had very few lines, yet her performance made a lasting impression. In a time when there were no acting schools, Malini delivered a masterclass in expression and emotion.”
First Sri Lankan Actress to Win an International Award
In 1975, Malini Fonseka became the first Sri Lankan actress to receive international recognition, earning an Honorary Diploma at the 9th Moscow International Film Festival for He Is Now a Big Kid.
Two years later, she received another Merit Award at the 6th Delhi International Film Festival for Siripala and Ranmanika.
Her international acclaim continued with the Zonta International Award in 1989, the Ridhee Mayura Award at the 39th International Film Festival of India, and the Deauville City Award presented by the Mayor of Deauville, France, in 2014.
Locally, she was the recipient of multiple Presidential, University, and CIGNES (OCIC) awards.
A Quiet Director
Though primarily celebrated for her acting, Malini also ventured behind the camera, directing three films: Sasara Chethana (1984), Ahimsa (1987), and Stree (1991).
Critic Bhupathi Nalin notes that her film Stree was also the launchpad for acclaimed director Prasanna Vithanage, who contributed to the screenplay, a testament to Malini’s quiet influence in nurturing talent.
Crossing Borders
Her role in Pilot Premnath, a Tamil film directed by A.C. Thirulokchander, starring Sivaji Ganesan—was another remarkable moment in her career. Playing the role of Ganesan’s wife, Malini became part of the first Indo-Lankan co-production, further proving her versatility and cross-cultural appeal.
Small Screen Presence
Malini also left her mark on television, starring in teledramas like Manala De Puthe Kiri Dama, Pitagamkarayo, Kemmura, and Ambu Daruvo. She also directed several popular serials including Sanasili Muruwa and Nirupamala.
The Making of a Queen
Why was Malini Fonseka called the Queen of Sinhala Cinema?
Critic Bhupathi Nalin, who has extensively studied her work, says stardom isn’t just about talent, it’s about an indescribable presence.
“Malini Fonseka is not just an actress. She is a star. You don’t create stars; they emerge naturally. She had that quality. My own grandmother was more emotionally invested in Malini’s wellbeing than in our family’s. That kind of connection that’s stardom.”
He adds, “It’s not just about acting. Stardom is the perfect storm of talent, personal life, and screen image. Many actors are talented. Few are stars. Malini had all three. Her films were not seen for the directors or the co-stars—but for Malini herself.”
He recalled a time when Malini calendars adorned bedrooms across the country and were pasted to the backs of schoolbooks. “Teachers didn’t scold students for bringing them. They admired her too.”
A Legacy That Outshone Her Rivals
Malini rose in an era of fierce competition alongside greats like Sabitha, Geetha, and Dilhani. Yet, she stood apart. She didn’t just compete she transcended. Athula Samarakoon said it best: “Malini was the successor to Rukmani Devi, the next true cinematic star of Sinhala film.”
Through decades of shifting trends, she adapted and endured, her star quality never dimming. Critics agree that she has remained the face of Sinhala cinema since the 1970s unmatched in consistency, grace, and connection with the public.
A Nation’s Final Tribute
The body of Malini Fonseka will lie in state for public homage on Sunday, May 25th, at Tharangani Hall, located at the National Film Corporation premises.
Her funeral will take place on Monday, May 26th, at Independence Square, with state honours, a fitting farewell for a woman who was more than a screen presence. She was a cultural heartbeat, a national treasure, and for generations of Sri Lankans, simply “Rajiniye” the Queen.
Her final public words ring truer than ever:
“I have always received love. I have given love. And I will protect that love in every way.”
And now, a grieving nation will protect her legacy with love that will endure, always.