Many great local personalities in different fields of work breathed their last this 2016. We therefore compiled their accomplishments which definitely prove that they will go down in history as evergreen legends. 

 

D. B Nihalsinghe 

Dr. D. B Nihalsinghe was an accomplished film director, cinematographer, editor and producer. He was one of the pioneers to introduce professional television production to Sri Lanka commencing with Sri Lanka's and South Asia's first colour tele-drama, ‘Dimuthu Muthu’. 

He was the founding Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Sri Lanka's National Film Corporation and a distinguished alumni of the then University of Ceylon, Peradeniya (presently University of Peradeniya). He is the only Sri Lankan who has been conferred Life Fellowship of the Society of Motion picture and Television Engineers USA, the oldest film organisation in the world, established in 1915. 

Dr. Nihalsinghe passed away on April 21, 2016. 

 

Vijaya Nandasiri 

This popular individual needs no introduction as he starred in popular Sinhala sitcoms such as ‘Nonawaruni Mahathwaruni’, ‘Ethuma’ and ‘Kathura’. Before entering the silver screen Vijaya Nandasiri acted in many stage plays including ‘Maname’, ‘Bakmaha Akunu’, ‘Subha Saha Yasa’, ‘Kuweni’ and ‘Hunuwataye Kathawa’. He later moved on to act in movies such as ‘Yasa Isuru’, ‘Bengali Walalu’, ‘Sikuru Hathe’ and ‘King Hunther’. He won the Best Actor award for his role of the match maker in ‘Sikuru Hathe’ and later in 2011 as the Best Comedian for ‘King Hunther’. 

Vijaya Nandasiri passed away on August 8, 2016. 

 

Pandit W.D. Amaradeva 

Pandit W. D Amaradeva was a prominent Sri Lankan vocalist, violinist and composer. He incorporated Sinhala folk music with Indian ragas to compose magical tunes which were embraced by all people alike. 

Pandit Amaradeva had been the recipient of numerous awards including the Philippine Ramon Magsaysay Award (2001), Indian Padma Sri Award (2002) and Sri Lankan "President's Award of Kala Keerthi" (1986) and Deshamanya Award (1998). In 2003 the French government awarded him the prestigious honour; Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. The University of Kelaniya conferred on him the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Fine Arts) Honoris Causa in 1991 and the University of Ruhuna and University of Peradeniya conferred on him the Degree of Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa in 1993 and 1998. 

In 1972, Pandit Amaradeva composed the music for the Maldivian National Anthem (Gaumii salaam) at the request of Maldivian Government. 

Pandit W. D Amaradeva passed away on November 3, 2016. 

 

Wimal Kumara De Costa 

Wimal Kumara De Costa was a Sri Lankan actor who was mostly known for his comical roles in leading films of yesteryear. He starred in many films directed by Dharmasiri Pathiraja, Sunil Ariyaratne and Gamini Fonseka which brought him to the limelight. His first feature film was Pathiraja’s ‘Ves Gaththo’ followed by other popular films such as ‘Bambaru Awith’,’Eya dan loku lamayek’ and ‘Ahas Gawwa’. 

Wimal Kumara De Costa passed away on November 19, 2016. 

 

Anne Ranasinghe 

Anne Ranasinghe was a Jewish-German born Sri Lankan who was considered as one of Sri Lanka’s leading English language poets who has also won several international awards. 

Born on October 2, 1925 as Anneliese Katz in Essen in Germany, Anne Ranasinghe escaped from Nazi Germany to England. She married a Sri Lankan professor and became a citizen of Sri Lanka in 1956. Her first collection of poems, ‘And the Sun That Sucks The Earth to Dry’, was published in 1971. Although primarily a poet, she has also published short stories, essays, and translations. Her works have been broadcast on radio and published in seventeen countries and translated into nine languages. 

She is a founding member of the English Writers’ Cooperative of Sri Lanka and regular editor of its journal, Channels. Her name has been included in the Oxford Companion to Twentieth Century Poetry (Oxford & New York: Oxford, 1994). 

Anne Ranasinghe passed away on December 17, 2016. 

 

Milina Sumathipala 

Dr. Milina Sumathipala was the former president of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress and chairperson of the Sumathi Group. She was the mother of seven children, including present Deputy Speaker and Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala. She was the wife of the founder of Sumathi Group, late U. W. Sumathipala. 

She also produced award-winning Sinhala films such as ‘Ganga Addara’, ‘Duwata Mawaka Misa’, ‘Uppalawanna’ and ‘Paththini’. 

She donated a new ward to the National Hospital, Colombo using the proceeds from her first film ‘Ganga Addara’ in memory of her late husband. She was also the pioneer of the Sumathi Tele Awards ceremony which was launched back in 1995. 

Dr. Milina Sumathipala passed away on December 26, 2016. 

 

Ratnasiri Wickremanayake 

Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2005 to 2010. He was a National List member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and held many key ministerial positions in the Sri Lankan government since 1970. 

After the SLFP won the 2004 parliamentary elections, Wickremanayake was appointed Minister of Buddhist Affairs, Public Security, and Law and Order, and Deputy Minister of Defence.  During Presidency of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, he held the Public Administration, Home Affairs and Plantation Industries portfolios. 

Ratnasiri Wickremanayake passed away on December 27, 2016.