Ravindra Yasas

Ravindra Yasas රවීන්ද්‍ර යසස්
Born	Kumanayakage Ravindra Yasas (1964-04-20) 20 April 1964 (age 60) Matara, Sri Lanka
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Occupation(s)	Actor, Singer, Politician, Dramatist
Years active	1984–present
Political party	Samagi Jana Balawegaya
Spouse	Kokilani Benaragama
Children	Kasun Chamara
Relatives	Jagath Benaragama (brother-in-law)

Kumanayakage Ravindra Yasas (born 20 April 1964 රවීන්ද්‍ර යසස් [Sinhala]) is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television as well as a singer and a radio host.[1] Highly versatile actor mostly engaged in theater and television, he is currently serving as a Western Provincial Councilor.[2]

Personal life

Yasas is married to theater director Kokilani Benaragama. The couple has one son, Kasun Chamara is also a renowned actor and singer, who started career with musical program Hapan Padura. Chamara acted with father in few films such as Jim Pappa and Pin Pon. Kokilani is the sister of popular actor Jagath Benaragama.[3]

Career

In 1984, he started his stage drama career with the popular play Abuddassa Kolama. Then he acted in the stage drama Raja Kapuru. His song Suwanda Saban Aga Gala in the play was highly popularized. He started cinema career with the 1995 film Ayoma directed by Parakrama Niriella.[4] Then he acted in many comedy roles in films including Hai Baby Hai, Pissu Puso, Jim Pappa and Kosthapal Punyasoma. In 1999, he won Sumathi Merit Award for the role in Avul Haraya teledrama.

He has portrayed in many political satires on television such as And Company by singing ‘Virindu’, making a mockery of current social and political issues. He has released a music album titled Anda Manda Virindu.[5]

Selected stage dramas

• Abuddassa Kolama[6]
• Deyyoth Danne Ne[7]
• Handa Nihanda[8]
• Hora Police[9]
• Meeyo Nathuwa Be[10]
• Raja Kapuru[11]

Selected television serials

• Ada Sihinaya[12]
• And Company[13]
• Apuru Sahodaraya[14]
• Avul Haraya[15]
• Dala Rala Pela[16]
• Damsaari[17]
• Hatara Kenderaya[18]
• Kota Uda Mandira
• Mehew Rate[19]
• Pata Veeduru[20]
• Samudra Chaya[21]
• Sathara Ima Gini [22]
• Sidu[23]
• Sikuru Wasanthe[24]
• Visula Ahasa Yata[25]
• Yaso Mandira [26]

Political career

His first involvement in politics was around 1990s as a JVP activist [27] In 2014, he contested for Western Province in provincial council election under Democratic Party led by Sarath Fonseka from Kalutara District.[28] Currently he contest under Samagi Jana Balawegaya leb by Sajith Premadasa.

Accident

on 28 January 2019 Kumanayake admitted with minor injuries to the Horana Base Hospital for treatment after his car crashed into a tree at Gammanpila in Bandaragama on the Kesbewa Road.[29][30] The accident happened at about 4:45 am while he was on his way home after attending for a radio program.[31]

Filmography

Year	Film	Roles	Ref.
1995	Ayoma
1997	Bawa Duka	Purampiya	[32]
1998	Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli	Willie's lookout	[33]
1999	Theertha Yathra	Dharmadasa	[34]
2000	Kauda Bole Alice	Siri Ayya	[35]
2000	Anuragaye Ananthaya	Rape claim supporter	[36]
2001	Oba Magema Wewa
2001	Sellam Kukka		[37]
2001	Hai Baby Hai
2001	Daru Upatha
2001	Pissu Puso	Dougie's friend	[38]
2002	Surapurata Kanyaviyak		[39]
2003	Pin Pon	Francis	[40]
2003	Jim Pappa
2003	Numba Nadan Apita Pissu	Diesel	[41]
2014	Kosthapal Punyasoma	Anton's henchman	[42]
2015	Gindari	Secretary Ari	[43]
2017	Bandhanaya	Wimalasiri	[44]
2019	President Super Star	multiple roles	[45]
TBA	Kalpana †		[46]

References

1. "Ravindra Yasas films". IMDb. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
2. "Ravindra Yasas injured in accident". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
3. "Unknown relatives of Sri Lankan artists". lifie. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
4. "Ravindra Yasas Kumanayaka - රවීන්ද්‍ර යසස් filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
5. "Ravindra Yasas Anda Manda Virindu". songstopalbum. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
6. "Abuddassa Kolama". rangahala. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
7. "Deyyoth Danne Ne at New Town Hall". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
8. "Manorathna returns with 'Handa Nihanda'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
9. "Sisil plays 'Hora Police'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
10. "Meeyo Nathuwa Be at Borella". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
11. "Raja Kapuru". rangahala. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
12. "Dilemma of a husband who goes astray". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
13. "And Company will move to a new channel". Ceylon Radio. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
14. "'Apuru Sahodaraya': Tale out of the ordinary". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
15. "'Avul Haraya' highlights cultural ethos". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
16. "Dala Rala Pela teledrama". Torana Video. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
17. "Distance between rich and poor". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
18. "Comedy on boarding house life". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
19. "'Mehew Rate' to bring back folktales". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
20. "'Pata Veeduru': Drama off the beaten track". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
21. "Samudra Chaya: a tender love story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
22. "'Sathara Ima Gini': A lesson to parents". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
23. Sunday times, "tale of struggle to power", Sunday times, 2016-08-21. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
24. "Sikuru Wasanthe on Rupavahini". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
25. "Visula Ahasa Yata". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
26. "'Yaso Mandira': The tale of a mother's courage..." Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
27. "'Serious erosion of democracy pushed me to politics' - Ravindra Yasas". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
28. "Fonseka renews scarecrow charge against elections chief". The Island. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
29. "Actor Ravindra Yasas hospitalized after road accident". Ada Derana. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
30. "Veteran actor Ravindra Yasas admitted to the Horana Base Hospital". News First. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
31. "Ravindra Yasas admitted to the Horana Base Hospital". Daily News. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
32. "Sinhala screened films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
33. "Sinhala screened films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
34. "'Theertha yatra' goes in search of family roots". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
35. "'Kauda Bole Alice': a rip-roaring comedy". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
36. "'Anuragaye Ananthaya' : A struggle between a woman and society". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
37. "'Sellankukka' for Christmas". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
38. ""Pissu Puso" : Local version of 'Crazy Boys'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
39. "'Surapurata Kanyaviyak': Mario's new film". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
40. "එදා මෙදා තිරගත වූ සිංහල චිත්‍රපට". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
41. "එදා මෙදා තිරගත වූ සිංහල චිත්‍රපට". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
42. "කොස්තාපල් පුඤ්ඤසෝම – Kosthapal Punyasoma plot". cinema.lk. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
43. "Gindari A comedy around a she-devil". Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
44. "New Horror Sri Lankan Movie - භීෂණයේ අලුත් කතාවක් සිනමාවට". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
45. "The presidential stage where four people are competing". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
46. "කල්පනා වැඩ අරඹයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 8 December 2024.

External links

• "Trying to rescue wild cat ... crashed into tree" -- Ravindra Yasas
• What happened to Ravindra Yasas
• මගේ සේවය විනිවිදයි