Sumithra Gunawardena known today as Sumithra Peiris was born on March 24, 1935 to a well known family – the Boralugoda Gunewardenas in Avissawella. Her father, Henry (better known as Harry) Gunawardena was a proctor in Avissawella and mother, Harriette Wickramasinghe, who died when Sumitra was 14, was from a middle-class family. Sumithra began her education [...]

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The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Honouring ‘Sumithra’

By Tharooshie Mahahewage
Launch of new book on the 50- year career of veteran filmmaker
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Sumithra Gunawardena known today as Sumithra Peiris was born on March 24, 1935 to a well known family – the Boralugoda Gunewardenas in Avissawella. Her father, Henry (better known as Harry) Gunawardena was a proctor in Avissawella and mother, Harriette Wickramasinghe, who died when Sumitra was 14, was from a middle-class family. Sumithra began her education in Avissawella, then later enrolled at Visaka Vidyalaya in Colombo and finally joined Aquinas College Colombo to do the London A’ Level.

Sumithra Peiris and Dr. Lester James Peiris lighting the traditional oil lamp

At 20, Sumithra travelled to Europe by ship to meet her elder brother Gamini. In France she met Dr. Lester James Peiris who advised her to study movie making in London rather than in France. Not only through her subsequent marriage to Lester but in her own right, a celebrated film director, Sumithra has contributed significantly to our film industry. She was also Sri Lanka’s ambassador to France in the late 1990s and has worked closely with UNESCO.

The book “Sumithra” launched on September 21, at the BMICH, portrays her fifty years as a film director as well as her family background, focusing not only on her achievements as a film director, but as a daughter of the legendary Gunawardena family. It includes many historical photographs.

“Although this might not be very well received now, it will be important for those hoping to enter the film industry in the future and especially for the women and girls as there is much to learn from the life and character of Sumithra Peiris,” said TV personality Kelum Srimal.

Minister Dinesh Gunawardena was there to speak as a scion of the Gunawardena family. “Sumithra is the daughter of my father, Philip Gunawardena’s elder brother, Harry Gunawardena. No one knows that he had been a driving force to form society as we know it. When universal franchise was being argued during the Colebrook reforms, many aristocrats in our society were against it. It was he along with Robert Gunawardena and four other men who fought for their rights.

“Those who present this book can be proud of the subject, and the family she comes from,” said the Minister recalling how as children they would play in the stream at the end of the Boralugoda property.”

“We all must be deeply thankful to Mr. Ajith Galappaththi who came up with the idea and made this event possible by paying tribute to a great lady who has done so much for the industry. Even if the Gunawardena family wasn’t a politically recognized one, she would have still shone with her talents. She has entwined her talent with our culture and given an identity to our film industry,” he added.

Author Ajith Galappaththi said he had spent three years researching for the photographic coffee table book written in Sinhala.   “Sumithra Peiris has held the roles of a director, assistant director, producer, co-producer, and editor of many films. She made her entrance into the cinematic world as an assistant director of Sandeshaaya in 1960 which was directed by Dr. Lester James Peiris, and was the editor of another landmark movie in 1964 – Gamperaliya, which was set in Makampana Walawwa owned by the Boralugoda family.

It was after these initial experiences that she felt the need to direct her own film,” he said.Her directorial debut in 1978 was with Gehenu Lamai, which was followed by Ganga Addara in 1980, Yahalu Yeheli in 1982, Maya in 1984, Sagara Jalaya Madi Handuwa Oba Handa in 1988, Loku Duwa in 1996, Duwata Mawaka Misa in 1997 and Sakman Maluwa in 2003. All eight of her films have won local and international awards.  Her latest film Vaishnavi is in the editing stage.

Speaking at the event, veteran actress Swarna Mallawaarachchi recalled that when she first met the Peirises, she was just 17. “I went to their home without even an appointment and told Mr. Peiris that I wanted to act the character of Dammi in Golu hadawatha. He kindly declined saying that he did not doubt my talent, but had already found an actress for Dhammi.”
Although Swarna never appeared in any of Lester James Peiris’s films she went on to appear in four of Sumithra’s. She is not only a director and an editor, she is also a woman on the set, portraying the reality concerning women in Sri Lanka, the veteran actress said.

Deepthi Kumara Gunaratne in his speech stressed the need for proper film critics in Sri Lanka who are necessary for the betterment of the industry.

The ceremony marked another important event, the film Gehenu Lamai being launched in DVD form. The film, released in 1978, starred Ajith Jinadasa as Nimal Satharasinghe, the main male character and Vasanthi Chathurani, as Kusum Liyanage, the main female character. It was directed by Sumithra Peiris and produced by Dr. Lester James Peiris. The cast includes, Jenita Samaraweera, Shyama Anandan, Trelicia Gunawardene, Chitra Wakista, Senaka Perera, Nimal Dayaratne, Dayamanthi Pattiarachchi and Joe Abeywickrema.




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