Multi-awarded make-up artiste Wittachchi no more
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Award winning make-up artiste and renowned actor Wasanthi Wittachchi passed away at the age of 68 last week.
Groomed under renowned makeup artiste Shesha Palihakkara, who was shot to fame working in the makeup department of the famous Hollywood film ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’ when it was filmed in Sri Lanka, Wittachchi’s first film as a make-up artiste was Chandran Rutnam’s film ‘Adara Kathawa’.
An avid theatre goer, Wittachchi trained himself under renowned playwrights like Dr. Solomon Fonseka and he developed a close friendship with some of the well known theatre artistes who later became leading figures in theatre, teledrama and cinema in Sri Lanka. Got interested in acting, Wasantha’s first experience in a stage play was ‘Raththo’. Directed by Nimal Pathirana, there Wittachchi played the role of Lucas. Later he became one of the most sought-after artistes both on screen and behind the screen.
Wittachchi was one of the actors who joined teledrama as early as television was introduced to Sri Lanka. He contributed with a remarkable role in both ‘Bumuthurunu’ and ‘Tharadevi’ two teledramas that were produced in early stage that television was introduced to Sri Lanka. His role in teledrama ‘Kadaima’ was one of the exceptional performances.
‘Sikuru Hathe’, ‘Garasarpa’, ‘ Kadira Divyaraja’, ‘Kathuru Mithuru’,’Gindari 2’, Mille Soya, ‘Address Ne’, ‘Midunu Vishwaya’ and ‘Uppalawanna’ are some of his leading movie contributions.
For his long contribution to all three formats of arts, Wittachchi won over 50 awards and a number of honorary titles such as Vishwa Keerthi and so on. More than anything else most remarkable quality of Wittachchi was humility, humbleness and friendliness. He would be ready to help any newcomer to the industry and was ready to share his knowledge.
During the last stages of his life Wittachchi was undergoing treatment at the Kotelawala Defence University Hospital, where he breathed his last.
(SF)
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