{{Short description|Sri Lankan actor (1931–2009)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Henry Jayasena <br> හෙන්රි ජයසේන | image = Henry Jayasena1.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Bastian Koralage Henry Rudrigo Jayasena | birth_date = {{Birth date|1931|07|06|df=y}} | birth_place = Gampaha, Sri Lanka | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2009|11|11|1931|07|06}} | death_place = Colombo South (Kalubowila) General Hospital - Sri Lanka | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | other_names = | known_for = Acting, cinema, theatre | education = Lorenz College Gampaha <br> Nalanda College Colombo | employer = | occupation = Film, television, and stage actor, Playwright and Director | awards = Doctor<ref>{{cite web |url = https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2006/01/01/fea12.html |title = New Year 2006 : Hopes and aspirations |date = 1 January 2006 |publisher = Sunday Observer - Lakehouse Newspapers |access-date = 2 July 2009 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091114124441/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/01/01/fea12.html |archive-date = 14 November 2009 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> | height = | term = | predecessor = | years_active = 1958–1999 | party = | boards = | spouse = Manel Ilangakoon (m. 1962) | partner = | children = Sudaraka Jayasena | parents = | relatives = | signature = | website = | footnotes = }}
Kala Keerthi<ref>[http://www.presidentsoffice.gov.lk/?page_id=340 National Awards Conferred by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka]</ref> Dr<ref>[https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2010/06/27/mag06.asp In memory of Henry]</ref><ref>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/151206/plus/a-decade-of-dedicated-service-173476.html A decade of dedicated service ]</ref><ref>[http://www.island.lk/2006/01/21/opinion3.html Punchi Theatre needs financial backing]</ref> '''Bastian Koralage Henry Rudrigo Jayasena''' (born 6 July 1931 – died 11 November 2009 as Sinhala: හෙන්රි ජයසේන), popularly known as '''Henry Jayasena''', was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfc.gov.lk/artist/henry-jayasena-482/ |title=Actors in Sinhala cinema - Henry Jayasena - හෙන්රි ජයසේන |publisher=National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka|access-date=30 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.films.lk/sinhala-cinema-artist-henry-jayasena-23.html |title=Henry Jayasena - හෙන්රි ජයසේන filmography |publisher=Sinhala Cinema Database |access-date=30 November 2019}}</ref> With a career spanning more than four decades, Jayasena is considered one of the best dramatists in Sri Lankan drama.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2016/07/07/?fn=sa16070727 |title=Sri Lankan Stage Drama |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref>
==Personal life== He was born on 6 July 1931 in Bendiyamulla, Gampaha. He attended the Gampaha branch of Lorenz College for primary education. He then attended Nalanda College Colombo for his secondary education. During his time at the school, he was classmates with many successful people, among who were Dr. Dharmasena Attygalle, Karunaratne Abeysekera, Dr. Harischandra Wijayatunga, Dr. Hudson Silva, Hon. Rupa Karunathilake,
Jayasena was married to fellow actress Manel Ilangakoon in 1962. Manel played the lead role in Jayasena's play ''Kuweni'' and won the best actress award for her performance at the State Drama Festival. The couple has one son, Sudaraka Jayasena.<ref name= career>{{cite web |url=http://www.hi.lk/top_story/Taking-Center-Stage--Henry-Jayasena-a-Legendary-Actor-And-Playwright/49-5255 |title=Taking Center Stage! Henry Jayasena a Legendary Actor And Playwright |publisher=Hi.lk |access-date=30 November 2019}}</ref> Manel has acted in many popular television serials such as ''Ekagei Kurullo'', ''Sathpura Wasiyo'' and ''Hiru Kumari''. She died in 2004 at age 68.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aniwa.lk/2017/11/01/1711011-sweet-memories-of-long-gone-stars/ |title=Stars that shape our telly screen and say goodbye to us |work=Aniwa.lk - අනිවා ඔබටම විනෝදවන්න, වැඩදායී, සිත්ඇදගන්නා ඔරිජින්ල්ම, ගොසිප් නැති, පොලිටික්ස් නැති සිංහල ලිපි හා වීඩියෝ |date=November 2017 |publisher=aniwa.lk |access-date=30 November 2019 |archive-date=22 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122034213/http://www.aniwa.lk/2017/11/01/1711011-sweet-memories-of-long-gone-stars/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Early career== Prior to acting, Jayasena began his career as an assistant teacher of English at the Dehipe Primary School in Padiyapellela in the Nuwara Eliya district in 1950.<ref name= career /> While teaching at the school, he directed his first stage play, ''Janaki''. However, Jaysena left this post a few months later after passing the General Clerical Service Examination and securing a job with the Public Works Department (PWD) of Sri Lanka.<ref name="C">{{cite web|url=http://www.island.lk/2007/12/12/midweek4.html|title=Henry Jayasena|access-date=27 April 2008|year=2007|publisher=Upali Group of Companies}}</ref>
Before retiring from government work, he also served as Deputy Director for the National Youth Services Council in the Arts and Sports Division as well as the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation in Programs Division.<ref name= career />
==Golden career== While with Public Works Department, Jaysena created many of his most famous plays, including ''Pawkarayo'' <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120523202039/http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/01/13/art15.asp Dr Henry Jayasena - some personal reflections]</ref> (1958), ''Janelaya'' (1962), Kuweni (1963), ''Thavath Udesenak'' (1964), ''Manaranjana Wedawarjana'' (1965), ''Ahas Malilga'' (1966), ''Hunuwataye Kathawa'' (1967), ''Apata Puthey Magak Nethey'' (1968), ''Diriya Mawa'' (1972), ''Makara'' (1973) and ''Sarana Siyoth Se Puthini Habha Yana'' (1975).
Jaysena started his cinema career with the 1959 film ''Sri 296'' with the role "Jayaweera". During the 1960s, Jaysena played the starring roles of "Piyal" in ''Gamperaliya'' (1964), "Azdak" in ''Hunuwataye Kathawa'' (1967) and "Lalith" in ''Dahasak Sithuvili'' (1968) and Avurududa (1986).<ref name= remember>{{cite web |url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20191104/282729113702108 |title=Remembering Henry Jayasena |publisher=Daily Mirror |access-date=30 November 2019}}</ref>
He also worked consistently in television series after the introduction of television to Sri Lanka in the late 1970s. Jayasena was involved with the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation from its early beginnings in the 1980s. He portrayed the role of "Sudu Seeya" in the tele drama ''Doo Daruwo'' directed by Nalan Mendis and written by Dr. Somaweera Senanayaka.<ref name= remember /> The serial became highly popularized and was awarded at many local television award festivals. It was the longest tele drama telecast during the 1990s in Sri Lanka.
Jayasena retired from acting in 1999 due to treatments for a terminal disease.<ref name= career /> However, he made two supporting appearances in two films, ''Punchi Suranganavi'' in 2002 and ''Randiya Dahara'' in 2004.
===Selected stage plays=== {{Div col|colwidth=25em}} * ''Harischandra'' * ''Janelaya'' * ''Thavath Udesanak'' * ''Manaranjana Wedawarjana'' * ''Ahas Maliga'' * ''Hunuwataye Kathawa'' * ''Kuweni'' * ''Apata Puthe Magak Nathe'' * ''Diriya Mawa'' * ''Makara'' * ''Sarana Siyoth Se Puthuni Haba Yana'' {{Div col end}}
==Beyond acting== Apart from acting, he also worked as a screenplay writer, lyricist and author. He contributed to the local newspaper by writing for the "Artscope page" of the Sri Lanka Daily News for many years.<ref name= career /><ref name= remember />
===Author work=== * ''Minisun Woo Daruwo'' * ''Hunuwataye Kathawa'' <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-story/2020/07/23/18071/ගෲෂා-නටෙල්ලා-අනිකෝ-සහ-ලුඩොවිකා |title=Grusha, Natella, Aniko and Ludovica |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> * ''Karaliyaka Kathawak'' * ''Niliyakage Kathawak'' * ''Nim Nethi Kathawak'' * ''Balga Gilano'' * ''Adarshawath Baenku Niyamuwaku A Gaman Maga'' * ''Sudu Seeyage Kavi Sindu'' * ''Play Is The Thing'' * ''Kuweni'' * ''Janelaya''
==Legacy== In 2003, Jayasena was presented with Nalanda Keerthi Sri award by his school Nalanda College, Colombo.<ref>[http://archives.dailynews.lk/2010/10/20/news33.asp Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara nominated for Nalanda Keerthi Sri 2010]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160107034239/http://www.nalanda.sch.lk/alumni/nalanda-keerthi-sri Nalanda Keerthi Sri]</ref><ref>[http://dailynews.lk/2017/11/29/features/135852/effervescent-thespian Effervescent thespian]</ref>
==Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Ref. |- | 1959 || ''Sri 296'' || Jayaweera || |- | 1959 || ''Gehenu Geta'' || Bandula || |- | 1963 || ''Wena Swargayak Kumatada'' || || |- | 1963 || ''Gamperaliya'' || Piyal || <ref>{{Cite web |title=All about the blockbuster film "Gamperaliya" |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/story/2019/07/18/7222/අන්තිමේදී-ජිනදාස-භූමදානය-කළේ-මගේ-සල්ලිවලින් |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=Sarasaviya}}</ref> |- | 1963 || ''Suhada Sohoyuro'' || || |- | 1964 || ''Heta Pramada Wadi'' || Manager || |- | 1966 || ''Seegiri Kashyapa'' || Chandra Deva || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-films-local/2019/09/05/8820/පිරුණා-හද-සන්තානේ | title=All about Seegiri Kashyapa | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> |- | 1967 || ''Sadol Kandulu'' || || |- | 1968 || ''Dahasak Sithuvili'' || Lalith || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2020/01/30/15254/පමා-වුණොත්-මල-පරවෙයි | title=All about Dahasak Sithuvili | work=සරසවිය | date=29 January 2020 | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> |- | 1972 || ''Atheethayen Kathawak'' || || |- | 1972 || ''Miringuwa'' || || |- | 1977 || ''Maruwa Samaga Wase'' || Police Inspector || |- | 1979 || ''Palagetiyo'' || Gunadasa || |- | 1979 || ''Dutugemunu'' ||King Kavanatissa (voice) || |- | 1979 || ''Handaya'' || Perera || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films-local/2019/08/08/8091/සිඟිති-ලොවේ-සුරතල්-හඳයා |title=All about Handaya |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=10 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 1980 || ''Hansa Vilak'' || Douglas Ranawira || <ref>{{Cite web |title=All about "Hansa Vilak" |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films/2018/12/13/1555/මලක්-නම්-එය-මලක්-වුව-මැන-හංස-විලක් |access-date=2021-01-12 |website=Sarasaviya}}</ref> |- | 1980 || ''Ganga Addara'' || Head Doctor || |- | 1981 || ''Baddegama'' || Village Headsman || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2019/12/12/13157/ලෙනාඩ්-වුල්ෆ්ගේ-නවකතාවෙන්-සිත්තමක්-වූ-බැද්දේගම | title=All about Beddegama | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> |- | 1981 || ''Soldadu Unnehe'' || Willie 'Mahattaya' || |- | 1981 || ''Sooriyakantha'' || Kirthi Bandara || |- | 1982 || ''Thana Giravi'' || Doctor Siri Kulasekara / Douglas Kulasekara || |- | 1982 || ''Kadawunu Poronduwa remake'' || Doctor || |- | 1983 || ''Kaliyugaya'' || Piyal || |- | 1984 || ''Hima Kathara'' || Captain || |- | 1984 || ''Ammai Duwai'' || || |- | 1986 || ''Avurududa'' || || |- | 1988 || ''Sandakada Pahana'' || Shelterer || |- | 1993 || ''Ordinary Magic'' || Priest || |- | 1996 || ''Amanthaya'' || || |- | 2002 || ''Punchi Suranganavi'' || Doctor || |- | 2004 || ''Randiya Dahara'' || Samantha's father || |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0419693|name=Henry Jayasena}} *[https://www.sarasavi.lk/Book/Kuweni-1004989 Author work by Henry Jayasena] *[http://www.island.lk/2007/12/12/midweek4.html Henry Jayasena‘A gifted and decent human being….’] *[https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2010/04/11/mon02.asp Henry Jayasena's overarching influence on Sinhala theatre] *[https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2006/01/15/fea24.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120523211707/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/01/15/fea24.html] *[https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2001/pix/PrintPage.asp?REF=%2F2009%2F11%2F15%2Fmon06.asp Azdak of Sinhala theatre leaves the stage] *[https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2007/12/02/imp15.asp Drama in full flower] *[https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/02/22/fea21.html Manel felicitated at 'Janakala Prasada Pranama Ulela']
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jayasena, Henry}} Category:1931 births Category:2009 deaths Category:Sri Lankan male stage actors Category:Sri Lankan Buddhists Category:Alumni of Nalanda College, Colombo Category:Sri Lankan dramatists and playwrights Category:Sri Lankan male film actors Category:20th-century dramatists and playwrights Category:Kala Keerthi