Somaratne Dissanayake

Somaratne Dissanayake
Somaratne Dissanayake
Nationality	Sri Lanka
Occupation	Film director Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Chairman
Years active	1997–Present
Website	www.somadissa.com

Kalasuri Somaratne Dissanayake is a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter and producer.^[1] He is the president of the Film Makers Guild of Sri Lanka (FMG). He won the Peace prize of Chicago International Children's Film Festival and bronze award for Independent Theatrical Feature Films at Worldfest Houston for his debut film, Saroja (2000). In 2007, he received Presidential award for directing Samanala Thatu (2006).^[2]

Biography

Among his early works were a stage play, Mee Pura Wesio (Rat Citizens, 1988) and a television drama, Iti Pahan (Candle Lamps, mid 1990's)^[3]

He is married to producer and television host Renuka Balasuriya.^[4]

In January 2015, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC),^[5] only to resign later that year in August, due to personal reasons.^[6]

Awards and nominations

.^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]

Awards
Year and Film	Award	Category	Result
2000 Saroja	Chicago International Children's Film Festival	Liv Ullmann Peace Award	Won
	Dhaka International Film Festival	NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film	Won
	Pyongyang International Film Festival	Special Award of the Festival	Won
	Iran International Film Festival	Award for the Best Director	Won
	Kerala International Film Festival	Golden Crow Pheasant Prize	Nominated
	Singapore International Film Festival	Silver Screen Award for Best Asian Feature Film	Nominated
	Vesoul Asian Film Festival	Audience Award	Won
	WorldFest Houston	Bronze Award for First Feature	Won

Awards
Year and Film	Award	Category	Result
2003 Punchi Suranganavi	Dhaka International Film Festival	Jury Mention Award	Won
	Kerala International Film Festival	Golden Crow Pheasant Prize	Nominated

Awards
Year and Film	Award	Category	Result
2005 Sooriya Arana	Houston International Film Festival	Silver Remi Award for the Best Feature	Won
	Presidential Awards	Award for The Most Popular Film of the Year	Won
	Presidential Awards	Award for The Best Lyrics	Won
	Presidential Awards	Award for The Best Script (Somaratne Dissanayake)	Won

Awards
Year and Film	Award	Category	Result
2005 Samanala Thatu	Mexico International Film Festival	Best Film Award	Won
	Carrousel international du film de Rimouski	HumanitasCamerio Award	Won
	Carrousel international du film de Rimouski	Jury Mention	Won
	Golden Elephant International Children Film Festival	Silver Elephant Award	Won

Awards
Year and Film	Award	Category	Result
2008 Siri Raja Siri	Dhaka International Film Festival	Best Audience Award for Best Film	Won
	Asia Pacific Screen Awards	Best Children's Feature Film	Nominated
	Mexico International Children Film Festival	Jury Mention Award for Best Film	Won
	Argentina International Children Film Festival	Signis Jury Award for the Best Film	Won
	Carrousel international du film de Rimouski	CamerioHumanitas Award	Won
	Carrousel international du film de Rimouski	Cifej Award	Won

Filmography

.

Year	Film	Role
2000	Saroja	Director, screenwriter, lyricist
2002	Punchi Suranganavi	Director, screenwriter
2004	Sooriya Arana	Director, screenwriter, lyricist
2005	Samanala Thatu	Director, screenwriter, lyricist
2008	Siri Raja Siri	Director, screenwriter
2009	Bindu	Director, screenwriter, lyricist
2013	Siri Parakum	Director, screenwriter, lyricist
2016	Sarigama	Director, lyricist
2017	Underpants Thief	Director, screenwriter

References

^ "Somaratne Dissanayake". National Film Corporation of Sri lanka. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
^ "President honours Lankan Cinema". The Sunday Times. February 4, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
^ Medis, Darshana (13 October 2000). "Saroja: a distortion of the racist war in Sri Lanka". World Socialist Website. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
^ "Film: Coronation of 'King Siri'". Sri Lanka Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
^ "Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation gets a new chairman - Sri Lanka News". News 1st, MTV Channel. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
^ "Somaratne Dissanayake resigns as Rupavahini Chairman". Ada Derana. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
^ "Achievements of Somaratne Dissanaynake". Somaratne Dissanaynake. Retrieved 11 March 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
^ "Cinematic acclaim for Semage, Dissanayake". The Sunday Times Mirror Magazine Section. 6 February 2000. Retrieved 16 June 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
^ Fernando, Susitha R. (2001). "Dissanayake attempts another Saroja". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 June 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
^ Edirisinghe, E.M.G. (5 August 2002). "Punchi Suranganavi (Little Angel)". Daily News archives. Retrieved 15 June 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)

[1] "Somaratne Dissanayake". National Film Corporation of Sri lanka. Retrieved July 6, 2008.

[2] "President honours Lankan Cinema". The Sunday Times. February 4, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2013.

[3] Medis, Darshana (13 October 2000). "Saroja: a distortion of the racist war in Sri Lanka". World Socialist Website. Retrieved 6 June 2018.

[4] "Film: Coronation of 'King Siri'". Sri Lanka Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2018.

[5] "Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation gets a new chairman - Sri Lanka News". News 1st, MTV Channel. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.

[6] "Somaratne Dissanayake resigns as Rupavahini Chairman". Ada Derana. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)

[7] "Achievements of Somaratne Dissanaynake". Somaratne Dissanaynake. Retrieved 11 March 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)

[8] "Cinematic acclaim for Semage, Dissanayake". The Sunday Times Mirror Magazine Section. 6 February 2000. Retrieved 16 June 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)

[9] Fernando, Susitha R. (2001). "Dissanayake attempts another Saroja". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 June 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)

[10] Edirisinghe, E.M.G. (5 August 2002). "Punchi Suranganavi (Little Angel)". Daily News archives. Retrieved 15 June 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)

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