Ananda Weerakoon


Don Ananda Weerakoon was one of the early Sri Lankan film actors in the 1950s.

Life and career

Early life
Ananda was born as only son in a family of five children to parents Don William Weerakoon and Amarawathi Kalansuriya. He was educated at Nalanda College Colombo and was also a Bachelor of Arts degree holder. Since school days he had been keenly interested in history and arts. He first participated in a dance to welcome the Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Ceylon together with Shesha Palihakkara and Titus Thotawatte at the Colombo Regal Hall.
Film acting
He first started acting in a film as a young boy called "Harry" in one of the films directed by Sirisena Wimalaweera. Later on Ananda had been acting in many films directed by Sirisena Wimalaweera such as Asoka and Lester James Peries's Rekava film.
Stay in England
In 1960, Ananda moved to the United Kingdom and since then he worked as an insurance agent in London for 29 years.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1955AsokaHarry
1955Podi Putha
1956RekavaNimal
1957SukumaliVijaya
1957Jeewitha Satana
1959Ma Ale Kala TharuniyaJayasena
1960Wana Mala