Mervyn Jayathunga


Pitiyage Mervyn Piyadasa Jayatunga, popularly as Mervyn Jayathunga, was an award-winning actor in Sri Lankan cinema and stage drama. One of highly versatile actors highly popularized with villain roles, Jayathunga acted several critically acclaimed films such as Raktha and Pasamithuro.
He died on 1 November 1993 at the age of 53.

Personal life

He was born on 9 March 1940 in Moratuwa area as the eldest of the family with nine siblings. His father, James Jayathunga was a furniture maker. His mother was Merlin Florida Fernando. He has four brothers - Sumanadasa, Karunadasa, Jinadasa, Nimaladasa and four sisters - Malani Chandrawathi, Padma Kusumawathi, Ashoka Induwathi and Bhadra Kanthi. He started his education from Sri Chandrasekara Maha Vidyalaya, Horethuduwa. Then he went to Moratu Maha Vidyalaya at grade 4. At the school, he started drama career under the guidance of school principal A.M de Silva. Apart from them, he was a good athlete and a good sitarist. After finishing school times, he quickly started to search for a job. On 14 May 1959, he got a job at Kotuwa Cargo Corporation. Then he worked as a train driver at Department of Railways. After some years, he started to work as a cartography designer in Department of Survey. He has been trained cartography in Hyderabad, India. He learn martial arts from karate master D.A. Welgama.
He was married to Nalini Hemalatha. She completed her education from Presbyterian Girls' School, Mount Lavinia. The couple has one daughter - Priyadashani Hemali and one son - Shammie Prabath.

Acting career

There was an art circle of government service officers. In 1961, postmaster named J. N. S. A Warnakulasuriya trained a drama Sumudu Bharya, where Jayathunga acted in a minor role. Then he joined with drama maestro Henry Jayasena and played in his stage dramas such as Hunuwataye Kathawa, Diriya Mawa and Apata Puthe Magak Nathe. Then under Jayasena's guidance, he acted as a hunter in the television film Elephant Boy. Jayathunga, who was in charge of Jayasena's stage design stage, has been allowed to go to East Germany to study stage drama. After coming to Sri Lanka, he acted in Gamanak Saha Minihek, Ekadipathi, Sthree, Ran Salakuna and Kadadasikoti. He was the third Wedi King of Ediriweera Sarachchandra's Maname drama.

Filmography

After continuous role in stage, he was introduced to silver screen by Wehalle Piyathilaka. His maiden film acting came through Charles Perera's Vismaya as a music master. His turning point in cinema was Chandi Putha, where he established as a character artist. In 1992, he starred in 17 films, a record in the history of cinema. On the day he died, he acted in the English television film Fellow Me. He has acted in more than 200 films across many genre.
YearNo.FilmRoleRef.
1978VismayaMusic master
1977Chandi PuthaMervyn
1977Pembara Madhu
1978Seetha Devi
1978Selinahe WalawwaSimon
1978Kumara KumariyoFinale fighter
1978AnupamaBullet
1979Akke Mata AwasaraRichard Delgoda
1979Jeewana Kandulu
1979Amal Biso
1979Chuda ManikyaSeney
1980RakthaGorasinghe
1980Miyurige Kathawa
1981Mihidum Sihina
1981Thawalama
1981Sooriyakantha
1981Sagarayak MedaPrison bully
1981Ridee Thella
1981Sudda
1981VajiraShelton
1981Amme Mata SamawennaLionel Jayasekar
1982Thani Tharuwa
1982Pethi GomaraVannoka
1982Sakwithi SuwayaPasquel
1982Anuradha
1983Ran Mini Muthu
1983SumithuroShare demander
1983ChutteKalu Mahththaya
1983Hasthi Viyaruwa
1983ChandiraGidiriyan
1983Senehasaka Kandulu
1983PasamithuroGemunu
1983Menik Maliga
1983Rathu MakaraKalu Albert
1983BonikkaBandara Baladeva
1984Maala GiraviWickie
1984ParasathuroAruma
1984Niwan Dakna Jaathi Dakwa
1984Hitha Honda Kollek
1984Bambara Patikki
1984HithawathiyaReggie
1984Hadawathaka Wedana
1984Birinda
1984Jaya Sikurui
1985Eya Waradida Oba Kiyanna
1985Doo Daruwo
1985Kirimaduwal
1985Mawubima Naththam Maranaya
1985Rajina
1985Puthuni Mata Samawenna
1986Jaya Apatai
1986Soora SaradiyelSaradiel's father
1986DinumaSuperintendent Senarath
1986Prarthana
1986Athuru Mithuru
1986DushyanthiVijay
1986Koti Waligaya
1987Podi Vijay
1987Yukthiyada Shakthiyada
1987Kele KellaMaha Aththo
1987Der Stein des Todes
1987Nommara EkaiBoss
1987Randamwal
1987AhinsaDulip
1987Yugayen Yugayata
1987Hitha Honda ChandiyaPodi Mahathaya
1987Obatai Priye AdareDouglas
1988Chandingeth Chandiya
1988Durga
1988Satana
1988Ko Hathuro
1988Newatha Api EkwemuWillie
1988Amme Oba Nisa
1988Angulimala
1989Manika, une vie plus tardManika's father
1989Obata Rahasak Kiyannam
1989Randenigala SinhayaMaha Eka
1989Nommara 17Mervyn Jayasekera
1989Shakthiya Obai AmmeAlbert
1989Sinasenna Raththaran
1989Waradata Danduwama
1990Yukthiyata WedaSP Percy Jayasinghe
1990Veera Udara
1990Hondin Naththam Narakin
1990Chandi Raja
1990Honda Honda SellamMr. Ranabahu
1990Dedunnen Samanaliyak
1990Pem Rajadahana
1990Palama YataGuard Mahathaya
1990Christhu Charithaya2nd Herod
1991Keli MadalaDudley Tennekoon
1991Hithata Dukak Nathi Miniha
1991Esala Sanda
1991Love In Bangkok
1991Ran Hadawatha
1991Alibaba Saha Hory Hathaliha
1991Mama Obe Hithawatha
1991Raja Kello
1991Raja Sellan
1992Jaya Sri We Kumariye
1992Bajar Eke Chandiya
1992Viyaru Minisa
1992Malsara Doni
1992Chandi Rejina
1992Suranimala
1992Sinhayangeth SinhayaMr. Wijetunga
1992Rajek Wage Puthek
1992Ranabime Veeraya
1992Sakwithi Raja
1992Sakkara Suththara
1992Sinha Raja
1992Kiyala Wadak NaSydney
1992Okkoma Kanapita
1992Me Ware Mage
1992Rumathiyay Neethiyay
1992Sathya
1992ChayaMaha Eka
1993Till Death Do Us Part
1993Sargent NallathambiBalasundara
1993Sasara Sarisarna Thek Oba Mage
1993Yasasa
1993Ordinary MagicSlide Show Man
1993Lassanai Balanna
1993Juriya MamaiPolice SP Sirinandana
1993Mawila Penevi Roope Hade
1993Come O Go ChicagoMervyn
1993Sandarekha
1993Lagin Giyoth Ehek Na
1993Soora Veera ChandiyoMervyn
1994Nohandan Kumariye
1994Jayagrahanaya
1994Abhiyogaya
1994Aathma
1994Vijaya GeethaSirimanne
1994Shakthi
1994Halo My Darling
1995Inspector GeethaDavid Ranatunga
1995MaruthayaInspector Palitha
1995Chandiyage PuthaNicholas
1995Hitha Honda Soorayo
1995Cheriyo CaptainGeneral Tagore
1995Wasana Wewa
1995Ira Handa Illa
1995Pudumai Eth Aththai
1995Deviyani Sathya SurakinnaSimon Gajasinghe 'Gini Simon'
1995Demodara PalamaPatty mahathaya
1995Ege WairayaSilvey
1995Sudu Walassu
1995Dalulana Gini
1996Sihina Wimane KumariyaHerman
1996Api Baya NahaRobert Dharmaraj
1996Body Guard
1996Obatai Me Aradhana
1996Naralowa HolmanChief
1996Raththaran Malli
1996Hitha Hondanam Waradin Na
1996Bawa Sasara
1997Ramba Saha Madhu
1997Apaye Thappara 84000k
1997Goodbye Tokyo
1997Yasoma
1997Vijayagrahana
1998Girl Friend
1999Akunu Pahara
2001Dinuma
2004Premawanthayo
2006Rana Hansi

Awards

Presidential Awards