Mary Felicia Perera, popularly as Sonia Dissanayake or known professionally as,Sonia Disa, is a former actress in Sri Lankan cinema. Started her career in 1962, she became one of the most popular film actresses in 70s and 80s. Apart from acting, she also produced 17 films and worked as a costume designer.
Personal life
She was born on 7 June 1944 in Kotahena, Colombo as Mary Felicia Perera. She was married to Karu Dissanayake, who was also a film actor. He made film debut with Soorayangeth Sooraya and later acted in popular films including Weli Kathara, Thushara and Janaka Saha Manju. He died on 17 November 2009. She lives in Australia with her two children, Udaya and Harshani. In 2017, Sonia was hospitalized due to a sudden heart attack. She recovered successfully after a surgery.
Career
She was introduced into the cinema by Anthony C. Perera at the age of 19. He brought Sonia into Titus Thotawatte and she acted as "club girl" in his film in 1962 Chandiya. Her major cinematic experience came through a supportive role in 1964 filmHeta Pramada Wadi, directed by Shantha Kumar Senevirathna. Some of her popular films are Soorayangeth Sooraya, Thusara, Sadahatama Oba Magai and Janaka Saha Manju. During the shooting of 1976 filmNedeyo, Sonia was severely injured when acting a scene in a car. She was admitted to the hospital in coma state and relieved after seven days. One of her eyes were severely damaged and vision was lost in that eye. It took one year and six months to be healed completed. Disa won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Obata Divura Kiyannam at Sarasavi Film Festival and Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Devduwa at the Presidential award festival. She acted with Gamini Fonseka for 15 films, which enabled her to play in different levels in the Sinhala cinema. She acted in many villain roles oppose to Malini Fonseka and fans criticized her roles in many films. She then refused to play in playful sexy roles and started to act in more dramatic roles which commenced with Jeewana Ganga directed by Dayananda Rodrigo. Finally, she was selected for many motherly roles, which became a cult in that era. She acted motherly roles in many blockbuster movies such as Thaththai Puthai, Raja Wadakarayo, Hitha Honda Chandiya and Mamai Raja. With many western roles, her name was transferred to stage name Sonia Disa by Tissa Abeysekara. In 1986, she produced her maiden cinema productionJaya Apatai along with Sunil T. Fernando. In 2004, she celebrated 40 years for her cinema career with a grand ceremony at the BMICH. After 20 years, she acted in Dayaratne Ratagedara's poya day single episode teledrama Mudukku.
Arrest
16 February 2015, she was arrested by the Slave Island police for trespassing on the Nava Sama Samaja Party office premises at Barrack road Colombo 2. She charged that her house was unlawfully acquired by Wickramabahu Karunaratne. She also stated that the building was given to former minister Vasudeva Nanayakkaratwenty years ago. However, six persons including Disa, were produced before the Fort Magistrate Court on Monday afternoon. She was released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on 18 February 2015.
