Wimal Kumara de Costa (4 July 1948 – 20 November 2016 as විමල් කුමාර ද කොස්තා [Sinhala]) was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema. He started his career in cinema with character acting in art films, later moving on to comedy roles. He is cited as the pioneer of the Sri Lankan mime industry.
Personal life Wimal Kumara De Costa was born on 4 July 1948 in Kelaniya, and he completed his education from Gurukula College, Kelaniya.
Career Early days Before entering popular art, he acted in many regional stage shows like Andare, Yakage Kamhala, Sith Peraliya and Diyasena. Costa began his mainstream acting career while attending Gurukula College with a role in the play Godo Enakath directed by A.J. Selvaduray. Subsequently, he performed in plays such as Dunna Dunna Gamuwe, Hitha Hondha Ammandi, Puttu, Kavuruth Yan Ne, Kora Saha Andhaya and Nattukarayo by W. Jayasiri, Sugathapala de Silva and others.
His first experience with film came with a role in Dharmasena Pathiraja's short Sathuro (1969). His first feature was also a Pathiraja film, Ves Gaththo, released the next year. The Pathiraja collaboration would continue through the rest of the 1970s and early 1980s, yielding some of Wimal's most famous roles such as the socialist in Bambaru Awith (1978), the abusive youth in Eya Dan Loku Lamayek (1977) and the disaffected youth of Ahas Gauwa (1974).
Costa won the Award for the Best actor at the 1963 Theatre Drama Festival for the acting in Dunna Dunna Gamuwe.
Mime art Costa is highlighted as the pioneer of Sri Lankan mime art. His most notable miming acts are Pemwathaa, Chaaya Roopa Shilpiya, Charlie Chaplin, Inimaga, Magiyek and Adare Wedana. These acts were made by dramatists like Gamini Haththotuwegama, Dharmasena Pathiraja, Sarath Kallepotha and Bandula Vithanage.
Gaining Popularity His critically acclaimed performances in these films led to him becoming a much sought-after actor for character roles by other art directors. Sunil Ariyaratne also used him as a whiskey seller in Sarungale (1979), among other roles. Gamini Fonseka featured him in most of his directorial work, such as Sagarayek Meda (1981).
In the 1980s, de Costa began to take lighter roles, which he had occasionally done in the 1970s to a much smaller extent. This would be the period he began to get lead roles in such films as Silva and Jivithayen Jivithayak.
From the 1990s on, he had done mainly small comedic roles in B-movies.
Death De Costa attended Colombo South General (Teaching) Hospital on 19 November 2016, where he died the next day due to intense respiratory difficulties.
Filmography No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan films in the Sri Lankan cinema. De Costa has acted in more than 100 films, ranging from drama, action, and comedy roles.
Year No. Film Role1969200Samaje Sathurouncredited role1970234Wes Gaththo1972264Sihina Lowak 1973275Hathdinnath TharuMr. Perera 'Director'1973280Dahakin Ekek Chandre's friend1974282Ahas Gauwa Gune1974295Sagarika1974299Sanakeliya1975316Mage Nangi Shyama1975325Sikuru LiyaPodi Hamu's friend 1976342DiyamanthiDharma1976355Nilla Soya1977364Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai1977369Eya Dan Loku LamayekSiripala1977378Maruwa Samaga WaseJustin1977379Siripala saha RanmenikaJustin 1977361Sudu ParaviyoBimiya1977363Sri Madara1977373Saja1978393Asha Dasin1978396Saara1978400Bambaru AwithWeerasena1978401SaleeJustin1978409AnupamaSima1979413SarungaleSimon 1979415Amal Biso1979422Wasanthaye DawasakSisira1979426Chuda ManikkayaMr. Vicky1980438Mal Kekulu1980442Kanchana1980443SilvaSilva1980444Ektam GeMartin 1980450RakthaUmari1980459Sankapali1980463Para Dige1980466Api Dedena1980468Mayurige Kathawa1981470Kolam KarayoJoseph Silva1981473RangaBonnie1981475Sathweni DawasaBandara1981476Sayuru TheraMichael1981481Situ Kumariyo1981488Sagarayak MedaDrug-using prisoner1981491Badura Mal1981497Sathara Diganthiya1981493GeethikaPiyadasa1981503Chanchala RekhaPodi Mahaththaya1982505SandaNimal1982509Ra ManamaliPodi Mahaththaya1982510Sakwithi SuwayaKaputa1982512BicycleSamson 'Sam'1982513Adishtanaya1982514Jeewithayen Jeewithayak1982527Sithara1982532Major Sir1983545ChandiraAnduwa1983549Sewranga Sena1983555Athin AthataWimaldasa 'Wimale' 1983559Subodha1983560Hasthi Wiyaruwa1983567Samanala Sihina1984577Walle Thanu MaligaAlbert Mahaththaya1984576Shirani1984589Bambara Patikki1984593Sasara Chethana1984594WadulaPeithappuwa1984603Sahodariyakage Kathwa1984605Ara SoyzaCosta1985621Aya Waradida Oba Kiyanna1985627Sudu Mama1985630Karadiya Walalla1985634Kiri Maduwal1986635Yali HamuwennaiPrasanna's friend1986640PeralikarayoJiney1986647Puja1987670AhinsaJackie1988681Nawatha Api EkwemuMama1989694Randenigala SinhayaRamo1991718Paaradise1991724Hithata Dukak Nathi Minisa1991738Suwadena Suwadak1992745Salli Thibunata Madi1992756UmayanganaJamis1992764Muwan Palasse Kadira1993779Chaya Maya1994797Jayagrahanaya1994802Abiyogaya1994803Sanda MadalaRanaa Ayya1994808Mawubime Weerayo1994811150 MulleriyawaMantri patient1994813Athma1995825Rodaya1995829Wairayen Wairaya1995830Demodara PalamaHarry 1995834Age Wairaya1995838Hitha Honda Surayo1995839Cheriyo CaptainKang-Kung1995843Sudu Walassu1996844Sathi1996848Obatai Me Aradhana1996853Hitha Hodanam Waradin Na1996854Mana MohiniJohn Wayne1996857Hitha Honda Gahaniyek1996863Cheriyo DarlingVegemite 1997881Apaye Thappara 84000k1997883Pem Mal MalaSecurity officer1997913Rathu AluyamaMinister Wansanatha 1999914Akunu Pahara1999919KolompoorCostapal2001956Hai Hui Babi AchchiCosta2001958Balakamaya2002975Sansara Prarthana2002989Onna BaboLengwa alias Ritaa20041028Bambara Sanakeli20051061Alu Yata Gini20071115Ai Oba Thaniwela20131193Kauda Machan Alice20141205Supiri AndareLadaruwa20151236Lantin SinghoSebastian20171285SwaroopaPosthumous release20171286Sellam Nethnam LellamPosthumous release20171292Dr. NawariyanSumanasiri. Posthumous release2019SangilePosthumous release2022RashmiPosthumous releaseTBDAdda Lanuwa Damma KodiyaPosthumous release
References
External links Sri Lanka Sinhala Films Database - Wimal Kumara de Costa