Denawaka Hamine

Popularly known as The grand old lady, Kalasuri Dona Meraya Denawaka, better known by her screen name was a Sri Lankan actress who was known for playing elderly roles. Born in Imbulgoda, Gampaha, Hamine before becoming an actress worked as a school teacher. She got into acting when she accidentally got a role in the play titled Kadulu while attending and audition for the same play with her friend. Super impressed by her role in the play, the director Perera brought insisted Hamine to join his drama group called Kala Pela. She subsequently featured in plays like Manamalayo, Sakkarawattang, and Totupola under the banner. For her stellar performance in Sakkarawattang, the actress was awarded the Merit Award at the Arts Council Drama Festival in 1964.
After working in the plays, Hamine made her debut on the silver screen with the film adaptation of Sama (1965) where she reprised the role she played in the play. The veteran subsequently starred in films like Sath Samudura (1968), Tun Man Handiya (1970), Kolomba Sanniya (1976). For her outstanding contribution to Sinhala Cinema, the actress received an Honorary Award in 1998 by the then Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga.