Geetha Kumarasinghe

Kumara Vidugalage Dona Geetha Samanmali Kumarasinghe was born as the eldest daughter of Wijaya, a journalist and Udula Kumarasinghe in 1955 at Badulla. She grew up in Bentara, Elpitiya and had her education at Sangamitta Girl's School, Hamburagala and Holy Family Convent, Kalutara.

As a child, she showed an inborn talent for singing and dancing. She was a mere 16 year old, when she was crowned a 'Beauty Queen' competing among 100 contestants in a beauty contest organized by a local Newspaper named 'Dawasa' in 1973.

She is married to a Swiss national, Chris Fuhrer Ferdinand and has one daughter, Tharika Fiona

EARLY LIFE

Geetha Samanmalie Kumarasinghe was born as the eldest daughter of Wijaya Kumarasinghe, a journalist and Udula Kumarasinghe in 1955 at Badulla. She grew up in Bentara, Elpitiya and had her education at Elpitiya Ananda College, Aluthgama and Holy Family Convent, Kalutara. As a child, she showed her talent for singing and dancing. She was crowned a beauty Queen, competing among 100 contestants in a beauty contest organised by a local newspaper in 1973.

CAREER

Though Geetha’s father did not approve of a career in movies or her participation in the beauty pageant, her mother was always with her. Her aunt, Anula Wickramapala, was also a friend of renowned director Lester James Peiris. Incidentally, her aunts' mansion was used as the location for his film Ransalu. Little Geetha, who used to spend her school vacations in her aunt’s house in Kollupitiya would imitate Punya Heendeniya, her childhood heroine. She signed contracts for 21 films before her debut film was released, a record in Sri Lankan Cinema. It was in the year 1975 that Geetha debuted in K.A.W. Perera's Vasana but it was Neil Rupasinghe's Lassana Kella which reached cinemas first. Kumarasinghe, who is often cast in controversial roles, has also performed the foreign films Pakistani, Hindi, Japanese, Tamil and French productions. She acted opposite Sivaji Ganesan in Mohana Punnagai which was released on 1981.

She received critical acclaim in roles such as 'Dulcie' in Pembara Madhu, 'Dotty' in Palama Yata, 'Punna' in Lokuduwa and 'Amali' in Ran Diya Dahara. In 2006, she launched official website with a ceremony at Water's Edge at Battaramulla. She produced the films Palama Yata, Salambak Handai, Loku Duwa, Anuragaye Ananthaya, Wasuli and Geetha. Both of her productions, Palama Yata and Loku Duwa won her the Best Film Awards at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival.