Nanayakkara was born on 26 December 1936 in Kiribathgoda, Colombo as the fourth of the family.[4] She has one elder brother and two elder sisters, where one sister died at small age. She also has two younger brothers. Her father worked at a private company. She started education from Roman Catholic School, Pamunuvila. She is fluent with English and passed the O/L examination at the age of 13. Then she attended to Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya and studied from English medium.

 

After the final exams at school, she joined to a private company under the guidance of his uncle. She worked in that company for two year and then resigned. Then she joined with Fordsroad Accounting Institute in Colombo as an auditor and worked for 30 years. She resigned from the job in 1985 to focus her career through cinema.

 

She married fellow actor Wally Nanayakkara at the age of 27.They were first met at Dalugama Catholic Church in Kelaniya in 1958. During his tenure at Lake House, Wally was also secretary of the Arts Circle. Wally Nanayakkara died on 11 October 2003 at the age of 64.

 

The couple has one son - Ravi - and four daughters - Renuka, Shamika and twins Chandika and Indika. Her son Ravi is a doctor in Surgery at General Hospital, Colombo and his wife Sagarika is the director of the Maharagama Cancer Hospital.

 

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