Wanniarachchige Samanalee Fonseka, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television. Apart from acting, she is also a social activist who stands against racism, gender inequality and more social issues in Sri Lanka.
Samanalee is the daughter of Ananda Fonseka. Ananda is the brother of popular award winning actress Malini Fonseka. Three of her sisters - Sriyani, Rasadari, Damayanthi and two brothers - Dayananda and Ananda are entered to cinema. Malini's sister Damayanthi Fonseka entered cinema with the film Madol Duwa. She is married to filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage. Malini is also the sister-in-law of Karunarathna Hangawaththa. Her nephew Ashan is also an actor. Her grand daughter Kushenya Sayumi entered cinema with the film Rookada Panchi. She is the daughter of Samanalee's brother Asanga Fonseka and Imalka Samaraweera. Samanalee's aunt Sriyani Fonseka has acted in popular films such as Lokuma Hinawa, Hondai Narakai, Thilaka Saha Thilakaa, Niwena Ginna and Selinage Walawwa. Aunt Rasadari Fonseka has acted in films such as Situ Kumariyo and Athin Athata. Rasadari is married to fellow actor Karunarathna Hangawaththa. Samanalee's elder uncle Dayananda Fonseka died in 2012. Ananda Fonseka started acting with Thilaka Saha Thilakaa and continued to act in some films such as Eya Dan Loku Lamayek, Wasanthaye Dawasak, Anupama, Bamba Ketu Hati and Sasara Chethana. He also directed the film Umayangana. Malini's brother Upali Fonseka died on 30 May 2020 by COVID-19 complication while at London. He was the father of popular actress Senali Fonseka. Senali started acting with the blockbuster film Siri Parakum and then made popular characters in Haara Kotiya and Vijayaba Kollaya.
Career
She entered the Sri Lankan film industry as a child artist at the age of five and made her acting debut with Paradisaya by Dinesh Priyasad. Her maiden lead female role was in Aruna Gunarathne's tele-film Suriya Vinshthi when she was 16 years old. In 2004 she won the Best actress award at the State Drama Festival. Samanalee came to fame with her performance in prolific Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage’s Akasa Kusum. Then she acted in critically acclaimed films such as Motor Bicycle by Shameera Rangana Naotunna, Premaya Nam by Kalpana Ariyavansa, Vindana Ariyawansa, Nimnayaka Hudakalawa by Boodee Keerthisena and Dewena Vihangun by Sanjeewa Pushpakumara. Samanalee Fonseka has won the best actress award in many national film festivals for her role in the film Premaya Nam in 2018. She also has won the best actress in a supporting role for the film Dewena Vihangun in 2019 at many national award ceremonies. For the role she played in Motor Bicycle, she has won several special jury awards for acting.
Beyond acting
On 29 December 2014, Fonseka along with fellow actors Laxman Wijesekara, Indrachapa Liyanage and Jagath Manuwarna were attacked in Kumbukgete, while raising voice against Rajapaksa government during the presidential election in 2015. They have organized a program at Kumbukgete under the theme "Let's Get Rid of Deception" by "Aluth Parapure Kalakaruwo". In November 2018, Fonseka has filed a writ petition through her lawyers seeking Rs. 500 million in compensation from parliamentarian Kanchana Wijesekera. It is based on a statement made by Wijesekera that she had received money from the Ministry of Mass Media and Information.
