Wimal Kumara de Costa


Wimal Kumara de Costa was a Sri Lankan actor most notable for his character roles in art films as well as notable comedy roles in cinema. He is cited as the pioneer of Sri Lanka 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 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. 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, the abusive youth in Eya Dan Loku Lamayek and the disaffected youth of Ahas Gauwa.
Costa won the Award for the Best actor at 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 too used him as a whiskey seller in Sarungale among other roles. Gamini Fonseka featured him in most of his directorial work such as Sagarayek Meda.
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 has done mainly small comedic roles in B-movies.

Death

De Costa was attended to Colombo South General Hospital on 19 November 2016, where he died next day by intense respiratory difficulties.

Filmography

YearNo.FilmRole
1969200Samaje Sathurouncredited role
1970234Wes Gaththo
1972264Sihina Lowak
1973275Hathdinnath TharuMr. Perera 'Director'
1973280Dahakin EkekChandre's friend
1974282Ahas GauwaGune
1974295Sagarika
1974299Sanakeliya
1975316Mage Nangi Shyama
1975325Sikuru LiyaPodi Hamu's friend
1976342DiyamanthiDharma
1976355Nilla Soya
1977364Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai
1977369Eya Dan Loku LamayekSiripala
1977378Maruwa Samaga WaseJustin
1977361Sudu ParaviyoBimiya
1977363Sri Madara
1977373Saja
1978393Asha Dasin
1978396Saara
1978400Bambaru AwithWeerasena
1978401SaleeJustin
1978409AnupamaSima
1979413SarungaleSimon
1979415Amal Biso
1979422Wasanthaye DawasakSisira
1979426Chuda ManikkayaMr. Vicky
1980438Mal Kekulu
1980442Kanchana
1980443SilvaSilva
1980444Ek Tam GeMartin
1980450RakthaUmari
1980459Sankapali
1980463Para Dige
1980466Api Dedena
1980468Mayurige Kathawa
1981470Kolam KarayoJoseph Silva
1981473RangaBonnie
1981475Sathweni DawasaBandara
1981476Sayuru TheraMichael
1981481Situ Kumariyo
1981488Sagarayak MedaDrug-using prisoner
1981491Badura Mal
1981497Sathara Diganthiya
1981493GeethikaPiyadasa
1981503Chanchala RekhaPodi Mahaththaya
1982505SandaNimal
1982509Ra ManamaliPodi Mahaththaya
1982510Sakwithi SuwayaKaputa
1982512BicycleSamson 'Sam'
1982513Adishtanaya
1982514Jeewithayen Jeewithayak
1982527Sithara
1982532Major Sir
1983545ChandiraAnduwa
1983549Sewranga Sena
1983555Athin AthataWimaldasa 'Wimale'
1983559Subodha
1983560Hasthi Wiyaruwa
1983567Samanala Sihina
1984577Walle Thanu MaligaAlbert Mahaththaya
1984576Shirani
1984589Bambara Patikki
1984593Sasara Chethana
1984594WadulaPeithappuwa
1984603Sahodariyakage Kathwa
1984605Ara SoyzaCosta
1985621Aya Waradida Oba Kiyanna
1985627Sudu Mama
1985630Karadiya Walalla
1985634Kiri Maduwal
1986635Yali HamuwennaiPrasanna's friend
1986640PeralikarayoJiney
1986647Puja
1987670AhinsaJackie
1988681Nawatha Api EkwemuMama
1989694Randenigala SinhayaRamo
1991718Paaradise
1991724Hithata Dukak Nathi Minisa
1991738Suwadena Suwadak
1992745Salli Thibunata Madi
1992756UmayanganaJamis
1992764Muwan Palasse Kadira
1993779Chaya Maya
1994797Jayagrahanaya
1994802Abiyogaya
1994803Sanda MadalaRanaa Ayya
1994808Mawubime Weerayo
1994811150 MulleriyawaMantri patient
1994813Athma
1995825Rodaya
1995829Wairayen Wairaya
1995830Demodara PalamaHarry
1995834Age Wairaya
1995838Hitha Honda Surayo
1995839Cheriyo CaptainKang-Kung
1995843Sudu Walassu
1996844Sathi
1996848Obatai Me Aradhana
1996853Hitha Hodanam Waradin Na
1996854Mana MohiniJohn Wayne
1996857Hitha Honda Gahaniyek
1996863Cheriyo DarlingVegemite
1997881Apaye Thappara 84000k
1997883Pem Mal MalaSecurity officer
1997913Rathu AluyamaMinister Wansanatha
1999914Akunu Pahara
1999919KolompoorCostapal
2001956Hai Hui Babi AchchiCosta
2001958Balakamaya
2002975Sansara Prarthana
2002989Onna BaboLengwa alias Ritaa
20041028Bambara Sanakeli
20051061Alu Yata Gini
20071115Ai Oba Thaniwela
20131193Kauda Machan Alice
20141205Supiri AndareLadaruwa
20151236Lantin SinghoSebastian
20171285SwaroopaPosthumous release
20171286Sellam Nethnam LellamPosthumous release
20171292Dr. NawariyanSumanasiri. Posthumous release
2019SangilePosthumous release
TBDAdda Lanuwa Damma KodiyaPosthumous release