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Prasanna Vithanage Age, Wife, Biography

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Hometown: Panadura, Sri Lanka
Wife: Damayanthi Fonseka
Age: 63 Years

Prasanna Vithanage

Bio/Wiki
Full NameUdaya Prasanna Vithanage
ProfessionFilmmaker
Known forPrasanna Vithanage Academy of Acting
Physical Stats
Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourBlack
Career
DebutAs a Director: Sisila Giniganee (1992)
Silsila Gini Gani (1992)
As a Writer: Anantha Rathriya (1996)
Anantha Rathriya (1996)
As a Producer: Pura Handa Kaluwara (1997)
Pura Handa Kaluwara (1997)
Awards & HonoursIra Madiyama (August Sun) (2004)
• Grand Prix (Special Mention) "Le Regard d'Or" – Fribourg International Film Festival
• FIPRESCI Award at 17th Singapore International Film Festival
• NETPAC Award at 17th Singapore International Film Festival

Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky)
• Nominee, International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award

Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Australia
• New Jersey Independent South Asian Cine Fest, US

Oba Nathuwa Oba Ekka (With You, Without You)
• Cyclo d'Or – Best Film at Vesoul International Film Festival
• NETPAC at Vesoul International Film Festival
• SIGNIS at Milano -African Asian Latin American Film Festival
• Indian International Film Festival (IFFF), India

• Jury member at the Busan International Film Festival for its competition section 'Kim Jiseok Award' (2024)
Personal Life
Date of Birth14 March 1962 (Wednesday)
Age (as of 2025)63 Years
BirthplacePanadura, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Zodiac signPisces
NationalitySri Lankan
HometownPanadura, Western Province, Sri Lanka
SchoolD.S. Senanayake College, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Food HabitNon-vegetarian
Social Media• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
Relationships & More
Marital StatusMarried
Family
Wife/SpouseDamayanthi Fonseka (Sri Lankan actress, director, producer)
Damayanthi Fonseka

Prasanna Vithanage

Some Lesser Known Facts About Prasanna Vithanage

  • In the 1980s, he began his career as a theatre director.

    An old picture of Prasanna Vithanage

    An old picture of Prasanna Vithanage

  • In 1986, he translated and directed Bernard Shaw’s play ‘Arms and the Man’ into Sinhala.

  • In 1991, he translated and directed Dario Fo’s play ‘Trumpets and Raspberries.’

  • In 1992, he began working as a filmmaker. During this time, he also started teaching and training young people in filmmaking.

  • After writing, producing, and directing the film Pura Handa Kaluwara in 1997, he went on to make several other films, such as Ira Madiyama (2003), Oba Nathuwa Oba Ekka (2012), Thundenek (2018), and Paradise (2023).

    The poster of the film Paradise (2023)

    The poster of the film Paradise (2023)

  • In 2006, he returned to the theatre. He combined two short plays by Dario Fo into a popular Sinhala play called ‘Horu Samaga Heluwen,’ which was performed 150 times across Sri Lanka.

  • In 2008, he also produced ‘Machan,’ an international co-production by Uberto Pasolini, which was well received upon its debut at the Venice International Film Festival.

  • After that, many people started recognising him as one of the best and most important filmmakers in South Asia.

  • He makes films on social, political, and cultural issues. His films have won lots of awards in Sri Lanka and around the world.

  • Many film critics often praise his films for their innovative storytelling techniques.

  • He has worked with the Indian film industry for many years. Since 2008, all his films have been co-produced with India.

    Prasanna Vithanage during the making of a film

    Prasanna Vithanage during the making of a film

  • He is known for advocating against censorship laws in Sri Lanka.

  • In 2015, his documentary film, Silence in the Courts, was first banned. After a legal fight, it became the first documentary to be shown in cinemas in Sri Lanka. The film was screened at many international film festivals before its release in Sri Lanka.

  • He teaches cinema and runs masterclasses for young filmmakers in South Asia.

  • Prasanna Vithanage works as a human rights and peace activist.