Veena Jayakody

Virginia Sandhya Peiris (born 27 November 1952 as වීණා ජයකොඩි) [Sinhala]), better known as Veena Jayakody, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.^[1][2] Jayakody started as a child artist and has played critically acclaimed roles in films Sagarayak Meda, Ra Manamali and Sarungalaya.

Veena Jayakody
වීණා ජයකොඩි
Scene of Bahuchithawadiya Film
Born	Virginia Sandhya Peiris (1952-11-27) November 27, 1952 (age 71) Sri Lanka
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya
Occupation(s)	Actress, Dramatist
Years active	1968–present
Children	3
Parent	Rohini Jayakody (mother)
Awards	Best Actress

Personal life

Veena Jayakodi was born on 27 November 1952. Her mother, Rohini Jayakody, was a popular actress and a film director.^[3] She studied as Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya.^[4]

Veena has three children – one daughter and two sons. Eldest daughter is Anjana, eldest son is Chandu and youngest son is Sanjay. Anjana is married to Srini and they have two children – Waishya and Kaushik. Chandu is married to Melonie and the couple has three children – Jason, Tharaa and Joshua.

Acting career

Jayakody started her film career with Ahankara Sthree back in 1954, directed by A. B. Raj as a 5-month-old child with her mother.^[3] At the age of 12, Jayakody acted in 1968 film Hangi Hora directed by her mother Rohini Jayakody, where she acted as a dancer. At the age of 14, she acted in a Vesak drama Kohomada Wade.^[3] In the meantime, she studied dance under Pramila Kuruppu, Daya Nellampitiya and Rudrani Liyanage. Later she learned Kathakali dance from Sirimathi Rasadari. When she was a child, she acted as the daughter in the Vijaya Kuveni stage drama when her mother was 'Kuveni'. At school, she also played the role of 'Kisa' in the play 'Kundala Keshi'.^[4]

The she played the role of 'Gunapali' in the stage play Sivamma Dhanapala. After the tragic death of lead actress Rukmani Devi, Venna got the role of 'Sivamma'. After that she acted in plays such as Siripala Saha Ran Menika and Dwithwa. Later she won an award for the play Uruvisi. But in time and on long journeys, she had to retired from the stage when she got sick because of the lack of facilities.^[4]

Then she moved to television serials, started with the serial Aththa Bidei directed by Henry Jayasena. She later made a popular role 'Sudharma' in the critically acclaimed serial Doo Daruwo.^[4]

Notable teledramas

• Ahanna Kenek Na^[5]
• Amarapuraya^[6]
• Aragalaya^[7]
• Bhavana – Akala Rathriya^[8][9]
• Bopath Sakkiya^[10]
• Eth Kanda Lihini^[11]
• Ganga Addara^[12]
• Giri Shikara Meda^[13]
• Hirusanda Maima^[14]
• Kota Uda Mandira
• Kulavilokanaya^[15]
• Laabai Apple^[16]
• Kele Handa^[17]
• Oba Mageya^[18]
• Nadeeladiya^[19]
• Ruwata Ruwa^[20]
• Samanala Sihinaya^[21]
• Sanda Mudunata^[22]
• Sasandara^[23]
• Sihina Kumari^[24]
• Sudu Kapuru Pethi^[25]
• Wahinna Muthu Wassak^[26]

• Kande Gedara (1988)

Filmography

Key

†	Denotes films that have not yet been released

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1954	Ahankara Sthree	Child Sukumal
1968	Hangi Hora	Dancer
1969	Kohomada Wade
1978	Deepanjali
1978	Apsara
1979	Geheniyak	Rupa
1979	Minisun Athara Minisek	Vajira
1979	Chuda Manikya	Sheryn Kodikara
1979	Sarungale	Susheela	[27]
1979	Muwan Palessa	Kekuli
1980	Miyurige Kathawa	Miyuri
1981	Thawalama	Khema
1981	Sagarayak Meda	Deepa Moladanda
1981	Bandura Mal	Uma
1982	Re Manamali	Asha
1982	Miss Mallika
1984	Shirani
1987	Sathyagrahanaya	Ramani	[28]
1988	Gedara Budun Amma	Samanthi's mother
1991	Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya
1991	Keli Madala	Samara Tennekoon
1991	Suwandena Suwandak
1992	Sisila Gini Gani	Kumari Makalanda	[29]
1992	Kulageya	Ramya
1993	Yasasa
1993	Till Death Do Us Part
1993	Sargent Nallathambi	Juliana 'Julie'
1993	Surabidena	Saama	[30]
1994	Nohadan Landune
1994	Pawana Ralu Viya
1994	Aragalaya	Tamil dancer
1995	Maruthaya	Geetha Wickramaratne
1996	Soora Daruwo
1996	Anantha Rathriya	Loku Amma	[31]
1996	Loku Duwa		[32]
1997	Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's Poor	Charu Ma
1997	Vijayagrahanaya
1997	Sudu Akka
1997	Savithrige Rathriya
1998	Vimukthi
1998	Dorakada Marawa	Priyantha's mother
1999	Salupata Ahasata 1	Prema	[33][34]
1999	Sura Yahana		[35]
1999	Theertha Yathra	Grace Sooriyabandara	[36]
2000	Salupata Ahasata 2	Prema	[37]
2001	Kinihiriya Mal	Brothel receptionist	[38]
2001	Kalu Sudu Mal	Pushpa
2002	Rosa Patikki
2002	Surapurata Kanyaviyak		[39]
2003	Madre Teresa	Municipal Inspector Aoura
2005	Asani Warsha	Granny
2006	Nilambare
2007	Sikuru Hathe	OIC's wife
2008	Ai Oba Thaniwela
2009	Juliya	Mrs. Lewke Bandara	[40]
2009	Alimankada	Kamala's Mother	[41]
2010	Ira Handa Yata
2011	Gamani	Dead rebel's mother
2011	Dheewari
2011	Putha Mage Sooraya
2012	A Common Man	Vegetable vendor
2012	Kusa Pabha	Queen Seelawathi
2012	Wassane Senehasa	Pradeep's mother
2012	Kurumittek Awilla		[42]
2012	Sihinaya Dige Enna	Shanthi "Sakunthala" de Silva
2012	Prathiroo	Parwathi
2013	Peeter One	Elizabeth Briganza
2015	Bora Diya Pokuna	Doreen
2016	Motor Bicycle	Rangana's Mother
2016	Weerawarna	Suriyasingha's mother
2018	Eka Dawasaka Api	Vimukthi's mother
2019	Sangile	Punchi malli's wife
2020	Suparna	Suparna's mother
2020	Sheleena
2023	Guththila	King Brahmadutta's queen consort	[43]
2023	Kandak Sema
2024	Minnu		[44]
2024	Buffalo Travels		[45]
TBA	Monara Vilak †		[46]
TBA	Bahuchithawadiya †	Iranganie

Awards and accolades

She has won several awards at the local film festivals and television festivals.^[2]

Presidential Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1982	Ra Manamali	Best Actress	Won

References

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2. "Sri Lankan actresses – Veena Jayakody". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
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