Popular Sri Lankan movie Director Sunil Soma Peiris passed away

Popular Sri Lankan movie Director Sunil Soma Peiris has passed away. He was 72-years old at the time of his death.

Sunil Soma Peiris passed away at his residence.

In 1985, he made his debut cinema direction with?Obata Diwura Kiyannam. Then within 25 years, he made forty-five films. Out of the forty five films made by him, eight were co-directed with his son Sudesh Wasantha. In 1986 he co-directed the film?Dinuma?with Ananda Wickramasinghe.

The first seven films (Oba?a Divur? Kiyannam,?Jaya Apa?ai,?Mamai Raj?,?Raja W??ak?ray?,?Yukthiya?a V??a,?Dinuma?and?Oba?ai Priy? A?dar?) directed by Sunil Soma was screened for more than 100 days in a row, a record in Sinhala cinema. Also, his film?Mamai Raja was screened for more than 200 days, a record in Sinhala film history.

In 1993, he directed the Tamil film?Sharmilavin Ithaya Ragam. Meanwhile, thirty-eight of his films were produced by Sunil T. Fernando, another record in Sinhala cinema for most number of films by same director-producer collaboration. Also, Sunil Soma is the second Sri Lankan filmmaker to direct films under two names. In some films, he used the name P. S. S. Pieris. (The first filmmaker was K. Venkatasalam who directed films under the name K. Venkat.)

In 1986, he directed the film Obatai Priye Adare?which was screened in 1987. Before the?assassination of lead actor?Vijaya Kumaratunga in February 1987, the film ran 75 days with less income. But after the assassination, the film ran for 130 days and became a blockbuster. On the final day of screening at Ritz Hall, the film crew donated 10 wheelchairs to commemorate Kumaratunga. In 1989, his film?Mamai Raja?became a blocksbuster hit and passed 100 days. After reaching 100 days, producers?Sonia Disa?and Sunil T. opened two bank books for Kumaratunga’s children, Vimukthi and Yashodara and Rs. 25,000 was deposited.^[4]?Sunil Soma introduced many actors and actresses to the Sinhala film such as:?Anoja Weerasinghe,?Anusha Damayanthi, Ruwanthi Mangala, Damith Fonseka,?Shashi Wijendra,?Arjuna Kamalanath?and?Anarkali Akarsha.

In 1997, he entered active politics where he became a Member of the Maharagama Urban Council. (Colombo Gazette)