(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Veteran Sri Lankan cinematographer Donald Karunaratne has passed away today in Los Angeles, United States. He was 77 years old at the time of his demise.
Donald Karunaratne was the cinematographer for acclaimed directors in Sri Lanka including Lester James Peiris, Dharmasena Pathiraja, Wasantha Obeysekera, Sumitra Peiris, Menik Sandarasagara and Tissa Abeyesekera.
He worked as the camera director of more than 65 Sinhala films and was honored with leading film awards in the country including Sarasaviya, Swarna Sankha, Janadipathi, and OCIC.
Karunaratne’s legendary contribution to the development of Sinhala cinema from the early 60s includes classics like Ahas Gawwa (1974), Ahasin Polawata (1978), Karumakkarayo (1980), Ganga Addara (1980), Kaliyugaya (1981), Dadayama (1983), Sagara Jalaya Madi Handuwa (1988), Golumuhude Kunatuwak (1991), Pon Mani (1993) (Tamil), Sakkarang (2016) to his 2017’s Vaishnawi
He has won 19 best cinematographer awards and in 2017 was honored by the President’s Lifetime Award to recognize his services to the nation’s film industry.
Mr. Donald Karunaratne’s funeral will be held in Los Angeles, USA.
