R. R. Samarakoon
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August 14, 1939
Kingswood College, Kandy
R.R. Samarakoon ආර්. ආර්. සමරකෝන් | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ranasinghe Rajapakse Samarakoon August 14, 1939 |
| Died | August 1, 2010 (aged 71) |
| Resting place | Wadduwa cemetery |
| Education | St Andrew's Girls College, Nawalapitiya Kingswood College, Kandy |
| Occupations | Dramatist, playwright, translator, author |
| Years active | 1965–2008 |
| Spouse(s) | Molly Srima Samarakoon Ramya Wanigasekara (m. 1987) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Best Theater production |
Ranasinghe Rajapakse Samarakoon (17 July 1939 – 1 August 2010; Sinhala: ආර්. ආර්. සමරකෝන්) [Sinhala]), popularly as R.R. Samarakoon, was a Sri Lankan dramatist, playwright, translator and author.[1] One of the earliest pillars of Sri Lankan drama, he is well known for several stage plays directed and produced in 1970s including Kelani Palama and Ahasin Wetunu Minissu.[2]
Samarakoon was born on 14 August 1939 in Dekinda village, Nawalapitiya.[3] He started primary education from St Andrew's Girls College, Nawalapitiya and secondary education from Kingswood College, Kandy. He worked as a teacher of Kingswood for a brief period. Later he moved to Colombo for clerk post of co-operative wholesale corporation Sathosa. Later he worked as a translator and also held the post of Institutional Manager. In 1982, he was transferred to Jaffna for a political revenge. Instead, he quit his job and returned home. In 1995 he got back to work.[4]
Samarakoon was married to Molly Srima Samarakoon and the couple had their first daughter born in October 1978. Her name was Niluka Tharangi Samarakoon. Unfortunately his marriage didn't last long and after 7 years he separated and lived together with a popular artist Ramya Wanigasekara[5] She was born on 17 July in Kotiyakumbura, Kegalle as the fifth child in a family with seven siblings. Her father from Hettimulla, Kegalle was an estate superintendent and mother was from Eheliyagoda. Ramya has two elder sisters, two elder brothers and two younger brothers. She started primary education from Ampe Maha Vidyalaya, Kotiyakumbura. After attending to many school, she completed education finally from Ruwanwella Royal College.[6]
The affair started during the stage play Kelani Palama. The Samarakoon and Ramaya Wanigasekara had their daughter in 1989, her name was Buddhika Mudithani.[7] Buddhika acted in Kelani Palama in little age as "Surangani".[6] She excelled at stage costume designing.[8]
Samarakoon died on 1 August 2010 at the age of 71 following a brief illness.[9] His remains were kept at his residence, No 45, Dibbadda Road, Thalpitiya, Wadduwa North. The funeral was held at the Wadduwa cemetery in August 2010.[10]