Veteran actor and comedian of Sri Lankan cinema and television, Berty Gunathilake passed away this morning (March 06), Ada Derana learns.
Gunathilake, who was receiving treatment at the Kahawatte Base Hospital, was aged 98 years at the time of his demise.
Born on August 02, 1924 at Ampitiya in Kandy, Mr Gunathilake was a student of the Ampitiya Primary School, Sri Sangaraja Maha Pirivena in Kandy and the Institute of Indigenous Medicine.
He later served as an Assistant Teacher at the Galpola Vidyalaya in Kuliyapitiya.
In 1947, he was involved with Radio Ceylon through the ‘Lama Pitiya’ programme while his comedy programme called ‘Vihilu Thahalu’ on Radio Ceylon became a popular hit in 1954.
In 1951, the movie ‘Banda Nagarayata Pemineema’ starring Berty Gunathilake was screened while he later also acted in several more movies in a comedic role including ‘Pem Mal Maala’, “Palama Yata”, ‘Mana Mohini’ and ‘Somi Boys’.
He gained wide-spread fame through his many comedic roles on the ‘Vinoda Samaya’ sketch comedy programme which aired on Rupavahini for several years.
