Early life
Gunatilake was born on 27 October 1955 in Mulgampola, Kandy, Sri Lanka, into a middle-class family. His father, Hector Gunatilake, was a lawyer, and his mother, Grace Goonetileke, was a teacher. He has stated that his father was an avid cinema enthusiast, which influenced his early interest in the arts. Gunatilake received his education at Kingswood College, Kandy. Gunatilake initially worked as a chemistry teacher. He later moved to Colombo in search of new career opportunities, leaving behind his tuition classes in Kandy.Film career
Gunatilake made his film debut in 1978 with ''Situ Kumariyo'', directed by Vijaya Dharmasiri. However, before its release, his second film, ''Ganga Addara'', was screened, followed by ''Sathweni Dawasa''. After ''Situ Kumariyo'', his next film, ''Vajira'', was released. His breakthrough role came with ''Ganga Addara'', directed by Sumitra Peries, which marked a turning point in his acting career. He later gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Aravinda in ''Viragaya'', a performance that earned him Best Actor awards at every major film festival in Sri Lanka. Gunatilake has appeared in several notable films, including ''Kedapatha'', ''Palama Yata'', ''Doorkada Marawa'', and ''Rajya Sevaya Pinisai''. In addition to his more dramatic roles, Gunatilake appeared in several mainstream films alongside Vijaya Kumaratunga, Jeewan Kumaratunga, and Ranjan Ramanayake. His film credits include ''Koti Waligaya'', ''Dinuma'', ''Raja Wedakarayo'', ''Nommara 17'', ''Obatai Priye Adare'', and ''Inspector Geetha''. In 2009, Gunatilake made his directorial debut with ''Ekamath Eka Rataka''. He was one of the first Sri Lankan directors to actively use the internet for film promotion, launching a website for his film in 2009, onceuponamovie.com.Filmography
Selected television serials
* '' Deweni Inima'' * ''Nannaththara'' * ''Ran Kahawanu'' * ''Ralla Weralata Adarei''References
External links
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