Jagath Manuwarna ජගත් මනුවර්ණ | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament forKandy District | |
| Assumed office 21 November 2024 | |
| Majority | 128,678 preferential votes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jagath Manuwarna Kodithuwakku (1980-08-18)August 18, 1980 (age 45) |
| Political party | Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna |
| Other political affiliations | National People's Power |
| Education | Delthota Central College, Kandy |
| Occupation | Actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, presenter |
| Awards | Best Director Best Promising Actor |
Jagath Manuwarna Kodithuwakku is a Sri Lankan actor and politician currently serving as aMember of Parliament. He is also active in the Sri Lankan film industry, theatre and television as a screenwriter, director and actor.[1][2]
Manuwarna was born in Galaha, Kandy, Sri Lanka.[3] He completed education from Delthota Central College, Kandy. After school life, he entered Tower Hall Drama School, Colombo and learned drama and theatre. In 2003, he joinedSri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation where he worked as a presenter.[citation needed]
As a filmmaker, Manuwarna directed his maiden short filmGindara Poddak which won the award for the Best Short Film in 2006 Guerilla Film Festival, Sri Lanka.[3] Then he directed two short films:Water Lily,Playing Cards andCleansing, where first two dramas received the award for ‘Best Short Film’ at the Agenda Short Film Festival in the years 2011 and 2012.[citation needed] He has acted in the television serials such as:Kodi Gaha Yata,Sahodaraya,Koombiyo,A/L Iwarai andEka Langa Kotu.
In 2017, he directed his maiden feature filmWhispering Mountains, which was screened in 2023.[4] The film received positive reviews from critics and the film won theNETPAC Award for the best Asian feature film at the 52ndInternational Film Festival Rotterdam in 2023.[5][6][7][8] Manuwarna later won the award for the Best Director in the Asian Competition Section of the 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival for the film.[9][10]
In 2021, he directed the television serialKodi Gaha Yata which was telecast onIndependent Television Network.[11] On 28 April 2024, he was accidentally shot during a shoot at the film set ofFather directed by Chaminda Jayasuriya. He was immediately transported to Colombo Hospital for treatment with a minor injury.[12]
In March 2022, Manuwarna along with Lahiru Weerasekera, Rathindu Senaratne, Dhammika Munasinghe, Venerable Rathkarawwe Jinarathana Thero, Eranga Gunasekera, and Jehan Appuhamy were surrendered to the Maradana Police via counsel after an illegal assembly opposite.[13]
In November 2024, he contested for the2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election from Kandy district as a member of theNational People's Power.[14] Manuwarna was elected to theparliament in the election representingKandy Electoral District.[15]
| Election | Constituency | Party | Alliance | Votes | Result | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 parliamentary | Kandy District | JVP | NPP | 128,678 | Elected | [16] | |
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Karma | Piyal | [17] |
| 2013 | Nikini Vassa | [18] | |
| 2014 | WarigaPojja | Billa | [19] |
| 2017 | Kaala | Wattaka's henchman | [20] |
| 2019 | Ginnen Upan Seethala | Upatissa Gamanayake | [21] |
| 2019 | Dekala Purudu Kenek | Sanka | [22] |
| 2023 | Rahas Kiyana Kandu | [23] | |
| TBA | Sulangin Ahanna† | ||
| TBA | Marine Drive† | ||
| TBA | Muruga Sanniya† | ||
| TBA | Father† | [24] |
| Year | Film | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Rahas Kiyana Kandu | [23] |
| TBA | Kodi Gaha Yata 2† | [3] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malsara Bisau | Best Stage Management | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Gindara Poddak | Best Short Film | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Nikini Vessa | Most Promising Actor | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Rahas Kiyana Kandu | Best Director | Won |
