Kingsley Rajapakse

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Kingsley Rajapakse (born Kumarasinghe Rajapakse; 9 April 1934 – 13 June 1983) was a Sri Lankan film director and actor. He was born on 9 April 1934 in Udamadura village, Rikillagaskada, Walapane, Sri Lanka, and died on 13 June 1983 in Colombo at the age of 49. He studied at St. Sylvester's College in Kandy.

His father was K. S. D. Rajapaksa, a teacher, and his mother was Weerasinghe Menike, a housewife. He had several siblings, including Wijewardena and Premachandra. His brother Wijewardene Rajapaksa worked in cinema and helped Kingsley by producing some of his films. Kingsley was married to Iranganie Bulathsinhala and together they had five children: Saman, Indumathi, Chandana, Mangala (who died in 2018), and Chandrika. His son Dhammika Rajapaksa works in the film and television industry as a lighting and costume assistant.

Kingsley loved cinema from school days and was known for sneaking out to watch Hindi and English movies. He began his film career in 1955 after applying for a role in Perakadoru Bana, directed by Willy Jayamanne. He later produced a stage play Daivaya and, in 1956, joined director T. K. Somasekaran for the film Saradam, where he wrote dialogue, co-directed, and acted in a small role. The director suggested changing his name to Kingsley, which he did.

In 1958 he played an antagonist in Suneetha and co-directed the film Aviswasaya with Somasekaran, while also acting in Sri 296. He starred in Pirimiyek Nisa (1960). In 1963 he made his directorial debut with Deepashika, in which he also had a sub-lead role. The film was popular, though it drew from a Tamil film story.

His 1965 film Handapana was a commercial success and is noted for its music, for which Sisira Senaratne won Best Music Direction at the Sarasaviya Awards in 1966. Kingsley directed several other films, including Hitata Hitha, Singithi Surathal, Indunila (1968), Kalana Mithuro (1971), Suhada Pathuma, Sinavai Inavai, Sadhana (1973), and Sudu Pareviyo (1977). In 1979 he wrote the screenplay and directed his last film, Raan Kurallo. The 1971 film Kalana Mithuro introduced Tissa Wijesurendra to Sinhala cinema.

Kingsley Rajapakse was ill for several years before his death and passed away from a heart attack on 13 June 1983 in Colombo. He is remembered for his contributions as a director and actor who helped shape Sri Lankan cinema and for bringing new talent into the industry.