Sumathi Films

The company, originally a partnership known as Sandya Films was renamed as Sumathi Films and subsequently incorporated as Sumathi Films (Private) Limited in 2006, has been in the forefront of the film industry for over 04 decades and achieved outstanding distinction for its award winning cinematic productions. The name of our founder, late Mr. U.W.Sumathipala, is synonymous with the business world as well as the world of art as a producer of world-class movies and a keen sportsman who was greatly responsible for producing a World Champion in Billiards and Snooker. His passion of arts, urged him to enter the field of film production in 1974, with the film titled “Unnath Dahai – Malath Dahai” (I Will Win – Come What May) which was an impressive box office success, studded with a galaxy of top notch stars of the day. He received international acclaim with the film White flowers for the Dead (“Ahasin Polowata”). In 1978, at the 3rd International Film Festival in Cairo, this film (directed by the nonpareil, Dr. Lester James Pieris) won the Akhenaton award for the Best Film from a third world country. This was a milestone in the annals of Sinhala Cinema. Following this success, arrived The River’s Brink (“Ganga Addara”) directed by Mrs. Sumithra Pieris, jointly produced by Mr. U. W. Sumathipala and his wife, Mrs. Milina Sumathipala. This film too bagged prestigious awards, including Presidential, OCIC and Sarasavi film awards and incidentally was the winner of the highest number of awards that year. In commemoration of these achievements. “Duwata Mawak Misa” (Mother Alone) directed by Mrs Sumithira Peiris, and produced by late Dr (Mrs) Milina Sumathipala won 07 Presidential awards in 1998 and 02 OCIC awards. By popular request, this film was screened on our national carrier Sri Lankan Airlines in their June/July 2011 cycle “Uppalawanna” a modern Theri Gatha directed by Prof Sunil Ariyaratne and produced by late Dr (Mrs) Milina Sumathipala in 2007 won 04 sarasa