Gamini Fonseka's Love Story

Gamini Fonseka to marry Jeevarani-rumour
How he married Sumithra on the sly

Sumithra, wife of Late Gamini Fonseka, popularly known as Sakvithi of the silver screen passed away a few days ago.

In the 1960s there were many beautiful actresses who were itching to take the hand of Gamini who had by that time become the cupid of the local cinema. Some were of the thought that he was to marry film star Jeewarani. However, when things were such, Gamini had already chosen Sumithra on the sly and that too had taken place under random circumstances.

Gamini and Jeewarani had played the role in  the film Ranmuthuduwa as Bandu and Kumari and the two appeared the ideal couple for marriage in the eyes of the cinema fans. Thus rumours began to spread that they were going to get married. But ironically he married someone else. It was actually a romance which ended up as an elopement. 

Sunethra who was born in Wattala was a dance student of Sesha Palihakkara. Gamini however had met her for the first time at a Christmas party in Wellawatta. Sumithra had at a later stage related this story in the following manner: I had signed the agreement to act in the film Shri 296. Because I was the only girl who was dressed in sari, I stood out among the crowd. I saw Gamini looking at me with some interest. On that particular day, both of us exchanged many romantic feelings with our eyes. Popular dance artiste Sesha Palihakkara was a friend of Gamini. Gamini had tried to elicit some information about the girl present at that party from Sesha.

                    "Is it about that girl who's acting in the film Shri 296 that Gamini is inquiring so much?"
                    "Yes ... yes ... she's the one ... the girl who's coming from Wattala", Gamini spoke with a twinkle in his eye.
                    "If you want to see her so much, then come to my dance class on Sunday ... she attends the class". With this green light given by Sesha, Gamini was delighted. With a myriad thought in mind Gamini walked the next Sunday itself to the dancing class he was to see his dream girl dancing, keeping her steps perfectly to rhythm.  

Sumithra later spoke about it later. "When I met Gamini about 40 years ago ... at the Kekatiya Mawatha in Ratmalana in the verandah, I can still remember how Gamini was seated in his usual sagging leather chair. Sesha's class actually carried me into some sort of a butterfly kingdom, so to say. Gamini happened to come there on the pretense of meeting Sesha. But I sensed that it was however a 'manamala' visit. Coming back to the day that I first met Gamini, what I felt for him was an affection mixed with love. I don't what sort of feelings he had over me that day. But as time passed, unaware to both of us, romantic feelings began to grow between the two of us.

At this time, Gamini was acting in the film Gamperaliya. Gamini always wanted to live a life free from falsehood. At one time, there was a commercial which portrayed both of us stepping on to the 'poruwa' as if we were getting married. But then, we were not married at all. That visual was incidentally shot at Gamini's ancestral home by cameraman Willie Blake. Later when it came to be known that there is a love affair between the two of us, Gamini's mother began to oppose it. But his father of course didn't. Whatever it was, because of this opposition, we had to carry on this affair in a clandestine manner for 7 long years. Our marriage also took place in a secret manner.

This secret marriage between Gamini and Sumithra took place on February 21st, 1963. By that time Gamini was a young man of 26 years.

Gamini always used to tell Sumithra that things like spending money on weddings was all 'empty' things. "We also are not rich people aren't we?" Gamini used to say while Sumithra too responded saying, "Let us get married the way you want". By that time Gamini was a most popular star and he had planned everything perfectly. Some people were in fact surprised how our marriage was to take place so secretly.

Gamini had told his two very intimate friends, cameraman K. Williams and Jayasena Ellawala to come to the registrar's office the day before and all the same the marriage took place with the two friends signing as witnesses.

During those days, Gamini was busy with film activities with Sumith Amerasingha and Somasiri Perera ... but he told them was that he would be going off for a certain matter. Gamini who was attending the shooting of Gamperaliya at Maha Kappina Walauwa in Balapitiya. He came straight after the shooting to Colombo and told Sumithra, "Let us get married today". Sumithra is supposed to have got perplexed over this proposal and unexpected decision of Gamini. However, without telling anybody at home, Sumithra had gone to Jayasena Ellawala's house with her brother Gerald and after getting dressed up in a sari there had then proceeded to registrar's office. There was only K. Williams and Jayasena Ellawala to sign as witnesses for this secret marriage.

After cutting the traditional cake at Mrs. Ellawala's house, followed by a tea-party, the couple had proceeded to a small annexe in Ratmalana. The lady of the annexe had prepared a suitable treat at an auspicious hour and thus sent Gamini away on his mission.

Meanwhile, people at Sumithra's house had got upset as to why Sumithra is getting late to come home. At that moment, her bother Gerald who had arrived home had replied, "Those two fellows must have gone to get married!" giving the impression that he was not aware of anything.

"It cost us only 23 rupees as expenses for our marriage ... and that also was the registrar's fee," Gamini had later told his friends with some pride.

Though the two most skillful cameramen Williams and Sumith Amerasingha had come for the wedding, none of them had obviously been armed with a camera. Williams had then promptly got a camera down through his wife and had done the needful. That was the only remaining memory and memento of that great day. If not for Williams getting down that camera through his wife, even that memory in material form would have eluded them.

Though Sumithra had portrayed roles in several films, after her marriage to Gamini she bade goodbye to the cinema.

Sunethra admits that she had never seen a moment in Gamini's life where he never got panicked and hurt whenever she or the children got sick. At such moments he even used to forget even the essential duties. He then used to even postpone shooting sessions unconditionally. Whatever it is, it was a definite phenomenon that he would get upset whenever a family member would fall sick. She however is at a loss to understand why he used to get so upset over an illness.

According to what Sumithra says, Gamini used to associate friends with caution. However much a popular person he was, the number of friends he had could be counted on his fingers. Another thing he disliked was appearing in public. He also disliked appearing at festivals and on stages like animals appearing at a circus. Sumithra further says that he would always say that his fans would love him only when he is out of their sight. He used to reminisce the Sinhala proverb, 'nithara dakina kukulage karamale sudui'.

During Gamini's free time he would draw pictures ... or he would read books on the cinema. His favourite actor was Paul Muni. When friends fall sick ...  or are helpless .... Gamini would go and help them ... and that was not to gain publicity of course. At the same time, there were so many occasions when he was cheated by friends. But he never lamented over such incidents. He stood by his principles.

Then, there was a dramatic change in his life. The transition period of my life too dawned. But I didn't get upset over Gamini's sudden change. My children stood by me for my loneliness. I never ever insulted Gamini. Neither did I avenge the love that was there for 50 years before. Even till Gamini's death ... I loved him. Gamini never lied. Whatever he said ... he would carry out to the letter. Whether right or wrong ... he would stand by his opinion unchanged.

Every evening, I used to venerate Gamini's photo. The only honest wife Gamini had was I. Our respect, faith and love for him as the father still remains the same". These were the words she said a few days before she passed away.

The Gamini - Sumithra couple has 4 children. The eldest, Chamila is married to Vasantha Jayasuriya and they have 4 children. The second daughter Thanuja is married to award-winning tele-drama creator Ananda Abeynaika and they have 2 children. Son Damith is married to Vindya. The youngest daughter Ishara is married to Prabhath Harsha Kumara with 4 children.

At the time of Sumithra's death, she was a grandmother of 10 nephews and nieces.

Information -- from an article by A.D. Ranjith Kumara