Samanali and Damayanthi oppose the film made by Nawaloka Mudali about 'Malani' without the family's permission

An official statement has been issued by the family members of veteran actress and 'Queen of Sinhala Cinema' Malini Fonseka, strongly protesting against the film ‘Rajiniye’ which is being created based on her life story. Veteran actress Samanalee Fonseka, issuing a statement on behalf of the family, states that the filming of this movie, produced by well-known businessman and producer Jayantha Dharmadasa, has commenced arbitrarily without any notification to the family members and without even providing the promised script.

A significant discussion has arisen in society regarding Mr. Jayantha Dharmadasa's decision to create such a work based on Malini Fonseka's life story even before a year has passed since her demise. Samanalee Fonseka states that as family members, they are eternally grateful for the love and support Mr. Jayantha Dharmadasa extended to Malini Fonseka during her final illness. However, she points out that creating a film about her is an entirely separate professional matter. She also emphasizes that the creative team had a moral responsibility to properly inform the family members and act with transparency in this regard.

Ms. Samanalee states that she first learned about the creation of such a film from a friend, and subsequently requested Ms. Damayanthi Fonseka to investigate the matter. Accordingly, on February 09, 2026, Ms. Damayanthi Fonseka met with Mr. Jayantha Dharmadasa and inquired about it, where he stated that the film's work was still only at a discussion level. He also promised to arrange a discussion with the family elders in the future. Ms. Damayanthi emphasized that since the reputation of the 'Queen of Cinema' should not be harmed, the script should be provided to the family beforehand. Later, when Ms. Samanalee Fonseka met Mr. Jayantha Dharmadasa at an event, she stated that while making a film about a powerful character like Malini Fonseka was a good idea, it should be done with sufficient time and in a research-oriented manner.

However, without holding any official discussions with the family members, the family was forced to witness the official launch of the film ‘Rajiniye’ via Facebook on April 2, 2026. It is noteworthy that no elder family member was invited to that event or to the initial discussions related to it. Subsequently, the scriptwriter, Mr. Suneth Malinga, attempted to explain the script over the phone, but Ms. Samanalee Fonseka informed him that this could not be concluded over the phone and requested an official discussion with all family members. However, no response has been received from them since then.

Subsequently, in response to a registered letter sent by Ms. Damayanthi Fonseka on April 15, 2026, Mr. Suneth Malinga met her on May 2. At that meeting, when a written script was requested, as verbal explanations were unacceptable, the film's producer, Mr. Jayantha Dharmadasa, contacted them by phone and promised to provide the complete script to the family members before May 20, 2026. However, the script was not received by the promised date, and it is reported that the film team has not responded to Ms. Damayanthi's WhatsApp messages sent on May 23 and June 6 inquiring about it, nor to the final registered letter sent on June 23.

The family members state that the filming of ‘Rajiniye’ has now arbitrarily commenced, completely violating the promises made and basely using the name Malini Fonseka for promotional activities. Samanalee Fonseka, on behalf of the family members, strongly condemns and emphasizes that misusing her life story in this manner for the narrow advancement and commercial objectives of a small group, disregarding her siblings and other family members after the demise of a great artist who dedicated her entire life to cinema, is an act contrary to the ethics of the entire art field, highly immoral, and fraudulent.