VINEETHA KARUNARATHNA-LEGENDARY EXECUTIVE TELIVISION DIRECTOR SLRC FOR THREE DECADES TRIUMPHED WINNING 25 AWARDS – By Sunil Thenabadu

VINEETHA KARUNARATHNA-LEGENDARY EXECUTIVE TELIVISION DIRECTOR SLRC FOR THREE DECADES TRIUMPHED WINNING 25 AWARDS – By Sunil Thenabadu

Television is also a powerful medium of mass education. Educational programmes on healthcare and family planning, general knowledge can be sent to millions of viewers through audio-visual presentation in the TV. It also keeps off loneliness. Visharad Vineetha Karunarathna the multifaceted aesthetic personality had proved overwhelmingly a major part of her professional life at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation for over three decades proving to be a dedicated icon to be remembered

Visharad Vineetha Karunarathna is multifaceted personality a teacher, vocalist, presenter of programs, exponent of musical instruments ,author of poems who has excelled as a director  cum producer of many programs at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation having joined as a trainee director cum producer at the age of twenty seven years   The name Vineetha Karunarathna is synonymous with  Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation  as an individual who had contributed immensely as a program fabricator  cum  director for thirty three years until her retirement  recently in year 2025. In many television programs of the SLRC her name is inscribed in bold letters DIRECTION by  VINEETHA KARUNARATHNA was often viewed. Vineetha in year 2024 at the ICONIC awards ceremony received deservedly  the ’One Time Life achievement  Award which is hailed by all employees at SLRC and art loving public having fabricated  and directed the popular programs ‘Alokamandawa’, ,’Ridee Nimnaya’,’Senhase Nawathena’, ‘Sundara Rathriya’, and ‘Nugasevana’. The latter program was telecast on all  five days of the week to delight viewers who waited anxiously to patronise them with immense enthusiasm and passion. Also is recollected the first song program ‘Gee Hatha’, was also her utter mastermind. There had been three hundred such programs of ‘Gee Hatha’ that were telecast in an uninterrupted sequence for three hundred episodes. As for awards she had won about twenty eight  awards both locally and internationally including ‘Vanitha Abhimanna’ award too. Vinitha’s first award was the Sumathi award for her program on music maestro HM Jayawardena , when she felt the real heaviness after accepting it. She had been the solo woman in her unit but was able to coordinate with many males as a cohesive unit. Vineetha had subsequently received none more awards locally for her Alokamandawa episodes. Her first international merit award was for her Alokamandawa  program on Professor Wasantha Kumara’s “Ingi Nalu” concept ballet dancer in an international festival in New Delhi after it was nominated with five more countries ,Another prestigious Sumathi award she recollected by been awarded also for her Alokamandawa episode telecast after the demise of music maestro Dr Premasiri Khemadasa titled ‘Hithuwakara  Gandariyage Nikmayama’ .

Vineetha had seen an advertisement that Visharada Malini Bulathsinhala had commenced music classes when she had come to her another aunt’s dwelling in Maligawatta .Vineetha had been a poverty stricken girl had earned her pocket money and fees to Visharada Malini Bulathsinhala music class which she had earned by giving tuition to the children in the Maligawatta flats and neighbourhood vicinity  .Even then Vineetha had been very unassuming and innocent which her mentor Malini Bulathsinhala too had observed. During this era a teledrama titled ‘Charulatha’ was telecast in the Rupavahini, which name Malini Bulathsinhala had named her similarly. However owing to financial constraints Vineetha has had to discontinue attending to the music class. Visharada Malini Bulathsinhala after inquiring from another student as to  why she is not continuing to come for classes , the colleague student had said  citing extreme poverty reasons . On hearing this depressing story Malini Bulathsinhala had visited the dwelling of uncle and aunty duo to have a dialog. As the reason for not attending her class was disclosed, Malini had told her Nanda to send her to the class , she will not charge but not to tell other students in the class. This had induced Vineetha to study with more determination to get through her Visharada  degree which she owes to this magnanimous  gesture of Malini Bulathsinhala. Who is regarded by Vineetha as her mother, teacher even friend in her life. It  had been Malini Bulathsinhala who had been instrumental  for Vineetha’s marriage too , but after her sudden demise Vineetha had felt her life too dwindled to low rock  bottom level. As she progressed in the class Visharada Malini Bulathsinhala  had applied her to the SLBC audition at which she had sung the song penned by Ven Rambukkana Siddartha Thero music was by Rohana Weerasinghe titled  ‘Nube Heda Ruwa’ with the meaning how a mother feels for her daughter which unfortunately was not an experience of Vineetha. Another song she recorded a song video  in the decade of 1990 titled ‘Nube Heda Ruwa”. However at many functions she had not hesitated to sing when requested at many  channels like ‘Rhythm Chat’;  radio programs. She had not continued in signing but had been a “Nurthi Gee’ exponent at the SLBC also been a member of the SLRC music team as a vocalist. Vineetha had successfully completed a First Class in Sangeeth Visharada by following the vocal syllabus of Bhatkhande University Lucknow. Vineetha is competent in playing many musical instruments but specialized mainly as a violinist.

Vineetha’s first profession was becoming the music teacher at Sir Baron Jayathilaka Vidyalaya Colombo having a Visharad degree  trained in music under legendary musician Dr Premasiri  Khemadasa. There she had worked for only one year as she had got established earlier as a trainee presenter at the SLRC. Her first program was  ‘Prekshaka Prathichara ‘alongside legendary Henry Jayasena. She had added she found difficult to resist children as she was calm soft spoken for which she had decided to quit teaching. At SLRC she was delighted to meet many senior artistes which prompted her to leave teaching and to become a trainee program director in music under the then head of music division Visharada Somasiri Ileysinghe.who had helped her profusely in music showground to become an assistant program producer then later as a producer of  music programs, after following and studying them closely for a number of years. She had assisted Visharada Somasiri Ileysinghe in his production ‘Swara Ranga’ , ‘Swara Sankalana’, ‘Sangeetha Ridma Rata’, ‘Ravindra Sangeetha’, ‘Nadagam Gee’, ‘Jana Gee’, ‘Nurthi Gee’ which gave her knowledge and impetus to produce her own new programs  Later on her own in her preliminary stages at SLRC  had produced  initially ‘Kavi Maduwa; thereafter Kavi Naduwa’ ,’Ninnada’, ;Miyurasa gee’, ‘Ridee Nimnaya’,””Nurthi Geetha’,’Dahasak Mal’, ’Senehase Nawathena’, which was accepted highly. Then she produced unique “Gee Hatha’ one of the pioneer music programs at the SLRC This program has been uninterruptedly telecast on three hundred occasions along with Mohan Raj Madawala.. It need to be mentioned all titles of her programs were fashioned by her. Along with Yasodha Wimaladharma Vineetha commenced the Hindi song program “Suhani Raath’ focussing on old and new Hindi songs:

The yet acclaimed and  celebrated morning program  ‘Nugasevana’ was commenced on 27th April year 2000 in which the first director was Vineetha. This year on 27th April  2025  it completed 25 years sans a pause  which was celebrated at Rupavahini appropriately. Vineetha recollected that she was induced for this endeavour by the then senior journalist, Editor of ‘Tharuna’ newspaper Gamini Samarasinghe, who had even published about her talent then in the ‘Tharuni’ newspaper earlier. On that day Vineetha recollected Yashoda Wimaladharma,Janet Balasuriya,Heart Surgeon Mohan Jayatilleke,Rukmali Gunawardena had participated too in the celebration . Initial presenters were Gaya Ramya Alwis, and Kanthi Meneka Thilakaratne. On completing twenty five years of ‘Nugasevana’.the chief of programs SLRC Nilar M Cassim too complemented demonstrating that for this long journey many artistes had contributed with immense dedication to continue this sought after  popular program for two and a half decades attracting viewers to watch ardently.

 

Thereafter Vineetha produced the ladies program ‘Muthu Sevana”  With time she is classified as a senior producer when she was responsible to produce ‘Alakamandawa” which was series of programs with the participation of many proven  renowned actors., actresses and singers,  dancers, ,musicians where well over eighty programs had been completed all hailed and appreciated by the artistes themselves and audiences. Recollecting some of them  were Gamini Fonseka( first of its kind involving him in a live dialogue  in a television program), Mahagamasekera, Sunil Shantha, Mohideen Beg ,Hugo Master, Tony Ranasinghe, HR Jothipala, Vijaya Kumaratunga, Amarasiri Kalansuriya, Sujatha Attanayake, Ravindra Randeniya   etc the list goes on and on  Vineetha revealed after Amarasiri Kalansuriya’s program what a lot of obstacles he  had hurdled and navigated over throughput his entire life which were mysterious and unknown  to many  After the program on Tony Ranasinghe was telecast his brother and sister are  domiciled in Germany had invited Vineetha to Germany for a visit expressing their gratitude for compiling his program where she had conducted a television program involving Tony Ranasinghe which he himself had thought of having it before his demise .She had visited New Delhi  when her ‘Alakamandawa’

program was nominated for a festival involving Professor Wasantha Kumara a ballet dancer in her series of ‘Alakamandawa’ documentary programs , which was nominated for an international merit award in the ABU international festival. In addition  Vineetha had visited Germany, Italy, Abu Dhabi etc She had even been invited to conduct Sinhalese  new year celebration events in foreign countries Vineetha also quipped that when she had searched on each personality she too had come to know how much she had contributed to art. .These programs of ‘Alakamandawa’ were telecast monthly on last Tuesday of the month in SLRC at 10.10 pm .It was added by Vineetha in a television dialog that Gamini Fonseka’s entire program was repeated several times  on a subsequent days on his birthdays, which had delighted Vineetha. After her seventieth ‘Alakamandawa’ program in year 2014 involving artistes, she was awarded in subsequent award ceremonies …Also in a media dialog Vineetha added that even now ,most persons in the present generation are not aware of these distinguished personalities which is a pathetic state. These are all well preserved for posterity in the SLRC library all of which could be recalled straightforwardly in future. Likewise on 8th July, year 2025 her ‘Alakamandawa’ program on HR Jothipala was telecast in SLRC to commemorate his 38th death anniversary. Once Vineetha had appropriately described her ‘Alakamandawa’ is her celestial world while having done complete justice to all artistes in her all programs in ‘Senehase Nawathena’ and ‘Alakamandawa’ which should be inserted into the Guiness Book of World records

In year 1993 a marriage proposal was made to Vineetha by her close friend Visharada Malini Bulathsinhala to Nihal Karunarathne a media personnel who served at the SLBC.The duo has a son Vageesha Karunarathne who was adjudicated the winner for the title ‘Selalihini Kumaraya’ at the SLRC contest,  is a competent graphic designer having worked at the SLRC initially now is attached to a reputed private Company. Her husband and son both take a lot of interest in her activities giving her the required impetus. Both appreciate Vineetha’s progress to be happy and contented which is a huge boost to her successful career path

Of course during the time of production of a single program Vineetha has had had to toil very hard in completing various phases in  each production though strenuous prolonged studies and researches were made involving many including the script writers exchanging views  which was no easy task . By these endeavours Vineetha’s earlier inability to speak loudly and such recessive capacities gradually ceased and vanished to be more stubborn bold and determined in her mannerism to  which she attributes entirely to association with her bunch of colleagues and Gods above.  In worldwide research made on all professionals it had been proved that within many types of professionals and artistes the stress in artistes  is  much less compared to that of all other professionals. Vineetha recollects that invariably she works with dedication till rather late to around 11 PM at the SLRC. On some days in the absence of Kalutara buses she used to board  Kataragama bound  bus to travel to her Kalutara dwelling..

In a television dialog she recollected travelling to Belihuloya for Irangani Serasinghe’s  ‘Alakamadawa’ program. It  had been a  norm to ask the guest artiste the venue he or she liked as a location. During this trip  to Belihuloya she had even  been carried to the top of a mountain to the vicinity where shot were take on a hill for the film “Sandesaya’  also in which Irangani Serasinghe had portrayed a major role. Vineetha had emphasized that the success of an episode relies mainly on the script.I n this instance case it was penned by Professor Sunil Senevi.  Another instance she recollected when the script for Professor Wasantha Kumara was written by Sunil Mihindukula who was in a sad mood as her wife had expired only a month ago had added he is not expecting a cent was in a frustrated mood. But after explaining about Vineetha’ s humble beginnings he was made to be convinced after which revival had visited the Peradeniya ‘Wala’ to complete shooting where he was instrumental  in portrayal of the Singhabahu character even  as a person in the nineties. .Like this Vineetha used to recollect her interesting stories that persisted  on shooting sequences.. Vineetha also in a radio dialog said once she was nearly run over by a train when shooting of a program that took place near the Wellawatta bridge with dual railway track  close to the beach when directing  a shot of duo Roshan Pilapitiya and Duleeka Marapona when she was directing from the railway line  a train had suddenly emerged , her life was saved by God when she was drifted with the blowing to the sea beach below. This was published in the next day newspapers too saying a SLRC director narrowly escaped death. The ‘Alakamandawa’ program on Dr Premasiri Khemadasa was recollected as a person who loses temper often, the script was written by Asoka Weerasinghe was incidentally the first ‘Alakamandawa’ experience. Initially his life story was recorded on a cassette.. After all dates were fixed Master was invariably  busy with his Opera work. Vineetha had been scolded several times but only with two days before the scheduled telecast breaking rest working till late hours the program was ready  for telecast. Vineetha had been helping Dr Khemadasa in his opera school  in chorus singing  with other artistes from  the Malini Bulathsinhala music academy. She had reminisced how Dr Khemadasa at the end of the day used to keep some money in her hand knowing well perhaps her financial constraints This explanation of his losing temper is typical of Dr Premasiri Khemadasa’s characteristics well known to all. 

Vineetha Karunarathna on reaching her age of sixty years she retired after thirty three years of dedicated service in  the state channel SLRC had won twenty five awards from many awards ceremonies as ‘Sumathi’, ‘State’, ‘Presidential’, ‘Raigam’,’ ‘Abinandana’,’ Madhyasuri’,’Vanthabimana’, ‘Iconic’, ‘Lak Vanitha’, ‘Diamond Excellence’, ‘Masko’, and Vishwahinandana. These  are all rewards for her extremely unblemished dedicated, steadfast service extended by her which should be etched in gold.There are more talent stored which she deploys for free lance work.,Vineetha has appropriately commenced writing her  autobiography which could be read when released shortly. All her fans, colleagues ,friends and well wishes would wish her good health and longevity.

Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane

email sthenabadu@hotmail.com 

WhatsApp 0061444533242

Yashoda Wimaladharma the renowned actress possessing a degree in Hindi  language  lecturer at University of Kelaniya  had this to say at Vinitha’s farewell attended by many prominent senior artistes ,actors, actresses, former chairpersons This  is ample testimony to  the huge magnitude of her immense involvement and contribution  she had made to SLRC under the  Chairmanship of Sarath Kongahage in year 2010 working concurrently with her for three years. Yashoda had been invited by Chairman to join with Vinitha to produce ‘Suhaani Sundara Rathriya’  (Suhaani Raath) reminiscing her father too.:Yashoda said Vinitha has had a practice to invite her for her first new Rupavahini program she produced, For her new program ‘Senehase Nawathana’ Yashoda had participated with such an invitation .Also recollected when the initial ‘Nugasevana’ program in year 2000 was launched she had been invited to participate. As she was a massive Hindi fan she had been invited for her first Hindi program Suhani Rathriya’ which she recollected it was a gigantic task to organize such a novel Hindi program  as then resources were restricted been at a low ebb.as finding Hindi songs was a colossal task unlike at present. It was said that Vinitha had spent her personal money to buy Hindi discs externally as only a limited film sequences were available in the SLRC library .Yasodha too had lent her Hindi discs had in her collection It was said that Vinitha when she launches on any new venture she made assured it to be completed sans any drawbacks with supreme perseverance which was a characteristic of her dedication for all her triumphs.To perform  duties to precision in a government institution like the SLRC, Vinitha has to be applauded to tall elevations. This was made possible Yashoda added she is a true aesthetical personality having sacrificed her family life too, From the day she had joined to SLRC she had sacrificed so many yet toiled rigidly to perform duties to achieve many innovative programs when looked back is hard to believe. Yashoda emphasised that she is a personality who should be preserved for posterity. During her career the enormous contribution she brought via ‘Aloka Mandawa’ should not be forgotten.Though every government employee must bid adieu on reaching the sixtieth birthday there have been many instances where extension of service for a few more years have been approved, but not in the instance case of Vinitha particularly as she was still very active in perfect health one who loved her employer SLRC been dedicated to her employer .Yashoda  appealed to her not to shed even one tear to be self contented to the enormous service rendered to SLRC during her tenure of thirty three years..Yasodha concluded wishing Vinitha for her future,  did say there will be ample demand for her creations for which she would be well sought after was Yashoda’s prediction…     .