Jagath Benaragama
Benaragama Vidanalage Jagath Champika Benaragama (born June 2, 1972 as ජගත් බෙනරගම) [Sinhala]), popularly as Jagath Benaragama, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, television and theater.[1] He is best known for the role Ukkuwa in Paba teledrama[2] and the main protagonist in the critically acclaimed movie Prathiroo.[3][4]
Jagath Benaragama  ජගත් බෙනරගම  | |
|---|---|
| Born | Benaragama Vidanalage Jagath Champika Benaragama July 2, 1972  | 
| Nationality | Sri Lankan | 
| Occupation(s) | Actor, Script writer, director | 
| Political party | Democratic Party | 
| Spouse | Renuka Pushpakumari Vithana (m. 2010) | 
| Relatives | Kokilani Benaragama (sister)  Ravindra Yasas (brother-in-law) Kasun Chamara (cousin son)  | 
Personal life
    
He is married to Renuka Pushpakumari Vithana, and the wedding ceremony was celebrated on 3 July 2010 at Paradise Inn Hotel, Delthawa, Piliyandala. His wife is from Hambantota district and worked in Ceylon Water Board.[2] The couple has one daughter.
Jagath's sister Kokilani Benaragama is married to popular actor Ravindra Yasas.[5] The couple has one son, Kasun Chamara who is also a renowned actor and singer, and started his career with musical the program Hapan Padura.
Acting career
    
Benaragama started his career with a stage drama directed by Douglas Siriwardena. While acting, he also worked as an officer at the Presidential office. However, after a severe vehicle accident, he resigned from the office, where at that time, he is invited to play in a television serial by V. Sivadasan.[6]
In 2014, Benaragama's character in television serial Pabasara, which was telecast on ITN has been theatrically killed as he is contesting from Sarath Fonseka's party in the election.[7] He stated that this has happened intentionally because the channel is owned by the government and his election party is opposed to that.[8]
Selected stage dramas
    
Selected television serials
    
- Adaraya Ahasa Tharam
 - Aparna[12]
 - Bhavana - Amuttha[13]
 - Brahma Muhurthiya as Rathnaya
 - Chalo
 - Damsaari[14]
 - Dangakara Tharu[15]
 - Deyyange Rate
 - Diyawadana Maluwa[16][17]
 - Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli[18]
 - Hada Pudasuna [19]
 - Hopalu Arana[20]
 - Ihirunu Kiri[21]
 - Kammiththa[22]
 - Kele Handa [23]
 - Maya Dunne [24]
 - Nedeyo[25]
 - Nil Nethu[26]
 - Nisala Diya Sasala Viya[27]
 - Oba Mageya[28]
 - Paalam Paaruwa
 - Paba as Ukkuwa
 - Pabasara
 - Parana Tawuma
 - Pata Veeduru[29]
 - Pathok Paalama[30]
 - Purakalani[31]
 - Ransirige Sangramaya as Ransiri
 - Sanda Nodutu Sanda[32]
 - Sansara Sakmana[33]
 - Saranganaa[34]
 - Sasara Ivuru [35]
 - Sithaka Mahima[36]
 - Sonduru Sitheththi as Liyana Mahaththaya
 - Uthuwankande Sura Saradiyel[37]
 - Vasanthaya Avilla [38]
 - Vimukthi[39]
 - Vinivindimi[40]
 
Beyond acting
    
He has written two scripts, A Heenayata Awasarai and Laa Sanda Paamula. He directed a teledrama titled Sanda Nodutu Sanda.[2]
Benaragama contested from Colombo district for the Western Provincial council elections.[41]
Filmography
    
- No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[42]
 
| Year | No. | Film | Role | Ref. | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 890 | Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli | Attacked poster coverer | |
| 1999 | 928 | Nagaran | Ajith | |
| 2000 | 938 | Rajya Sevaya Pinisai | Dragged away shooter | |
| 2003 | 980 | Sudu Sewaneli | [43] | |
| 2004 | 1028 | Bambara Sanakeli | [44] | |
| 2005 | 1054 | Samanala Thatu | Drug dealer | [45] | 
| 2008 | 1110 | Sandalu Thalen Eha | [46] | |
| 2010 | 1141 | Sthuthi Nawatha Enna | Keerthirathna | [47] | 
| 2010 | 1144 | Ira Handa Yata | LTTE Soldier | [48] | 
| 2011 | 1160 | Gamani | Jagath | [49] | 
| 2012 | 1180 | Prathiroo | Wickrama | [50] | 
| 2012 | -  | Silent Letter (short film) | [51] | |
| 2017 | -  | Cobbler's Dream (short film) | [52] | |
| TBD | CineMa | [53] | ||
| TBD | Rajanoo | [2] | ||
| TBD | Elakandiye Marcus | [54] | ||
| TBD | Angara | [55] | 
References
    
- "Actors in Sri Lankan cinema - Jagath Benaragama". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Gagath met after the wedding". Kala Lowa. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Benaragama as Wickrama". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
 - "Jagath Benaragama - ජගත් බෙනරගම". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
 - "Unknown relatives of Sri Lankan artists". lifie. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
 - "Chat With Jagath Benaragama". Gossip Lanka News. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "My character in "Pabasara" in ITN has been killed – Jagath Benaragama". VivaLanka.com. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Govt. 'killed' my role - Benaragama". Srilankamirror. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Thala Mala Pipila". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Guru Tharuwa at Elphinstone". The Nation. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "'Sihina Walata Paata Denna' – Theatre in politics". The Nation. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "'Aparna' is full of deception". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
 - "16 short stories on mini screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
 - "Damsari depicts distance between rich and poor". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Dangakara Tharu may blossom soon". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
 - "Diyawadana Maluwa Tele-Drama". Tissa Nagodavithana Films (pvt) ltd. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "'Diyawadana Maluwa' : A story about water heritage". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
 - "The Reality of underworld". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "'Hada Pudasuna': Portrays sacrifices in love". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
 - "Hopalu Arana - hoodwinking a generation". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "'Ihirunu Kiri' with a super cast". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "'Kammiththa' from Daya's comic story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
 - "Kele Handa comes to television". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
 - "'Maya Dunne': New tele tackles the drug issue". Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
 - "Nedeyo 1996". nalanmendis. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Tale of two families". The Nation. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "'Nisala Diya Sasala Viya': A love story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
 - "'Oba Mageya' : a tale of crime and punishment". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
 - "'Pata Veeduru': Drama off the beaten track". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
 - "'Patok Palama':Old theme on a new time belt". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "'Purakalani': Current reality portrayed". The Island. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "'Sanda Nodutu Sanda' : A political plot". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
 - "රඟපාන්න කලින් සති දෙකක පොලිස් පුහුණුවක්". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "සාරංගනා පුංචි තිරයට". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
 - "'Sasara Ivuru': Story of an innocent". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
 - "'Sithaka Mahima': Salutes war heroes". Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
 - "Saradiel re-lived". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
 - "Nalan brings out another hit". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
 - "Film on folk tales on T.V". The Nation. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Top short stories on mini screen". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
 - "Jagath Benaragama on election". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
 - "Ariyaratne returns to his old love". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
 - "Bambara Senakeli (FREE) බඹර සැනකෙලි". TubeID.Co. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Butterfly Wings captures the soft cadences of childhood dreams". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "'Sandalu Thalen Eha': A Male only". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Sthuthi Nawatha Enna". Daily News. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
 - "Jury Award for 'Ira Handa Yata' at Los Angeles Festival". Ada Derana. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Gamani (2011)". IMDB. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
 - "Doctor turned cinema director makes debut". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Insightful shots". Daily News. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "Cobbler's Dream". New York Indian Film Festival. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
 - "CineMa from April 22nd". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
 - "Tale of Elakandiye Marcus". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
 - "New filmmaker with 'Angara'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 July 2020.