Biography

B.A.W. Jayamanne was born on May 2, 1908 in Negombo, Sri Lanka. He was an actor and director, known for Kavata Andare (1960), Daiva Vipakaya (1956) and Sengawunu Pilitura (1951). He died on February 16, 1965 in Sri Lanka.

He died while making the film Magul Poruwa. It was completed by S. Ramanathan.

He along with younger brother Eddie formed the Minerva theater group in the 1930s and achieved some fame running plays that depicted contemporary middle class and village situations in contrast to the Tower Hall plays popular at the time which featured archaic tales of Sri Lankan kings.

He played a major role in the making of the first Sinhala film Kadawunu Poronduwa in 1947.

Bernard Aloysius Wanniarachchi Jayamanne who was better known as B.A.W. Jayamanne was a Sri Lankan playwright, director, producer and actor.

B.A.W. Jayamanne had one of his biggest hits with Kele Handa in 1953; it made Sri Lankan film history as the first direct literary adaption and introduced actress Rita Ratnayake.