Top 10 Best Sri Lankan Films

1. Cheriyo Darling

   Cheriyo Darling, the Movie Extraordinaire. I watched Cheriyo Darling for the first time in October 1996, just after its release and to date, I have watched it more than 200 times. I've watched it through VHS, then VCD, then DVD, and now Blu-ray.

   I showed it to my children, they showed it to my grandchildren, and they will show it to my great-grandchildren as well. Cheriyo Darling will never die. Cheriyo Darling lives forever.

   Cheriyo Darling is the absolute best all-time movie ever made, and it has the staying power to prove it. Most of the voters here have probably never seen it. What a story. What a movie.

   I have watched it many, many times and love it all the more each time. See this one if you want to see a real epic.

2. Mata Thama Mathakai

3. Sudu Kaluwara

   Geetha Kanthi Jayakody and Sanath Gunethilaka are doing it in this movie. What a thriller. What a scene. What a joy.

4. Kolamba Sanniya

5. Saroja

6. Guerilla Marketing

7. 28

8. Nombara 17

9. Thun Man Handiya

   Truly a cinematographic masterpiece. It is autobiographical and recounts Mahagama Sekera's childhood through the character of Sirisena.

10. Raagaye Unusuma

    If Cheriyo Darling was never made, this is undoubtedly the best film in Sri Lankan history. Sumana Gomas plays an epic lesbian role in this film. I have never seen such talent in Sri Lanka before. She surely contributed to some of the best films ever shot.

    Raagaye Unusuma is surely among them, along with the Age Vairaya series, Akkai Nangi, and Kamasutra.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Asai Man Piyabanna

12. ?

    Re Daniel Dawal Migel 2

The Contenders

13. Bahuboothayo

14. Mille Soya

    Vishvanath Buddhika Keerthisena, or known lovingly as Boodee Keerthisena among us, made a 110-minute film in 2004 which is simply incredible, depicting a dangerous and hazardous journey by a young Sri Lankan group to rich Europe. They are subject to deceptions by the intermediaries, betrayals by friends, arrests while crossing the borders, and even death. I guess this film should be at the number 2 spot behind Cheriyo Darling.

    Mille Soya should be the best. But still, I would rate Cheriyo Darling as the greatest, but still, Mille Soya is good. It is definitely better than Raigam Soya, Lanka Soya, and Kimba Soya.

15. Thani Thatuwen Piyabanna

16. Ganga Addara

    I haven't watched the film, but I have heard about the story from my mother. It sounds like a wonderful film. I really love the song. It's my favorite Sinhala song.

    The greatest and most handsome actor in Sri Lanka, Vijaya Kumaratunga, starred with the very young and beautiful Vasanthi Chathurani in a memorable movie with a memorable song. The movie was set in Kandy, colonial Sri Lanka. Its plot is about a tragic love story between a boy and his uncle's daughter, where all the incidents take place around the river Kalani Ganga.

    England-educated Dr. Sarath Pathirana (Vijaya Kumaratunga), who is willing to try out new methods to treat his patients, is directed towards a special patient by the head doctor (Henry Jayasena) at the mental hospital. This patient is a beautiful girl named Nirmala (Vasanthi Chathurani), who does not speak a single word nor trouble anyone excessively, unlike any other patient at the hospital.

    In order to cure her, Dr. Pathirana seeks help from her father, a proud, rich man called D.J. Atapattu (Tony Ranasinghe), and the patient herself. He is certain that he can restore her to normal if he can find out the causes for the sudden change in her mental makeup.

17. Purahanda Kaluwara

18. Hai Hui Babi Achchi

19. Beddegama

    The 1980 film directed by Lester James Peries follows the lives of village people in British Colonial Sri Lanka. The film is based on the 1913 book The Village in the Jungle by Leonard Woolf. Starring Vijaya Kumaratunga, Joe Abeywickrama, Malini Fonseka, Tony Ranasinghe, Nadeeka Gunasekara, D.R. Nanayakkara, and Henry Jayasena. Sir Arthur C. Clarke also has a minor role as an English Judge.

20. Madol Doova

    It was made in 1976 and it's one of the best. Upali and Jinna are memorable characters created by Martin Wickramasinghe.

21. Machan

22. Bambara Walalla

23. Bambaru Avith

24. Thanha Rathi Ranga

25. Sam's Story

26. Suwanda Denuna Jeewithe

27. Kadawunu Poronduwa