The Hon. (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, thank you.

¶ 02 I am honoured to speak in appreciation of the late Hon. Malini Fonseka, who represented the UPFA via the National List from 2010 to 2015, and who was also a member of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus I now represent. She represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Women Parliamentarians’ Conference. Much has already been said today; I wish to speak not only as a politician, but as a woman and as her admirer.

¶ 03 Through the silver screen, as the “Queen of Cinema,” Malini Fonseka lived love and pain, touching the hearts of millions. Before we even knew what cinema or acting truly were, we loved Malini. I remember as a little girl watching “Nidhanaya” on our small black‑and‑white TV, her eyes radiant — bearing generations of suffering and endurance. Even if I do not recall every line, I remember Malini, whose silence spoke, whose smile could break your heart. She did not just portray characters; she became them — the fearless woman of “Siripala ha Ranmenika,” the soulful Susila of “Eya Dan Loku Lamayek,” the quiet strength of “Bambaru Avith.” She showed that womanhood is not weakness but a gentle power.

¶ 04 In a world that tried to limit women, Malini shattered boundaries and crossed into our hearts. For girls outside Colombo, from small families, she gave hope: if she could, so could we. She taught us what beauty, life, and love could mean. We laughed and cried with Malini; we learned life from her. Though no longer physically with us, whenever we see new actresses breaking traditional frames, or women speaking from their hearts, we feel Malini’s presence. Her legacy is not only in awards and roles, but in how she changed the way we feel about ourselves — especially as women.

¶ 05 Thank you, Malini, for illuminating not only our cinema but our lives; for showing that beauty is more than appearances, and acting more than imitation — it is a way of life, a timeless truth; and above all, for breaking limits so girls could kindle hope and follow you. Her name is etched not only on celluloid, but on our heartbeats. I extend condolences to her family members present in the Gallery and to her relatives who carry her name forward. Thank you.