Mercy passes away; but memories will live on

17 March 2014 03:47 am

‘Made Lagina Tharawan Nawannada Mang – Uru Delen Mona Gajamuthu Aragannada Mang’. This song will no doubt remind you of the actress Mercy Edirisinghe who sang and played the lead role in the Tharawo Igilethi stage play which became immensely popular.

Multi-talented Mercy who excelled in many spheres including acting, singing, dubbing and music, passed away this morning at a private hospital in Gampaha at the age of 69. Her funeral will take place on Wednesday.

She also took part in radio plays like Handiye Gedara in which she was ‘Miss Do Little’, Jane Akka in Vajira and in the ever popular Vinoda Samaya series.

 Dona Mercy Malini Edirisinghe studied at Pamunuwila Roman Chathlc School, St. Joseph’s Convent Kegalle and Parakrama Vidyalaya, Rambukkana where she excelled in all forms of arts from grade one onwards.

Among the 100 plus stage plays in which she acted were Aluth Dawasak, Mawak Saha Duwak, Dunna Dunu Gamuwe, Hitha Honda Ammandi, Muthu Kumari, Rankanda, Idama, Harima Badu Hayak, Ahasin Watunu Minissu, Ambu Semiyo, Saibu Nana, Samudradevi, Sivamma Dhanapala, Mudu Puththu and her own productions Mohini, Devlowa Doni and Vishva Sundari.

In the mid seventies she first acted in M. V. Balan’s Hitha Honda Minihek and followed it up with movies like Walmathwuwo, Diyamanthi, Palangetiyo, Nuwan Renu, Sakwithi Suwaya, Okkoma Rajawaru, Hondin Nethnam Narakin, Hitha Honda Puthek, Asai Bayai, Dhawala Pushpaya, Raththaran malli, Puthuni Mata Wasana and others.