Tissa Abeysekera is no more

Veteran cinematographer, film critic and screenplay writer Tissa Abeysekera died at the Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo National Hospital yesterday (18). He was 69 years old.

Abeysekera, one of the foremost cinema personalities was associated with the cinema and TV productions, spanning a period of more than three decades. He wrote several screenplays for films including the award winning Welikathara, Kaludiyadahara, Weera Puranappu, Uthpalawanna, Kulageya and Guru Gedara and was the author of several books including Bringing Tony Home. He also directed the award winning films, Viragaya, Karumakkarayo and Maha Gedara. His novel Bringing Tony Home won the Gretien Award for literature. Tissa who was devoted to the silver screen and the TV was associated with the left political movement and was a member of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party during his youth and remained a supporter of the socialist movement to the very end.

His remains lie at 494/2, Rajagiriya Road, Rajagiriya.

Funeral arrangements will be notified later.

(WN)