Up and coming Jayamini

by Lakmal Welabada

"If somebody asks me what is my most unforgettable incident faced so far I would say, nothing else but my mother's death. It was the saddest day in my life," says Jayamini Attanayaka, who is a young up and coming actress. She is also a graphic designer.

She acts in Anura Chandrasiri's comedy teledrama, 'Mr. Andare' telecast on Swarnavahini on Saturday at seven P.M. 'Neranjala' is also shown on the same channel at 8.30 p.m.

Born as the third to a family of eight. "We are from Kandegolla, Badulla. I studied up to O/Ls at Dambarawa Madya Maha Vidyalaya," she says while going through a bunch of recent photographs of hers.

Jayamini always loved music and dancing, and took part in almost all the concerts at school. Stage and street dramas produced at school level gave her a training in acting. Her mother recognised her talent encouraged her in every possible way.

Her mother was the driving force behind the success of not only Jayamini, but all her five sisters and two brothers. "My mother was behind me in everything I did. Even when I took part in musicals and dramas. She was the only parent who would go along with the school with the teachers.

"Sometimes I used ask her to wait at home. But she never let me go out alone. She was just 42 years when she died of a heart attack. I had just completed my O/Ls. After her death I couldn't focus on my studies. I then came to Colombo to my sister's place to get a job," she says.

Jayamini was first employed at a Korean Buying Office. After sometime she followed a computer graphic course and joined the printing press at Wijerama where she handles graphic work.

"I have been modelling for calendars, since I was in school . Mr. Ernest Waduge helped me a lot. It was Harris Nandasiri, film editor who introduced me to tele dramas. I have done a few TV and print commercials as well," she says.

Ranjan Ramanayaka's film 'Leader' which is to be shot in the near future will be Jayamini's first appearance in a film. She is studying dancing under Pradeep Branley as she thinks it would be of great help in the future.

After their father's death of a cancer, Jayamini and all her other siblings are scattered . "But we are sometimes wandering how we have been able to stand on our own feet after going through such terrible problems in life," she thinks.

Jayamini talks very little. But she never hesitated to express her disgust about the 'men' in the film field who try to take advantage over young village girls. "It's so pathetic. From the very moment they get to know that you are interested in acting, they begin these dirty tricks. You tend to think they are trying to help you. But actually their intention is something else," she smiles.

Donald Jayantha, Tissa Wijekoon and Thusitha Jayawardane are the other three she praises for assisting her to come up in the field so far.

"If my mother was alive she would have been very happy to see me on the screen," she sighs. Jayamini wants to start her own business. "Something like a communication centre. However, this young girl has been facing all her ups and downs in life with courage. She says she has no high hopes, but a few dreams to fulfil.