Bennett Rathnayake (Sinhala: බෙනට් රත්නායක; born 24 October), is a filmmaker in Sri Lankan cinema and a television director.
[1][2] He has produced several critically acclaimed award-winning films such as Aswesuma, Sulanga and Ira Handa Yata.
[8] He is married to Samanmalee Hawapanna and the couple has one son, Udara and two daughters – Erandathi and Bhagya.
His son Udara Rathnayake is a popular artist and a Member of the Western Provincial Council and was born on 21 June 1986.
[10] In 2014, he contested for the Western Province Council Elections in 2014 from the Colombo District from the United National Party.
[12] Udara is married to Dinali, daughter of Priyantha Kariyapperuma, the former Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission.
[13] His daughter, Bhagya is also an actress who has acted in several television serials such as Sanda Sakmana, Nimwalalla and films Sulanga and Ira Handa Yata.
[7] He has produced many notable television serials Tharu, Grahanaya, Kalu Hansayo, Makara Vijithaya, Kadumuna, Palingu,[16] and www.com.
[25] Later in 2005, he directed his second film Sulanga, which acclaimed critical appreciation at the Houston International Cinema Festival.
[30][31] In 2009, it was premiered at the 23rd Singapore International Film Festival and nominated for the Silver Screen award as well.
[38] After screening Ira Handa Yata in 2010, he tried to make a film called Sath Ima in 2013.
[44][45] In January 2017, Rathnayake was invited to be part of the jury panel of the 15th International Film Festival of Pune, India (IFFI).