Rita Philomina Ratnayake (18 February 1934 – 6 November 2006 රීටා රත්නායක) was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema.
[1] She became very popular in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s early Sinhala cinema particularly with the role 'Daisy Attanayake' in the blockbuster Kele Handa in 1953.
Also known as a school singer, she was famous among Matale students for singing the song Ko Mama Nandage Male.
[2] She died on 6 November 2006 at the Jayewardenepura Hospital on the same day she received an honorary gift from the Silumina 'Rasaduna' newspaper.
Seeing her acting prowess, K. Gunaratnam used Rita for the lead role in the film Warada Kageda in 1954.
[4] Over the next 20 years, Ratnayake had roles in Suneetha, Sepali (1958), Sundara Birinda (1960), Daruwa Kageda (1961), Suhada Sohoyuro (1963), Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe (1964), Sweep Ticket, Sakaya (1965), Ethulweema Thahanam (1966), Amathaka Wunada (1967), Dan Mathakada (1970), Suhada Pethuma (1973), Sheela, Shanthi, Onna Babo Billo Enawa (1974), Awa Soya Adare (1975), Haratha Hathara, Dewiyange Theenduwa (1976), Hithuwoth Hithuwamai, Saja (1977), Mage Ran Putha (1978), Eka Hitha (1979), Dayabara Nilu (1981), Samawenna (1981), Wathura Karaththaya (1982), Rail Para (1982), Bonikka (1983), Shirani, Kokila, Namal Renu (1984) and Wana Rejina (1988).