Veteran Actress Malini Fonseka, widely revered as the “Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema,” passed away this morning (May 24) at the age of 78 while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.

Born on April 30, 1947, in Kelaniya as Wanni Arachchige Malani Senehelatha Fonseka, she later rose to fame in Sri Lankan cinema under the name Malani Fonseka.

Fonseka began her acting career on stage in 1963 and made her cinematic debut in 1968 with the film Punchi Baba.

She won the Most Popular Actress award in 1973 and has received numerous accolades, including the President’s Award, Sarasavi Award, OCIC Award, and Sumathi Award, with several honors for Best Actress.

Plays such as Nidhanaya, Bambaru Awitha, Wekande Walawwa, Aradhana, and Ammawarune are regarded as outstanding works that showcased the acting talents of Malani Fonseka.

Beyond her artistic achievements, she entered politics in 2010 and served as a National List Member of Parliament until 2015.

The Ministry of Education has decided to grant holidays to all Muslim schools on June 06 and 09, as the Hajj festival for Muslim pilgrims falls on Saturday (June 07).

Accordingly, the announcement issued by the Ministry states that schools should be held on Monday (May 26) and (May 27), for the school holiday.

It also notes that the second term for Muslim schools in the 2025 school year will begin on May 26.

Showers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-western and Central provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts today (May 24), the Department of Meteorology said.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the Uva province and in the Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the evening or night.

Fairly heavy falls above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in the Galle, Matara, Nuwara-Eliya and Kandy districts.

Fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in the Trincomalee district.

The general public has also been requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.