Explore World: October 2016

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Sri Lankan Model - Upeksha Swarnamali

Upeksha Swarnamali, also known as Swarnamali, is a Sri Lankan model, actress, politician and a former Member of Parliament of Sri Lanka. She gained popularity for her role on the television series PABA broadcast on Independent Television Network.

Born in Kuwait to Sri Lankan parents where she lived for 20 years before returning to Sri Lanka in 2004. She has studied at Indian International School, Kuwait and holds a Diploma in Dancing. Her mother named Nirmalee Swarnamali and her father is a tamil citizen. She said that she never know about her dad due to parents divorced where she was 4 years old. Swarnamali has another brother from another mother named J. Shehan Fernando.

Swarnamali was first married to Mahesh Chaminda, where she was assaulted by her husband and was hospitalised by heavy bruises and injuries. They divorced on 31 January 2013, by a court order from Colombo District Court. She is now married to a car sale owner Samantha Perera, where the wedding was celebrated on 13 March 2016.

Starting her career as a model, she appeared on several song videos including "Chanchala", and took a major role in the television drama series "PABA". She also participated in the reality dancing show Sirasa Dancing Stars, on 8 June 2008 she was eliminated. She had won the Sumathi Award for Best Upcoming Actress Award for Most popular actress sponsored by Vendol.

She gained national attention due to the controversial removal from the Paba teledrama aired by State run ITN, due to what she claimed as her open support for then opposition presidential candidate (General Sarath Fonseka).

She was elected as a member of the Sri Lanka Parliament in the 2010 General Elections held on 8 April 2010 representing the United National Party having obtained 813500 preferential votes being the second from Gampaha District UNP list. In June 2010, she steered controversy over an interview she gave on Derana TV. The interview caused great embarrassment to herself as well as the Sri Lankan public. Later she admitted that she lacked political knowledge and had no knowledge about Sri Lankan constitution.

Sri Lankan Model - Yureni Noshika

Yureni Noshika is a Sri Lankan actress active in the teledrama and movie industries. Noshika began her career winning the Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World contest and went on to commercials before making it in the television and movie industries.

Yureni Noshika was born in Sri Lanka as the only child in the family. Raised Christian, she studied at Methodist College in Colombo and was a model student who excelled at academics and participated in a broad range of extra-curricular activities. Noshika was gaining qualifications to follow a career in law but this is currently on hold due to her acting obligations.

Noshika won the prestigious "Models of the New Generation" pageant hosted by Derana TV in 2006, and went on to represent Sri Lanka at the Tourism World contest. Her potential for acting and musical talents were evident and she decided to follow a career in these fields, opting out of following a law career, which was her next preferred choice.

Due to her magnetic personality, natural beauty and popularity, Noshika is among the leading social media celebrities in Sri Lanka. Both her official and unofficial pages are enjoying tremendous activity from subscribers and visitors. In a country where the popularity of cricket tops all other forms of entertainment, Noshika ranks just behind Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Muttiah Muralitharan, who are all revered icons of the sport. This titanic accomplishment can be attributed to the her humility despite the immense popularity she is enjoying in Sri Lanka.

Noshika is an avid fitness fan and her expertise in the area has led to her having her own regular fitness column in the Daily News. Following her success and the experience gained thereafter, Noshika was selected to be a judge for the Miss Sri Lanka Online contest in 2012