<P> Kumar determined to film his script left Nayagam's company and convinced the Ceylon Theaters group to fund his film . Faced with a more daunting task of putting together the film from scratch, the Ashokamala project began filming in Coimbatore about two months after the production of Kadawunu Poronduwa had initiated . Naygam's film would win out screening at the Mylan Theater on January 21, 1947 . Ashokamala was screened three months later in April 1947 at the Elphinstone Theater . </P> <P> Both films were popular with audiences but derided by critics who found them to be derivative of South Indian cinema . </P> <P> Following the success of Kadawunu Poronduwa, B.A.W. Jayamanne produced a string of popular movies based on his plays . These were Peralena Iranama, Kapati Arakshakaya, Weradunu Kurumanama (1948), Hadisi Vinischaya (1950, first film directed by Jayamanne; he handled the post on all his subsequent films), Sangavunu Pilithura (1951), Umathu Wishwasaya (1952), Kele Handa (1953), Iranganie (1954), Mathabedaya (1954), Daiva Wipakaya (1956), Wanaliya (1958), Hadisi Vivahaya (1959), Kawata Andare (1960), Jeewithe Pujawa (1961), Mangalika (1963) and Magul Poruwa (1967; completed after his death by another director). Jayamanne mostly adhered to a formula derived from South Indian cinema and didn't contribute to the development of artistic film . Most of his films featured the couple Rukmani Devi and Eddie Jayamanne (though never as lovers on screen) which allowed them to become the first stars of Sri Lankan cinema . </P> <P> Following the dawn of independence, Sri Lanka instituted restrictions on travel to and from India causing Nayagam to move his business into the island to cut costs . He purchased land outside of Kandana and built the Sri Murugan Navakala studios (later known as the S.P.M. studios) which would for a time be the most developed studio in the country . His first production was Banda Nagarayata Pamine (1952) which was successful among local audiences . It was the first locally produced Sinhalese film though in technique it still remained South Indian . Nayagam followed the film with Prema Tharangaya (1953) and Ahankara Sthree (1954). Due to the low quality of the studio (Nayagam resisted buying high tech equipment), these films failed to match the standards of Bollywood imports . They were also highly formulaic based extensively on South Indian cinema (the technicians were all from India) featuring a combination of exaggerated melodrama, lowbrow comedy, scuffles and dance numbers . </P>

Who is considered as the first film actress of sinhala cinema