Kaushalya Fernando Replaces Damayanthi Fonseka in "Akasa Kusum"

Award winning stage and screen actress Kaushalya Fernando ("Sulanga Enu Pinisa," "Bora Diya Pokuna") has joined the cast of "Akasa Kusum", playing Mallika, the sister of film star Sandhya Rani after Damayanthi Fonseka pulled out of the role. Damayanthi, sister of the film's main star Malani Fonseka and wife of director Prasanna Vithanage, said it would be "unethical" to comment on her reasons for walking out, saying she would not talk about projects she has rejected on principle. "Throughout my career as an actress I have rejected many scripts for plays, TV and films," she said. "I feel it is not right for me to speak of projects I have decided to not take part in." She also had no comment to reports about her personal life.
the incident had caused a rift in her relationship with her husband
Kaushalya Fernando, meanwhile, said she felt "elated" to be working with a director like Vithanage and called it a "rare opportunity" to bag a role in the film, adding that very few good movies are currently being made in Sri Lanka. Fernando comes into "Akasa Kusum" directly from the set of Cannes-award winning director Vimukthi Jayasundara's new movie, "Fallen From The Sky" which is currently shooting on location in Habarana.

Director Vithanage, commenting on the turn of events said he had spoken to Fernando and rehearsed and spoken with her about the role of Mallika, the 'ugly duckling' sister of Sandhya Rani. He also said the situation with his wife Damayanthi was 'unfortunate', but said he was currently concentrating on making the film.