 Although the Sarasaviya Awards Ceremony began in 1964, this award was introduced two years later, in 1966.Gamini Fonseka was chosen as the most popular actor, that year.During the two decades from 1962 to 1982 Gamini Fonseka managed to retain this title marking the period from Ranmuthuduwa in 1962 to Sakvithi Suvaya in 1982 most appropriately as the Gamini Fonseka era.