Malani started her acting career with the stage drama "Noratha Ratha" and entered into cinema with the movie "Punchi Baba". 

Malani entered into television during early 1980's  when the television made it's entry to Sri Lanka. This happened in 1983 after two decades after Malani entered the cinema. Malani was lucky enough to get the same warmth and admiration from her fans which she received as a film star.

Malani's first teledrama was "Nirupamala". Malani's becomes a teledrama director as well as a teledrama actress for the first with "Nirupamala". Malani is honoured as the first female teledrama director  of Sri Lankan teledrama history. "Nirupamala" is based on a artists and a dancer and main roles were played by Lucky Dias and Nadika Gunasekera along with Malani.

Although she has acted over 140 movies during the past 40 years, Malani has acted in very few teledramas during the past 20 years. The teledramas are as follows:

01. "Manalada Puthe Kiri Dunne"

Directed by: Malani Fonseka

02."Mahamera Pamula"

Directed by: Dayarthna Ratagedera

03. Maha Naduwa

Directed by: Anura Chandrasiri

04. Pitagamkarayo

Directed by:  Tissa Abeysekera

05. Ambu Daruwo

Directed by: Sudath Rohana

06. Depathi Dahara

Directed by Malani Fonseka

07. Senasili Suwanda

Directed by: Malani Fonseka

08. Katharaka Hasareli

Directed by: Lukcy Dias

09. Suwanda Obai Amme

Directed by:Lucky Dias

10. Siw Diya Dahara

Directed by Lucky Dias