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Suminda Sirisena
සුමින්ද සිරිසේන
Sirisena in 2013, by Nidahas
Born
Suminda Sirisena

(1948-07-04)4 July 1948
Bossella, Kegalle, Ceylon
Died4 December 2023(2023-12-04) (aged 75)
Gampaha, Sri Lanka
EducationTholangamuwa Central College
Alma materOpen University of Sri Lanka
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
OccupationActor
Years active1966–2012
SpouseLeela Sirisena
Children2
Parents
  • Bulathgamuwage Singho (father)
  • Punchi Nona (mother)
AwardsKala Keerthi (2017), Kala Bhushana (2014)

Kala Keerthi Suminda Sirisena (Sinhala: සුමින්ද සිරිසේන; 4 July 1948 – 4 December 2023) was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television.[1] A highly versatile actor, Sirisena played a wide range of starring or supporting roles and was a recipient of the Best Actor award at many award festivals.[2][3][4]

Personal life

[edit]

Sirisena was born on 4 July 1948, in Bossella, a rural village in Kegalle, Sri Lanka as the eldest of the family with four siblings.[5][6] His father, Bulathgamuwage Singho was a small-time businessman in the village who also performed traditional Sri Lankan folk dramas[7] and his mother, Punchi Nona, was a housewife. He had two younger brothers and a younger sister. After having his primary education at the village school Bossella Maha Vidyalaya, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Tholangamuwa Central College in 1963.[8]

After his school education, Sirisena moved to Colombo to join the Sri Lanka Railways as a Special Apprentice in 1969. While establishing his career as an actor in theatre, Sirisena went to Oman in 1970 to work as a quantity surveyor for two years. After returning home, he worked as a technical officer at the Victoria Dam project. Then he went back abroad in 1979 and returned to Sri Lanka in 1984.[9]

Before 1971, he was an activist and continually attended the meetings conducted by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. But as the party entered the process of armed struggle, he quit politics.[10] He obtained a B.A. degree in Social Sciences from the Open University of Sri Lanka and then completed an M.A, degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.[11]

Suminda Sirisena was married to Leela Sirisena. The couple had two sons, Prabhath and Nanditha.[11]

Acting career

[edit]

At Tholangamuwa Central College, he studied under Ariyawansa Ranaweera, Jayasumana Dissanayake, Daya Alwis and Wijayaratne Athurupane who were scholars and artists who had a major influence on Sri Lankan theatre and arts for many decades. In 1967, Sirisena played the lead role "Kashyapa" in the stage drama Girikūṭa which was selected to the final round of the State School Drama Festival.[9] In 1969, he joined the first batch of students of the theatre school Ranga Shilpa Shalika at Lionel Wendt Art Centre founded by Dhamma Jagoda with the assistance of Daya Alwis.

His first role on the public stage was the role of "Dionis" in the play Mūdu Puththu,[3] which also marked the first appearance of popular cinema actor Ravindra Randeniya. He acted in many stage dramas of the 1970s such as Namel Weeramuni's Vansakkārayō, Ranjith Dharmakeerthy's Hasthi Rāja Mahattayā and Hiru Næti Lova, Dayananda Gunawardene's ānanda Javanikā, Tilak Gunawardena's Kōntha Nōnā, Dhamma Jagoda's Ves Muhuṇu, Jayalath Manoratne's Andarēlā, Guru Tharuva', Bandula Vithanage's Rōmaya Gini Ganī.[11] He made his film acting debut with Duhulu Malak (1976).[3]

After returning to Sri Lanka in 1984, Sirisena was involved in Thilak Gunawardena's dramas. He acted in the plays Sapatheru Hamine by Miyuri Samarasinghe and then in Mī Pura Væsiyō by Somaratne Dissanayake. After completing the studies, he joined the drama group of Ediriweera Sarachchandra and acted in renowned stage dramas such as Manamē, Sinhabāhu, Kadāvaḷalu, Bava Kaḍathurā, and Mahāsāra.[12] In 1993, Sirisena won the Best Actor award for the role in Kadathurawa at the State Drama Festival.[6] In 2002, he formed a drama school called "Siwuranga". He was able to produce four batches of students from that academy. Thereafter he worked as an instructor at the Tower Hall Academy in Colombo.[11] In 1997, he won the best actor award at the State Theater Festival that year for his performance in the play Rōmaya Gini Ganī.

Sirisena's first teledrama was Sihina Nimnaya, produced by Sri Lanka Rupavahini in 1985. He gained wide acclaim for his second teledrama Kumārihāmi, another Rupavahini production, where he played the supporting role of Hichchi Mahaththayā.[13] He later acted in more than 40 teledrama series.[3] His role as "Isaa" in the critically acclaimed serial Charitha Thunak is a hallmark of his television career. He later acted in the serials: Nisalavila, Ramya Suramya, Hada Vila Sakmana as well as in Asalvæsiyō with the role "Jayamangala".

He also acted in many critically notable films such as Saptha Kanya, Yakada Pihatu, Uppalawanna, Samanala Thatu, Uduganyamaya and Ira Handa Yata.[14][15]

During his illness, he was working with two television serials, Sepalika and Boralu Paara.[11][16]

Notable stage dramas

[edit]
  • Aadi Rele Nadagama
  • Ananda Javanika
  • Andarela
  • Andhakaraya
  • Bavakadaturawa
  • Girikutha
  • Hasthiraja Mahathmaya
  • Hiru Nethi Lowa
  • Kadathurawa
  • Kada Walalu
  • Konthanona Samugenima
  • Mahasara
  • Maname
  • Meepura Wasiyo
  • Megha
  • Moodu Puththu
  • Muhunu Dekak
  • Nadagamkarayo
  • Parassa
  • Sapatheru Hamine
  • Sinhabahu
  • Thaksala Nadagama
  • Umathu San Warusawa
  • Vinishchaya
  • Wansakkarayo
  • Wes Muhunu

Selected television serials

[edit]

Illness and death

[edit]

In May 2012, Sirisena was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Colombo National Hospital due to sudden illness and fever.[52] Beginning then, he had difficulties with walking. He was taking physiotherapy treatments at the time of his death.[11] After 2012, Sirisena did not take part in any productions due to illness.[53]

Sirisena died at a private hospital on 4 December 2023, at the age of 75.[54][55][56]

Filmography

[edit]
  • No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan films in the Sri Lankan cinema.[57]
Year No. Film Role
1976 344 Duhulu Malak Upali
1980 454 Dandu Monara Punchi Mahaththaya
1993 770 Guru Gedara Wedding guest
1993 782 Saptha Kanya Sarath [58]
2003 1016 Yakada Pihatu Wilson 'Aiyya'
2004 1038 Gini Kirilli [59]
2005 1247 Udugan Yamaya [60]
2005 1054 Samanala Thatu Soththi Martin
2007 1090 Uppalawanna Veda Mahaththaya
2007 1109 Pitasakwala Kumarayai Pancho Hathai
2010 1144 Ira Handa Yata Trader
2011 1160 Gamani School teacher
2013 1185 Bomba Saha Rosa Minister Daya

Awards and honours

[edit]
  • Suminda Sirisena was awarded Kala Keerthi, the highest national honour for arts, culture and drama in Sri Lanka, in 2017.[61][62]
  • In 2014 he was awarded the Deshanethru award[63] and the Kala Bhushana state award in recognition of the service he had rendered to the country's performing arts.

State Drama Festival, Sri Lanka

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1992 Megha Best Supporting Actor Won
1993 Bavakadathurawa Best Actor Nominated
1995 Andarela Best Supporting Actor Won
1997 Romaya Gini Gani Best Actor Won

State Tele Awards Festival, Sri Lanka

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2007 Punaragamanaya Best Supporting Actor Nominated
2013 Monara Tenna Best Supporting Actor Won

Sumathi Tele Awards, Sri Lanka

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1997 Megha Best Supporting Actor Won
1999 Nisala Wila Best Actor Won
2003 Ransirige Sangramaya Best Supporting Actor Won
2004 Ramya Suramya Best Actor Won

Signis Awards, Sri Lanka

[edit]
Main article: SIGNIS Awards (Sri Lanka)
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1995 Siyapatha Best Actor Won
1995 Isiwara Asapuwa Best Supporting Actor Won
2002 Asani Wesi Best Actor Won
2004 Hadavila Sakmana Best Actor Won
2005 Uttamaviya Best Actor Won
2005 Ginikirillee Outstanding Performance Won
2006 Teth Saha Viyali Best Actor Won
2011 Abarthu Atha Best Supporting Actor Won

Raigam Awards, Sri Lanka

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003 Punchirala [64] Best Actor Won
2018 Excellence of Drama [65] Special Merit Award Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Actors of Sinhala cinema – Suminda Sirisena". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Suminda Needs You". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d Abeykoon, Gayan (4 December 2023). "Veteran actor Suminda Sirisena passes away". DailyNews. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Veteran Actor Suminda Sirisena no more". Times Online. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Actors of Sinhala cinema – Suminda Sirisena". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b "I have no regrets about life today – Suminda Sirisena". Aruna. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Suminda Sirisena: The Sage of Kokilana". The Daily Mirror. Colombo. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  8. ^ Thushi (4 December 2023). "චරිත තුනක් 'ඉසා'; සුමින්ද සිරිසේන සමුගනී!". mirrorarts.lk. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  9. ^ a b "No work for six year now – Suminda Sirisena". Divaina. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  10. ^ "I was a real Isaa in real life – Suminda Sirisena". Lanka News. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Just come to see me – Suminda Sirisena". Mirror Arts. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Breaking through the fourth wall". archives.dailynews.lk. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Happy Birthday Suminda Sirisena". Hiru FM. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  14. ^ "' Uduganyamaya' on Rupavahini on Sunday". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Uppalavanna : A contemporary Theri-Gatha Sojourn in a nunnery". archives.sundayobserver.lk. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Lessons on humanity". archives.dailynews.lk. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Searching for a lost son". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  18. ^ "'Angani'; a market for values". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  19. ^ "'Asani Wesi': portrays a remote village". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  20. ^ "'Bogala Saundaris' story on exploitation and heroism". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  21. ^ "'Boralu Para' A plot on a policeman with principle". Sunday Times. 19 August 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  22. ^ "'Chandra Vinsathi': Unravel births of two girls". Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  23. ^ "'Dambulugala Sakmana' on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  24. ^ "Dangakara Tharu may blossom soon". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  25. ^ "'Railway Stories': for a novel journey in teledrama". Sunday Times. 21 September 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  26. ^ "'Ekamath Eka Rataka' to revitalize Lankan folklores". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  27. ^ "'Ekata Gatuma' deals with the internal micro politic a in a state corporation". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  28. ^ "'Hatara Wate' deals with routine events". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  29. ^ "'Jeewithaya Dakinna' : One Episode miniplays on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  30. ^ "'Mage Kaviya Mata Denna' : Mano's filmic dream". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  31. ^ "'Mehew Rate' to bring back folktales". Sunday Times. 25 January 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  32. ^ "'Mindada': A story on trade union and love". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Monarathenna on Swarnavahini". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  34. ^ "'Nadeeladiya': Tale of revenge". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  35. ^ "Paramitha felicitated". Sunday Times. 27 July 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  36. ^ "'Patok Palama':Old theme on a new time belt". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  37. ^ "Sumithra's 'Pipi Pium' on mini screen". Sunday Times. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  38. ^ "Punaragamanaya; a psychological story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  39. ^ "'Ramya Suramya': Two houses full of problems". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  40. ^ "සේපාලිකා සතියේ දින පහේම". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  41. ^ "'Sanda Amawakai': Prasanna's latest tele venture for 2001". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  42. ^ "'Sanda Dev Diyani': A tale of courage and determination". Daily News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  43. ^ "'Sanda Nethi Lova' tackles rebirth". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  44. ^ "'Satya' embarks on social reform and pays with his life". Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  45. ^ "'Sudu Mal Kanda': A love story". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  46. ^ {{ On the other side there are separate stories of "Sirinatha", a shrewd young businessman and "Jayantha" who plays the role of a desperate youth living in poverty and poor social circumstances. The principal roles are played by Ranjan Ramanayake, Roger Seneviratne, Dilani Abeywardena, Manel Jayasena, Suminda Sirisena and Kanchana Mendis}}
  47. ^ "'Wet and Dry': An emotional tale". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  48. ^ "'Uththamavi': Travails of a village damsel". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  49. ^ "Top short stories on mini screen". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  50. ^ ""Weten Eha", a tale of neighbours". Sunday Times. 18 November 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  51. ^ "'Yasa Isuru' tackles avarice of man". Sunday Times. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  52. ^ "Suminda Sirisena to Intensive Care". Lanka Truth. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  53. ^ Samaraweera, Kishani (15 January 2017). "Now That There's Freedom of Expression: Artistes Take Up The Cudgel". Sunday Observer. Colombo. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  54. ^ "Veteran actor Suminda Sirisena passes away". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  55. ^ "Veteran actor Suminda Sirisena passed away". NewsWire. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  56. ^ "සුමින්ද සිරිසේන: දුෂ්කර ගමක ඉපිද රංගනය දිග්විජය කළ රංගධරයෙකුගේ නික්ම යාම". BBC News සිංහල (in Sinhala). 4 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  57. ^ "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  58. ^ "Unmada Wu Premadara: Saptha Kanya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  59. ^ "Novelist turns director with 'Gini Kirilli'". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  60. ^ "'Udugam Yamaya' ready to upstream". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  61. ^ "National Honours — 2017". The Daily Mirror. Colombo. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  62. ^ "National Honours after 12 years". The Sunday Times. Colombo. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  63. ^ "ජාතික සංස්කෘතියේ කලා නිකේතනය වූ මහනුවර අංග සම්පූර්ණ රඟහලක් ඉදි කරනවා" [We will build a complete theatre in Kandy, the heart of national art and culture]. දිවයින (in Sinhala). Colombo. 15 September 2014.
  64. ^ "Raigam ready to recognise tele – talents". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  65. ^ "Raigam Tele'es 2017 award winners". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
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