Suminda Sirisena

Suminda Sirisena (Sinhala: සුමින්ද සිරිසේන) (born July 4, 1948) is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[1] He has played a wide range of starring or supporting roles and a recipient of Best Actor award in many award festivals.[2]

Suminda Sirisena
සුමින්ද සිරිසේන
Born (1948-07-04) July 4, 1948
Bossella, Kegalle
OccupationActor
Years active1966–2012
Spouse(s)Leela Sirisena
Children2
Parents
  • Bulathgamuwa Sirisena (father)
  • Punchi Nona (mother)
AwardsKala Keerthi (2017), Kala Bhushana (2014)

Personal life

Sirisena was born on July 4, 1948, in Bossella, a rural village in Kegalle, Sri Lanka as the eldest of the family.[3] His father Bulathgamuwa Sirisena was a small-time businessman in the village who also performed traditional Sri Lankan folk dramas and his mother Punchi Nona was a housewife. After having his primary education at the village school Pussellawa Maha Vidyalaya, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Tholangamuwa Central College in 1963. He has two younger brothers and two sisters.

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 theater, 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.[4]

Before 1971, he was an activist and continuously attended to the meetings conducted by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. But as the party entered the process of armed struggle, he quit from politics.[5] He has obtained B.A degree of Social Sciences from Open University of Sri Lanka and then completed M.A degree from University of Sri Jayewardenepura.[6]

He is married to Leela Sirisena. The couple have two sons, Prabhath and Nanditha.[6]

Illness

In May 2012, Sirisena was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Colombo National Hospital due to sudden illness and fever.[7] Since then, he has had difficulties with walking. He is currently taking physiotherapy treatments.[6]

Since 2012 Sirisena has not taken part in any productions due to illness.[8]

Acting career

Theater

At Tholangamuwa, he studied under Ariyawansa Ranaweera, Jayasumana Dissanayake, Daya Alwis and Wijayaratne Athurupane who were scholars and artists that had a major influence on Sri Lankan theater and arts for many decades. In 1967 Sirisena played the lead role in the stage drama Girikutha which was selected to the final round of State School Drama Festival.[4]

In 1969, he joined the first batch of students of the theater school Ranga Shilpa Shalika at Lionel Wendt Art Centre founded by Dhamma Jagoda with the help of Daya Alwis. His first role on the public stage was the role of "Dionis" in the play Moodu Puththu, which also marked the first appearance of popular cinema actor Ravindra Randeniya. He acted in many stage dramas of the 1970s.[6]

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 Meepura Wasiyo by Somaratne Dissanayake. After completing the studies, he joined the drama group of Ediriweera Sarachchandra and acted in renowned stage dramas such as Maname, Sinhabahu, Bavakadaturawa, Mahasara and Kada walalu.

In 1993, Sirisena won the Best Actor award for the role in Kadathurawa at State Drama Festival.[3] 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.[6]

Notable stage dramas
  • 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
  • Sapatheru Hamine
  • Sinhabahu
  • Thaksala Nadagama
  • Umathu San Warusawa
  • Vinishchaya
  • Wansakkarayo
  • Wes Muhunu

Television

Sirisena's first teledrama was Sihina Nimnaya, produced by Sri Lanka Rupavahini in 1985. He gained wide acclaim for his second teledrama Kumarihami, another Rupavahini production, where he played the supporting role of Hicchi Mahattaya.[9] Since then he has acted in more than 40 teleseries. His role as "Isaa" in critically acclaimed serial Charitha Thunak is a hallmark of his television career.

During his illness, he was working with two television serials - Sepalika and Boralu Paara.[6]

Selected serials

Cinema

His maiden cinema acting came through the role of "Upali" in the 1976 film Dhululu Malak. He has also acted on many critically notable films such as Saptha Kanya, Yakada Pihatu, Uppalawanna, Samanala Thatu and Ira Handa Yata.

Filmography
  • No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[43]
YearNo.FilmRole
1976 344 Duhulu Malak Upali
1980 454 Dandu Monara Punchi Mahaththaya
1993 770 Guru Gedara Wedding guest
1993 782 Saptha Kanya Sarath [44]
2003 1016 Yakada Pihatu Wilson 'Aiyya'
2004 1038 Gini Kirilli [45]
2005 1247 Udugan Yamaya [46]
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 Honors
  • Suminda Sirisena was awarded Kala Keerthi, the highest national honour for arts, culture and drama in Sri Lanka, in 2017.[47][48]
  • In 2014 he was awarded the Deshanethru award[49] 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
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
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2007 Punaragamanaya Best Supporting Actor Nominated
2013 Monara Tenna Best Supporting Actor Won

Sumathi Tele Awards, Sri Lanka
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 Supporting Actor Won

Signis Awards, Sri Lanka
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
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003 Punchirala [50] Best Actor Won
2018 Excellence of Drama [51] Special Merit Award Won

References
  1. "Actors of Sinhala cinema - Suminda Sirisena". Sinhala Cinema Databas. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  2. "Suminda Needs You". Sarasaviya. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  3. "I have no regrets about life today - Suminda Sirisena". Aruna. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  4. "No work for six year now - Suminda Sirisena". Divaina. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  5. "I was a real Isaa in real life - Suminda Sirisena". Lanka News. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  6. "Just come to see me - Suminda Sirisena". Mirror Arts. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  7. "Suminda Sirisena to Intensive Care". Lanka Truth. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  8. Samaraweera, Kishani (January 15, 2017). "Now That There's Freedom of Expression: Artistes Take Up The Cudgel". Sunday Observer. Colombo. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  9. "Happy Birthday Suminda Sirisena". Hiru FM. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  10. "Searching for a lost son". Sunday Times. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  11. "'Angani'; a market for values". Sunday Times. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  12. "'Asani Wesi': portrays a remote village". Sunday Times. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  13. "'Bogala Saundaris' story on exploitation and heroism". Sunday Times. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  14. "'Boralu Para' A plot on a policeman with principle". Sunday Times. August 19, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  15. "'Chandra Vinsathi': Unravel births of two girls". Sunday Times. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  16. "'Dambulugala Sakmana' on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  17. "Dangakara Tharu may blossom soon". Sarasaviya. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  18. "'Railway Stories': for a novel journey in teledrama". Sunday Times. September 21, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  19. "'Ekamath Eka Rataka' to revitalize Lankan folklores". Sunday Times. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  20. "'Hatara Wate' deals with routine events". Sunday Times. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  21. "'Jeewithaya Dakinna' : One Episode miniplays on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  22. "'Mage Kaviya Mata Denna' : Mano's filmic dream". Sunday Times. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  23. "'Mehew Rate' to bring back folktales". Sunday Times. January 25, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  24. "'Mindada': A story on trade union and love". Sunday Times. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  25. "Monarathenna on Swarnavahini". Sarasaviya. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  26. "'Nadeeladiya': Tale of revenge". Sunday Times. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  27. "Paramitha felicitated". Sunday Times. July 27, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  28. "'Patok Palama':Old theme on a new time belt". Sunday Times. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  29. "Sumithra's 'Pipi Pium' on mini screen". Sunday Times. March 11, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  30. "Punaragamanaya; a psychological story". Sunday Times. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  31. "'Ramya Suramya': Two houses full of problems". Sunday Times. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  32. "සේපාලිකා සතියේ දින පහේම". Sarasaviya. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  33. "'Sanda Amawakai': Prasanna's latest tele venture for 2001". Sunday Times. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  34. "'Sanda Dev Diyani': A tale of courage and determination". Daily News. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  35. "'Sanda Nethi Lova' tackles rebirth". Sunday Times. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  36. "'Satya' embarks on social reform and pays with his life". Sunday Times. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  37. "'Sudu Mal Kanda': A love story". Sunday times. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  38. "'Wet and Dry': An emotional tale". Sunday Times. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  39. "'Uththamavi': Travails of a village damsel". Sunday Times. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  40. "Top short stories on mini screen". Sunday times. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  41. ""Weten Eha", a tale of neighbours". Sunday Times. November 18, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  42. "'Yasa Isuru' tackles avarice of man". Sunday Times. May 17, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  43. "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  44. "Unmada Wu Premadara: Saptha Kanya". sarasaviya. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  45. "Novelist turns director with 'Gini Kirilli'". The Sunday Times. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  46. "'Udugam Yamaya' ready to upstream". Sunday Times. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  47. "National Honours — 2017". The Daily Mirror. Colombo. March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  48. "National Honours after 12 years". The Sunday Times. Colombo. March 19, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  49. "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. September 15, 2014.
  50. "Raigam ready to recognise tele - talents". Sunday Times. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  51. "Raigam Tele'es 2017 award winners". Sarasaviya. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
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