Wikipedia

Sriyantha Mendis

Hiddadura Jude Neil Sriyantha Mendis (born 25 October 1957) (Sinhala: ශ්‍රියන්ත මෙන්ඩිස්), popularly as Sriyantha Mendis, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[2][3] Highly versatile actor from drama to comedy, Mendis has received awards for the Best actor and Best supporting actor on multiple occasions at local award festivals.[4] He and his spouse consistently aligned themselves with specific political parties and figures, notably throwing their support behind individuals like Mahinda Rajapakshe in the political arena.

Sriyantha Mendis
ශ්‍රියන්ත මෙන්ඩිස්
Born
Hiddadura Jude Neil Sriyantha Mendis

(1957-10-25) October 25, 1957 (age 66)
Sri Lanka
EducationDe Mazenod College
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1979–present
Political partyPodujana Peramuna[1]
Spouse
​
(m. 1986)​
Children2
Parent
  • Lazarus Mendis (father)
AwardsBest Actor

Personal life edit

Mendis was born on 25 October 1957 in Ragama, Sri Lanka as the eldest of a family with three siblings. His father Hiddadura Lazarus Mendis was a time keeper at the Ceylon Transport Board and later became an executive officer at Sri Lanka Ports Authority.[5] His mother Eliadura Karoline Soyza was a teacher at Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya as well as practiced music at Haywood. Sriyantha's grandfather Hiddadura Juan Mendis was a devout Catholic. His mother's father was Eliyadura Evgeny Zoysa and his mother was Welisarage Juliana Fernando. Sriyantha's parents were married on October 17, 1956. Sriyantha has one younger brother, Ajith and one younger sister Menik. Sriyantha's father died on July 25, 2007, at the age of 79.[6]

He completed his education at De Mazenod College, Kandana. He did not take part in any aesthetic activities during school times. He is clever at karate during school times. His first teaching appointment was made to Pokuwagonna Maha Vidyalaya, Ganewatta, far from Polgahawela, Kurunegala.[5] On 7 July 1979, he became a science teacher at St. Bernadette's College, Polgahawela. Later, he completed 32 years as a teacher in several schools island-wide.[7]

Mendis is married to Kusum Renu, who is also a renowned actress in Sinhala cinema, stage and television.[8] He met Renu during the stage drama Pandukabhaya in 1984 and the couple married on 25 October 1986 after the proposal in April 1985.[9] The couple has two daughters.[10]

Career edit

After finishing education, Mendis along with fellow actor Senaka Perera started to produce a stage play Illeesa. In 1979, Sriyantha was introduced to the stage for the first time as the devil in the play Parassa by its producer Rohana Dandeniya. He also had the opportunity to act in Neville Dias Subasinghe's play Manawayo. In November 1979, he acted in another stage play Sathuro produced by doctor Chandrapala, who worked at Ragama rehabilitation hospital.[7] Meanwhile, he wanted to study drama, and met German theater producer Norbert J. Myer. Then he played in Myer's comedy play Ane Abilik.[11] In 1984, he acted in the teledrama Palingu Menike directed by Dhamma Jagoda. The character 'Surasena' was so popular that there were people who imitated the character, behavior and dialogues.[5]

After appearing in his first teledrama Palingu Menike, Sriyantha entered to the silver screen in 1987, through H. D. Premaratne's movie Mangala Thegga. He won the Best Actor Award at the State Drama Festival in 1988 for his role in Mora drama.[12] At the 1996 Youth Drama Festival, he won the Best Actor award for his play Numba Vitharak Thala Elelui. Since then, he became a character actor in television where he made several notable characters in the television serials such as Dǣkæthi Muwahatha, Mihikathagē Daruvō, Ingammāruva, Hiru Sandu Hamuvē, Hiruṭa Muvāven, Mæṇik Nadiya Galā Basī, Bōgala Savundiris, Danḍubasnāmānaya, Chala Achala, Bæddegedara, Nǣdǣyō, Akāla Sandhyā, Weda Hāminē, Ves Muhuṇu, Asalvæsiyō, Viśva Bhū Sankrānthiya, Mayarathna and Ruwan Maliga. In 1996, he won the SIGNIS Award for Best Actor for the character 'Arachchila' in the serial Danḍubasnāmānaya. Sriyantha has won the Best Actor award for his teledramas Sath Gunalankaraya, Dǣkæthi Muwahatha, Bawa Karma and Viśhva Sankrānthiya.[5]

Selected television serials edit

  • 1987 – Palingu Menike as Soorasena
  • 1990 – Weda Hamine as Dharmapriya
  • 1991 – Sandaluthalaya [13]
  • 1991 – Dolos Mahe Api
  • 1993 – Ape Eththo [13]
  • 1996 – Nedeyo [13]
  • 1996 – Ammai Thaththai [13]
  • 1998 – Inganmaruwa [14]
  • 1999 – Bonikko [13]
  • 1999 – Sudu Mahaththuru [15]
  • 1999 – Paravi Dhenuwa as Kalinga [16]
  • 1999 – Varana Kambili as Lalith [16]
  • 2000 – Sathmahala as Hemantha [17]
  • 2000 – Badde Gedara [18]
  • 2000 – De Kathi Muwahatha as Jayasekara [19]
  • 2000 – Yaddehi Gedara as Randunu Bandara [20]
  • 2000 – Bonikko [21]
  • 2001 – Wedi Handa [22]
  • 2001 – Maayaratna as Maayaratna [23][24]
  • 2002 – Sakva Lihiniyo [25]
  • 2002 – Wara Mal [26]
  • 2002 – Depath Nai [27]
  • 2002 – Pem Piyawara [28]
  • 2003 – Bogala Sawundaris as Sawundiris [29]
  • 2003 – Mathi Nethi Daa [30]
  • 2003 – Hima Varusa [31]
  • 2004 – Dhawala Kanya as Percy [32]
  • 2004 – Gimhana Tharanaya as Vajira [33]
  • 2005 – Pinkada Simona [34]
  • 2005 – Suddilage Kathawa [35]
  • 2005 – Samanala Yaya [36]
  • 2005 – Indrachapa [37]
  • 2005 – Wasantha Kusalana [38]
  • 2005 – Kinduru Adaviya [39]
  • 2006 – Chakraudhaya as Madaatuwe Appuhamy [40]
  • 2006 – Heeye Manaya [41]
  • 2006 – Ridee Ittankaraya [42]
  • 2007 – Satharadenek Senpathiyo [43]
  • 2008 – Nil Ahasa Oba as Gurunnanse [44]
  • 2009 – Api Api Wage [45]
  • 2009 – Sadgunakaraya [46]
  • 2009 – Ravana Adaviya [47]
  • 2010 – Rosa Katu [48]
  • 2010 – Sadisi Tharanaya [49]
  • 2010 – Ruwan Maliga as Ranaraja [50]
  • 2010 – Sanda Numba Nam [51]
  • 2010 – E Brain [52]
  • 2011 – Dhawala Kadulla [53]
  • 2011 – Monarathenna [54]
  • 2011 – Sanda Madiyama [55]
  • 2011 – Mathaka Ahasa [56]
  • 2012 – Saranganaa [57]
  • 2012 – Ridee Siththam [58]
  • 2012 – Visula Ahasa Yata [59]
  • 2013 – Dhawala Kadulla as Angkutta [60]
  • 2015 – Maada Obama Viya [61]
  • 2015 – Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli as Thummulle Padme [62]
  • 2016 – Vishnu Sankranthiya [63]
  • 2016 – Seethala Gini Del
  • 2016 – Urumakkarayo
  • 2016 – Maada Obama Viya
  • 2016 – Chakra
  • 2017 – Kutu Kutu Mama [64]
  • 2018 – Urumayaka Aragalaya
  • 2018 – Thriloka [65]
  • 2019 – Sanda Hangila
  • 2019 – Ran Bedi Minissu as Muthubanda [66]
  • 2019 – Sangeethe as Asela
  • 2019 – Iththo [67]
  • 2019 – Jeewithaya Athi Thura
  • 2019 – Deweni Gamana [68]
  • 2020 - Api Ape
  • 2021 - Sakuuge Lokaya [69]
  • 2021 - Rehe
  • 2022 - Lan Wee
  • 2022 - Bandhana
  • 2022 - Sangili Kanadarawa as Gurunnanse [70]
  • 2022 - Nannaththara [71]
  • 2023 - Heenayaki Me Adare
  • Dandubasnamanaya as Arachchila [72]
  • Diyasuliya
  • Dekethi Muwahatha
  • Beddegedara
  • Denuwara Gedara [73]
  • Hansa Pihatu as Gurunnanse
  • Hiruta Muwawen [74]
  • Kavi Kandula
  • Pabalu Menike
  • Sagarayak Meda

Selected stage dramas edit

  • Deyyange Punchi Akkaraya
  • Gabbara Minisa
  • Kema Lasthiyi [75]
  • Maha Samayama[76]
  • Mamai Anduwa[77]
  • Padada Asapuwa
  • Pansa Deke Hansaya
  • Raassa Parassa[78]
  • Suba Saha Yasa[79]
  • Sudu Saha Kalu[80]
  • Warna
  • Yathuru Hilen Balanna[81]

Filmography edit

Year Film Role Ref.
1987 Mangala Thagga
1989 Siri Medura
1990 Saharawe Sihinaya
1990 Palama Yata [82]
1992 Umayangana Palitha
1993 Juriya Mamai
1994 Vimukthi Journalist
1995 Ayoma
1996 Sihina Deshayen
1997 Mahameara Usata
1998 Anthima Reya Rohana Wijeweera [83]
1998 Julietge Bhumikawa Theater director
1998 Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli Andarawatte Lokaya
1999 Seetha Sameere Samson [84]
2002 Punchi Suranganavi Mr. Perera
2004 Bambara Senakeli
2004 Mille Soya Jude
2005 Shades of Ash Gambara Attho
2005 Guerilla Marketing
2006 Bherunda Pakshiya
2007 Naga Kanya
2008 Aba Parumukhaya
2009 Sinasuna Adaren Bhathiya Karandeniya
2009 Paya Enna Hiru Se Harris
2009 Juliya Lesli
2010 Bambara Walalla Jine
2010 Kshema Bhoomi
2012 Prathiroo Teacher
2014 Ahelepola Kumarihami Kepetipola
2014 Siri Daladagamanaya King Paandu
2014 Kosthapal Punyasoma OIC Panditharathna
2015 Anagarika Dharmapala Srimathano Wijewardena
2015 Maharaja Gemunu King Kavan Tissa
2015 Gindari Minister Edwin Balachandra
2018 Porisadaya Desmond aka Porisadaya
2018 Nidahase Piya DS Wrestling coach
2019 Suba Theraniyo Suba's father
2019 Goree Minister
2019 Jaya Sri Amathithuma Minister Galigamuwa [85]
2019 President Super Star Dasharaj Dharmapala [86]
2019 Face to Face Rose's father [87]
2019 Bhavatharana
2021 Uthuru Sulanga Ralahamy Mama [88]
2023 Midunu Vishwaya [89]
2022 The Game OIC Samaradivakara [90]
2024 Sihinayaki Adare
TBD Thanapathilage Gedara [91]

Awards edit

Youth Services Youth Drama Festival edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1981 Numba Witharak Thala Elalui [6] Best Actor Won

State Drama Festival edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1988 Mora Best Actor Won

Sumathi Awards edit

Sumathi Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1999 Peoples'vote Most popular Actor [92] Won
2001 Sanda Amawakai Best Actor [92] Won
2009 Sathgunakaraya Best Actor [93] Won
2010 Sadisi Tharanaya Best Actor [94] Won
2016 Vishnu Sankranthiya Best Actor [95] Won

Presidential Film Awards edit

Presidential Film Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2006 Bherunda Pakshiya Best Actor [96] Won

Raigam Tele'es edit

Raigam Tele'es

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2007 Peoples' vote Most Popular Actor [97] Won
2013 Dhawala Kadulla Best Actor [98] Won

SIGNIS Salutation Awards Ceremony edit

SIGNIS Salutation Awards Ceremony

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 Bambara Walalla Best Supporting Actor [99] Won

Television State Awards edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013 Dhawala Kadulla Best Actor [94][100] Won

References edit

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External links edit

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sriyantha_Mendis&oldid=1199002299"