Suminda Sirisena
Born
OccupationActor
Years active1966–Present
SpouseLeela Sirisena

Suminda Sirisena (Sinhala: සුමින්ද සිරිසේන) (born July 04, 1948) is an award-winning Sri Lankan stage, teledrama and film actor, having performed for nearly 60 years. He is known for playing a wide range of starring or supporting roles.

Early Life

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Sirisena was born on July 04, 1948 in Bossella, a rural village in Kegalle, Sri Lanka. His father was a small-time businessman in the village who also performed traditional Sri Lankan folk dramas. After having his primary education at the village school, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Tholangamuwa Central College in 1963.

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 theatre 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.

Career

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After his school education Sirisena moved to Colombo to join the Sri Lankan Railways as a Special Apprentice in 1969. In the same year he joined the first batch of students of the theatre school Ranga Shilpa Shalika at Lionel Wendt Art Centre founded by Dhamma Jagoda. After completing the studies he joined the drama group of Ediriweera Sarachchandra.

Sirisena’s first teledrama was Kumarihami, produced by Sri Lanka Rupavahini in 1986, where he played the supporting role of Hicchi Mahattaya. Since then he has acted in more than 30 teleseries, including Pipi Pium[1], Weten Eha[2], Paramitha[3], Dumriya Andaraya[4], Mehew Rate[5], Yasa Isuru[6] and Boralu Para.[7]

He has also acted on films such as Uppalawanna[8], Uduganyamaya[9], Pitasakwala Kumaraya[10], Bomba Saha Rosa[11], Gamani[12] and Ira Handa Yata.[13]

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

Personal Life

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Suminda Sirisena lives with his wife Leela Sirisena in Gampaha. They have two children.

Filmography

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Stage

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Television

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Film

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Honors

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Suminda Sirisena was awarded the Deshanethru award by the Sri Lankan government in 2014, honoring the service he had rendered to the country’s performing arts.

Later in the same year he was awarded the Kalabhushana state award.

Awards

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State Drama Festival, Sri Lanka

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
1992 Megha Best Supporting Actor Won
1995 Andarela Best Supporting Actor Won
1997 Romaya Gini Gani Best Actor Won

State Tele Awards Festival, Sri Lanka

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013 Monara Tenna Best Supporting Actor Won

Sumathi Tele Awards, Sri Lanka

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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

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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

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003 Punchirala Best Actor Won

References

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  1. ^ "Sumithra's 'Pipi Pium' on mini screen". Sunday Times. March 11, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  2. ^ ""Weten Eha", a tale of neighbours". Sunday Times. November 18, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  3. ^ "Paramitha felicitated". Sunday Times. July 27, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  4. ^ "'Railway Stories': for a novel journey in teledrama". Sunday Times. September 21, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  5. ^ "'Mehew Rate' to bring back folktales". Sunday Times. January 25, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  6. ^ "'Yasa Isuru' tackles avarice of man". Sunday Times. May 17, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  7. ^ "'Boralu Para' A plot on a policeman with principle". Sunday Times. August 19, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  8. ^ "'Uppalawanna' completes 75th day landmark". Sunday Times. October 21, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  9. ^ "'Uduganyamaya' on Rupavahini on Sunday". Sunday Times. October 28, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  10. ^ "'Pitasakwala Kumaraya': A plot on an alien prince". Sunday Times. July 20 , 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2016. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Anuruddha arms with 'Bombs and Roses'". Sunday Times. March 29, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  12. ^ "'Gamani': rolls strong". Sunday Times. August 16, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  13. ^ "'Ira Handa Yata' honourably mentioned". Sunday Times. August 01, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2016. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)