Amarasiri Kalansuriya

Amarasiri Kalansuriya (; 20 September 1940 – 1 April 2023), popularly known as Kalan, was a Sri Lankan actor. Kalansuriya made his first film appearance alongside Vijaya Kumaratunga in Hanthana Kathawa. His next film Ahas Gauwa won him a best actor award in 1974.

Early life Kalansuriya was born on 20 September 1940 in Kandy, Sri Lanka as the second child of the family. His father Kalansuriya Francis Appuhami was a farmer. His mother Bengamuwa Arachchige Podi Hamine was a housewife. Kalansuriya started his school career with Kiribathkumbura Sri Swarnajothi School and then attended Dharmaraja College in Kandy. When studying at Dharmaraja, he was a talented athlete who set the school record for 800m in athletics. He finished second in intercollegiate sports as well as got school colors for boxing.

Kalansuriya worked in the Agricultural Department in Mahiyanganaya as a minor worker. At the age of 18, he served as a soldier in the Second Volunteer Lions Regiment for six years. In 1966 he worked at Mallika Studio in Kandy. He started a business in Kandy in 1970, a sale of old bells. Profiting from this, he started a small sewing company called 'My In' in Kandy. Successful he moved up into tailoring and owned two tailor shops. Here he got the chance to make clothes for the army and rub shoulders with rising political figures like Lalith Athulathmudali.

Sujith Lakmal Weerasekera wrote an autobiography in 2015 titled Duka Dinū Diviyaka Amaraṇīya Sæmarum Kalan ('Immortal Celebrations of a Life of Sorrow'). Eldest son Duminda is a businessman and married to Janaki Wijesekara. Two daughters are Madhumathi Kumari who is married to Dr. Dhammika Sedara and the younger daughter, Vindhya, is employed by SriLankan Airlines.

Filmography

Year Film Role 1969 Reyath Dawalath 1969 Hanthane Kathawa 1970 Akkara Paha Gunapala 1970 Nim Walalla 1974 Ahas Gauwa 1975 Tharanga 1978 Apeksha Nimal 1978 Anupama Ranji 1978 Bambaru Avith Sanath 1979 Podi Malli Berty 1980 Kanchana Lal 1980 Parithyagaya Dhanaprema 1980 Sinhabahu Sinhabahu 1981 Vajira Nimal 1981 Sagarayak Meda 1982 Pradeepaa 1982 Yasa Isuru Suranga 1982 Sakvithi Suvaya 1983 Samanala Sihina 1984 Welle Thenu Maliga 1985 Rajina 1985 Doringe Sayanaya 1986 Puja 1986 Mal Varusa Deesal 1987 Podi Vijey 1990 Pem Raja Dahana Sargent Jayathilaka 1991 Dolosmahe Pahana 1994 150 Mulleriyawa 1994 Ambu Samiyo 1994 Ahas Maliga 2004 Diya Yata Gindara Jayakody 2009 Rosa Mal Sayanaya 2014 Que Sera 2017 Hima Tharaka TBD Kumaru Chaththa Manawaka TBD Megha