Dharmapriya Dias

Halaperuma Arachchige Dharmapriya Dias is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. And a professional dubbing artist since 1995. Dias has titles such as playwright, actor, set designer, choreographer, teacher of art and has a master's degree in theatre and drama. He is the performing arts and sculpture art teacher in Shasthrananda Vidyalaya, Dehiwela.

Personal life Dharmapriya has one brother and three sisters. He studied at Sir Jhon Kothalawala College from grade 1 to O-Levels. He completed his education from Piliyandala Central College, where he started drama under Premakumara Karunaratne. He is married to Anoja Milanthi and the couple has two sons - Swarna Rawana and Prawara Bhashana. The drama won the awards for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Stage management at the 2015 Sri Lankan State Drama Festival. He won the best Set Designer Award at the state drama festival for Daasa Mallige Bangalawa co-directed by Ruwan Malith Peris, and Kalana Gunasekara. He is also the set designer of his own productions such as: Gahanu Vada Arabathi aka Lysistrata, Sadaya Marai Salli Hamarai, Mama Nevei Vena Kenek, Julius Ceaser, as well as Jayalath Manoratne's Lokaya Thani Yayak, and Rajitha Dissanayake's plays Siriwardena Pawula, Sihina Horu Aran, Bakamuna Veedi Basi.

With award-winning performances in stage dramas, Dias was able to move into the television drama career with some popular serials directed by Saranga Mendis, Sudatha Rohana, Janaka Siriwardena, and Dee Gee Somapala. He played minor roles in Vijitha Gunaratne's Wala Patala and two other films Bora Diya Pokuna and Nahi Werena Werani. The role in Machan as Stanley was highly praised by the critics and earned him the award for Best Actor.

Notable works

Apahu Heranna Ba Arundhathi Asinamaali Bakamuna Weedi Basi Banku Weeraya Baraniya Buruwa Mahaththaya Dasa Mallige Bangalawa Deveni Mahindha Dolahak Guru Tharuva Guti Kemata Niyamithai Hari Apuru Dawasak Hayina Hithala Gaththu Theeranayak Jayasirita Pissu Julius Caesar Kaneru Mal Lysistrata(Gahanu Veda arabathi) Makarakshaya Malima Mama Newei Wena Kenek Mata Wedi Thiyan Nedda? Muhunata Muhuna Muthu Ataye Geethaya Nambu Kara Vilasini Nathuwa Bari Minihek Romaya Gini Gani Sadaya Marai Salli Hamarai Sihina Horu Aran Sihina Sappuwa Suriyamal Sukarayek Samaga Vara Mal Vanisiye Wellenda Vasu Deva Veeraya Marila Visekariyo

Short plays Poparmama Saha Pinthuraya Binduwa Sanda Sewannella Kiri Muttiya Gagegiya Chandravathi samaga rathriyak Parani Malavun(Based on Franze Kafka's Short Story) Chakrayudham (Hithata wedunu misayila 2 by Sachithra Rahubadda)

Television serials

Adisi Nadiya Ai Api Sududa Deweni Inima as Ananda Gamane Ya His Ahasa Yata Hiru Kumari Husma Saha Oxygen Ingammaruwa Ithin Ita Passe Jeewithaya Dakinna Jodu Gedara Koombiyo as Padmakumara Kasthuri Lock Down Stories Maddahana Mahapolawa Nadagamkarayo Nil Ahasa Oba Nilla Penena Manaya Oba Nisa as Pramodha Dunukebandara Paradeesaya Pawara Menuwara Pini Bindu Pork Veediya Queen Rahai Jeewithe Ran Siri Mal Rantharu Sahodaraya Uthuvan Kande Saradiyal Sihina Genena Kumariye as Cyril Snap Sulanga Maha Meraka Three-wheel Malli

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref. 2008 Walapatala 2008 Machan Stanley 2012 Matha Lt. Kelum Dias 2012 Prathiroo Linta 2016 Puthandiya Ajith 2016 Red Butterfly Dream 2017 Kaala Wattaka's henchman 2018 Madhura Charika Threewheel driver 2018 Davena Wihagun Police inspector 2019 Asandhimitta Wickramasekara 2019 President Super Star multiple roles 2020 Ethalaya 2020 The Newspaper Journalist 2021 Colombo Jude 2023 Viyasiduru Driver 2023 Rahas Kiyana Kandu 2024 Sinhabahu 2024 Passport Saman 2025 Mother Lanka

Awards and Accolades He has won several awards at the local stage drama festivals and television festivals, for acting, direction and choreography.

Youth Drama Festival Awards

State Drama Festival Awards

Sarasavi Awards

SIGNIES Awards

Sumathi Awards

Participation in International Theater and Cinema Festivals

6th BHARATH RANGA MAHOTHSAWA Theatre Festival, New Delhi in 2004 (HAYNA stage production) 8th BHARATH RANGA MAHOTHSAWA Theatre Festival, New Delhi in 2006 (SIHINA HORU ARAN Stage production) 11th BHARATH RANGA MAHOTHSAWA Theatre Festival, New Delhi in 2009 (makarakshaya Stage production) 21st International Theatre Festival for Experimental Drama, Cairo in 2009 (A WONDERUL DAY Stage production) 22nd International Theatre Festival for Experimental Drama, Cairo in 2010 (NO RETURN Stage production) Kathmandu International Theatre Festival, Kathmandu in 2010 (A WONDERFUL DAY Stage Production) 72nd Venice Film Festival, Venice in 2008 (MACHAN movie) 4th Dubai International Film Festival, Dubai, in 2009 (MACHAN movie) 10th Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea, in 2009 (MACHAN movie) 39th Molodist International Film Festival, Ukraine in 2009 (MACHAN movie)