Lionel Wickrama

Lionel Wickrama (12 January 1946 – 17 December 2023) was a Sri Lankan film, theatre and television actor. He is most notable for the role ""Arty Hamu" played in the television drama Batti and films Karumakkarayo, Deveni Warama, and Sakkarang.

Personal life After school days, he worked as a Senior Technical Officer at Highways Department.

Lionel Wickrama was married to Swarna Wickrama, and the couple had two sons: Tharaka Sanjey Wickrama and Yasiru Dananjey Wickrama. His remains were laid to rest on 17 December at Murutalawa, Kandy for public honors. His final rites were performed at Pirimathalawa Giragama Public Cemetery on 18 December 2023.

Career While working in the Highways Department, Wickrama worked with the actor Somasiri Dehipitiya. Then he was introduced to popular actor Gamini Fonseka and got the opportunity to act in the 1981 film Sagarayak Maeda and then in 1982 film Sakvithi Suwaya, both directed by Fonseka. During this period, he met renowned filmmaker Dharmasena Pathiraja and became a close friend.

In television, he acted in more than 200 serials particularly in elderly evil characters. Along with Pathiraja, he produced and acted in the serial Gangulen Egodata which marked his first television role. The serial was made as the first television serial of Sri Lanka, but televised as the fourth serial. In the serial Batti, he played the harsh stubborn elderly character "Arty Hamu", which became very popular. Initially the role was set to end with 20 episodes, but later expanded to 400 episodes due to huge popularity. In 2016, he played the role as "forest monk" in a serial.

Filmography Film Year Film Role Ref. 1980 Karumakkarayo Baby Mahaththaya 1981 Soldadu Unnehe 1981 Sagarayak Meda Prison Doctor 1982 Sakvithi Suwaya Draftsman 1985 Karadiya Walalla 2000 Sanda Yahanata 2001 Mathu Yam Dawasa 2015 Sakkarang 2017 Deveni Warama 2019 Sangili Ralahamy TBD Wasdandu Rawaya TBD Waasuki

Selected television serials Alu Baduna Batti Boradiya Kandura Ella Langa Walawwa Gangulen Egodata Himi Nethi Wasanthaya Hiru Thaniwela ( Hiru TV ) Kadulla Kampitha Vil Nenala Pawena Yakada Pini Aga Pulingu Reedi Tharaka Sepalika Sillara Kasi Urumayaka Aragalaya Uthuwan Kande Saradiyel