Sriyantha Mendis

Hiddadura Jude Neil Sriyantha Mendis Abeynayake (born 25 October 1957) , popularly known as Sriyantha Mendis, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. 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.

Personal life 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. 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.

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.

Mendis is married to Kusum Renu, who is also a renowned actress in Sinhala cinema, stage and television. He met Renu during the stage drama Pandukabhaya in 1984 and the couple married on 25 October 1986 after the proposal in April 1985. The couple has two daughters. Younger Daughter Tharuki Amaya Mendis, has also acted in stage plays and work as a dubbing artist.

Career 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. 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. 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. 1991 – Dolos Mahe Api 1992 – Diyasuliya 1993 – Ape Eththo 1996 – Nedeyo 1999 – Bonikko 1999 – Paravi Dhenuwa as Kalinga 1999 – Deyyo Sakki as Thusitha 1999 – Varana Kambili as Lalith 2000 – Badde Gedara 2000 – De Kathi Muwahatha as Jayasekara 2000 – Yaddehi Gedara as Randunu Bandara 2000 – Bonikko 2000 – Dekethi Muwahatha 2001 – Wedi Handa 2001 – Maayaratna as Maayaratna 2002 – Sakva Lihiniyo 2002 – Wara Mal 2002 – Depath Nai 2002 – Pem Piyawara 2003 – Bogala Sawundaris as Sawundiris 2003 – Mathi Nethi Daa 2003 – Hima Varusa 2004 – Dhawala Kanya as Percy 2004 – Gimhana Tharanaya as Vajira 2005 – Pinkada Simona 2005 – Suddilage Kathawa 2005 – Samanala Yaya 2005 – Indrachapa 2005 – Wasantha Kusalana 2005 – Kinduru Adaviya 2005 – Hiruta Muwawen 2006 – Chakraudhaya as Madaatuwe Appuhamy 2006 – Heeye Manaya 2006 – Ridee Ittankaraya 2007 – Satharadenek Senpathiyo 2008 – Nil Ahasa Oba as Gurunnanse 2009 – Api Api Wage 2009 – Sadgunakaraya 2009 – Ravana Adaviya 2010 – Rosa Katu 2010 – Sadisi Tharanaya 2010 – Ruwan Maliga as Ranaraja 2010 – Sanda Numba Nam 2010 – E Brain 2011 – Dhawala Kadulla 2011 – Monarathenna 2011 – Sanda Madiyama 2011 – Mathaka Ahasa 2012 – Saranganaa 2012 – Ridee Siththam 2012 – Visula Ahasa Yata 2013 – Dhawala Kadulla as Angkutta 2015 – Maada Obama Viya 2015 – Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli as Thummulle Padme 2016 – Vishnu Sankranthiya 2016 – Seethala Gini Del 2016 – Urumakkarayo 2016 – Maada Obama Viya 2016 – Chakra 2017 – Kutu Kutu Mama 2018 – Urumayaka Aragalaya 2018 – Thriloka 2019 – Sanda Hangila 2019 – Ran Bedi Minissu as Muthubanda 2019 – Sangeethe as Asela 2019 – Iththo 2019 – Jeewithaya Athi Thura 2019 – Deweni Gamana 2019 – Hansa Pihatu as Gurunnanse 2020 - Api Ape 2021 - Sakuuge Lokaya 2021 - Rehe 2022 - Lan Wee 2022 - Bandhana 2022 - Sangili Kanadarawa as Gurunnanse 2022 - Nannaththara 2023 - Heenayaki Me Adare 2025 - Mawa Mathakada 2025 – Sangeethe 2 as Asela Denuwara Gedara Kavi Kandula Sagarayak Meda

Selected stage dramas

Deyyange Punchi Akkaraya Gabbara Minisa Kema Lasthiyi Maha Samayama Mamai Anduwa Padada Asapuwa Pansa Deke Hansaya Raassa Parassa Suba Saha Yasa Sudu Saha Kalu Warna Yathuru Hilen Balanna

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref. 1987 Mangala Thagga 1989 Siri Medura 1990 Saharawe Sihinaya 1990 Palama Yata 1992 Umayangana Palitha 1993 Juriya Mamai 1994 Vimukthi Journalist 1995 Ayoma 1996 Sihina Deshayen 1997 Mahameara Usata 1998 Anthima Reya Rohana Wijeweera 1998 Julietge Bhumikawa Theater director 1998 Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli Andarawatte Lokaya 1999 Seetha Sameere Samson 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 2019 President Super Star Dasharaj Dharmapala 2019 Face to Face Rose's father 2019 Bhavatharana 2021 Uthuru Sulanga Ralahamy Mama 2023 Midunu Vishwaya 2022 The Game OIC Samaradivakara 2024 Sihinayaki Adare Bandara 2025 Elada Braa 2026 Abheetha 2026 Sargent Punchisoma Minister 2026 O.I.C Gadafi

Awards Youth Services Youth Drama Festival

Presidential Film Awards Presidential Film Awards

Raigam Tele'es Raigam Tele'es

SIGNIS Salutation Awards Ceremony SIGNIS Salutation Awards Ceremony

Television State Awards