Suminda Sirisena

Kala Keerthi Suminda Sirisena (; 4 July 1948 – 4 December 2023) was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. A highly versatile actor, Sirisena played a wide range of starring or supporting roles and was a recipient of the Best Actor award at many award festivals.

Personal life Sirisena was born on 4 July 1948, in Bossella, a rural village in Kegalle, Sri Lanka as the eldest of the family with four siblings. His father, Bulathgamuwage Singho was a small-time businessman in the village who also performed traditional Sri Lankan folk dramas and his mother, Punchi Nona, was a housewife. He had two younger brothers and a younger sister. After having his primary education at the village school Bossella Maha Vidyalaya, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Tholangamuwa Central College in 1963.

After his school education, Sirisena moved to Colombo to join the Sri Lanka Railways as a Special Apprentice in 1969. While establishing his career as an actor in theatre, Sirisena went to Oman in 1970 to work as a quantity surveyor for two years. After returning home, he worked as a technical officer at the Victoria Dam project. Then he went back abroad in 1979 and returned to Sri Lanka in 1984.

Before 1971, he was an activist and continually attended the meetings conducted by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. But as the party entered the process of armed struggle, he quit politics. He obtained a B.A. degree in Social Sciences from the Open University of Sri Lanka and then completed an M.A, degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Suminda Sirisena was married to Leela Sirisena. The couple had two sons, Prabhath and Nanditha. In 1993, Sirisena won the Best Actor award for the role in Kadathurawa at the State Drama Festival. He later acted in more than 40 teledrama series.

During his illness, he was working with two television serials, Sepalika and Boralu Paara.

Notable stage dramas

Aadi Rele Nadagama Ananda Javanika Andarela Andhakaraya Bavakadaturawa Girikutha Hasthiraja Mahathmaya Hiru Nethi Lowa Kadathurawa Kada Walalu Konthanona Samugenima Mahasara Maname Meepura Wasiyo Megha Moodu Puththu Muhunu Dekak Nadagamkarayo Parassa Sapatheru Hamine Sinhabahu Thaksala Nadagama Umathu San Warusawa Vinishchaya Wansakkarayo Wes Muhunu

Selected television serials

Abuddassa Kalaya Angani Asani Wasi Bogala Sawundiris Boralu Para Chandra Vinsathi Charitha Thunak Dambulugala Sakmana Dangakara Tharu Dumriya Andaraya, Ekamath Eka Rataka Ekata Gatuma Hathara Wate Jeewithaya Dakinna Jeewithaye Eka Dawasak (final role) Mage Kaviya Mata Denna Mehew Rate Mindada Monarathenna Nadeeladiya Nisala Vila Paramitha Pathok Palama Pipi Pium, Punaragamanaya Ramya Suramya Sepalika Sanda Amawakai Sanda Dev Diyani Sanda Nethi Lova Satya Sudu Mal Kanda Theth Saha Viyali Uththamavi Vinivindimi Weten Eha Yasa Isuru

Illness and death In May 2012, Sirisena was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Colombo National Hospital due to sudden illness and fever. Beginning then, he had difficulties with walking. He was taking physiotherapy treatments at the time of his death.

Sirisena died at a private hospital on 4 December 2023, at the age of 75.

Filmography No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan films in the Sri Lankan cinema.

Awards and honours Suminda Sirisena was awarded Kala Keerthi, the highest national honour for arts, culture and drama in Sri Lanka, in 2017.

In 2014 he was awarded the Deshanethru award and the Kala Bhushana state award in recognition of the service he had rendered to the country's performing arts.

State Drama Festival, Sri Lanka 1992 Megha Best Supporting Actor 1993 Bavakadathurawa Best Actor 1995 Andarela Best Supporting Actor 1997 Romaya Gini Gani Best Actor State Tele Awards Festival, Sri Lanka 2007 Punaragamanaya Best Supporting Actor 2013 Monara Tenna Best Supporting Actor Sumathi Tele Awards, Sri Lanka 1997 Megha Best Supporting Actor 1999 Nisala Wila Best Actor 2003 Ransirige Sangramaya Best Supporting Actor 2004 Ramya Suramya Best Actor Signis Awards, Sri Lanka 1995 Siyapatha Best Actor 1995 Isiwara Asapuwa Best Supporting Actor 2002 Asani Wesi Best Actor 2004 Hadavila Sakmana Best Actor 2005 Uttamaviya Best Actor 2005 Ginikirillee Outstanding Performance 2006 Teth Saha Viyali Best Actor 2011 Abarthu Atha Best Supporting Actor Raigam Awards, Sri Lanka 2003 Punchirala Best Actor 2018 Excellence of Drama Special Merit Award