Don Sirisena

Don Sirisena
දොන් සිරිසේන
Born
Arandara Kankanamlage Don Sirisena

1934
Borella, British Ceylon
Died1986 (aged 51)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Other nameA.K.D. Sirisena
EducationSri Punyakami Maha Vidyalaya
OccupationsActor, comedian
Years active1964–1986
RelativesDamitha Saluwadana (cousin sister)[1]

Arandara Kankanamlage Don Sirisena (born 1934 – died 1986 as දොන් සිරිසේන [Sinhala]), popuarly as Don Sirisena, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and theater.[2] One of the most popular comedy artists ever in Sri Lankan film history, Sirisena had a career spanned about two decades acted more than 150 films.[3]

Personal life

Don Sirisena was born on 1934 in Borella, British Ceylon as the youngest in a family of five. His father was a police officer and mother was a housewife. He had two elder brothers and two elder sisters.[4]

Sirisena was married to Enid Saluwadana, where the couple has one daughter, Sujeewā (born in 1971) and one son, Sanjaya (born in 1973). Sirisena had no intention to introduce his children to acting, which resulted them to be business persons.[4]

His wife Enid was the elder sister of popular actress Damitha Saluwadana.[1] After a career more than four decades in cinema, theatre and television, Damitha died on 27 November 2015 at the age of 67.[5][6] Sirisena's one of the nephews, Dunstan Nandalal is also an actor.[4]

Sirisena died in 1986 at the age of 51 after suffering from prolong illness.[4]

Career

Sirisena started acting in stage plays since childhood. After seeing his theatre performances, Ariyadasa Pieris came to meet him to invite his new film Sobana Sitha.[4] With that, Sirisena started his cinema career in 1964 with the film Sobana Sitha. Since then, he continued act in more than 150 films particularly as the supporting comedian with other popular comedy actors of his era such as Freddie Silva, B. S. Perera and Wimal Kumara de Costa.[7] His final cinema appearance came through 1991 film Ali Baba Saha Horu Hathaliha, five years after his death.[8][9]

He fell ill from time to time since film debut. In 1970s, he was seriously ill and spent almost a year in bed. During this time, he had slow down the cinema career.[4] However, after some rest, he started to perform as a supportive comedian in number of films in golden 70s. Apart from comedy roles, he also performed in few dramatic roles in the films such as: Hadawath Naththo, Rail Paara and Kiwulegedara Mohottala. In the film Rail Paara, he played the role as a blind person, and in the film Kiwulegedara Mohottala, he played as a Vedda leader.[4]

Apart from acting, Sirisena worked as a dolak and tabla player of the Music Association on Southern Road, Mount Lavinia, where singer Walter Fernando is one of his colleague. Although he was a regular member of the Association, he was soon forced to step away from music due to his involvement in films. He also sporadically appeared in theatre and performed in popular stage plays such as: Sivammā Dhanapāla and Kaḍavunu Poronduva.[4]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1964Sobana Sitha
1965La Dalu
1965SaaravitaMuslim Mudalali's co-worker[10]
1966KapatikamaBookstore owner
1966Sanda Naga Eddi
1966Senasili SuwayaBasunah
1967Sengawunu Menika
1967Ipadune Ai?
1967Sura Chauraya
1968Bicycle Hora
1968Hangi Hora
1968Ruhunu Kumari
1968Ataweni Pudumaya
1969Kohomada Wade
1969HarimagaSimon
1969Kawuda Hari?Jussa
1969Baduth Ekka HoruSena
1969Mee Masso
1969PickpocketPachoris
1969Uthum Sthriya
1970Sumudu Bharya
1970Athma Pooja
1970GeethaPhotographer
1970Thevatha
1970Penawa Neda
1970Ohoma Hondada
1971PoojithayoBando
1971Davena Pipasa
1971Ran Onchilla[11]
1971Kathuru MuwathKathuru Muwath's friend[12]
1971Seeye Nottuwa[13]
1971Samanala Kumariyo[13]
1972SujeewaMatchmaker[14]
1972Singapore Charlie
1972Ada MehemaiBartender
1972Hithaka Pipunu Mal[15]
1972Lokuma HinawaSleeping patient
1972Me Desa Kumatada[15]
1972Ihatha AthmayaDumped into street runner / Hawker[16]
1973Matara AchchiCyril's city co-worker's father[17]
1973Suhada PethumaChamila's worker[18]
1973Thushara[17]
1973Aparadhaya Ha Danduwama[17]
1973Gopalu Handa
1973Hathdinnath TharuSamson
1973SunethraManager
1973Hondata HondaiDuncan's foreman
1974Duleeka[19]
1974Dinum Kanuwa[19]
1974SheelaPoster affixer
1974Hadawath Naththo
1974Sihasuna
1974Kalyani GangaPunch Appu 'Manager'
1974Shanthi
1974Onna Babo Billo EnawaGulsan
1974SuseeLeo Mahathaya[20]
1974Sagarika
1974Duppathage HithawathaAnanda's friend[21]
1974Sahayata DannyPatient with toothache
1974Rodi GamaRoba
1975Obai Mamai[22]
1975Raththaran AmmaHadda[22]
1975TharangaWijesena Silva[22]
1975Sukiri KellaEngineer David Gunathilake
1975Kokilayo
1975Rajagedara Paraviyo
1975Jeewana Geethaya
1975Damayanthi
1975Sadhana
1975Hadawathaka Wasanthaya
1975SangeethaCharlie[23]
1976Kawuda RajaBando
1976Kolamba SanniyaSaping[24]
1976Vanarayo
1976Loka Horu
1976Haratha Hathara
1976Asha
1976Hariyata HariMudalali's caretaker
1976Mangala
1976Ran Thilaka
1977Sakunthala
1977Nilukaa
1977Chin Chin Nona[25]
1977Sajaa[26]
1977Maruwa Samaga WaseMudalali store frequenter
1977Chandi Shyama
1977Tom PachayaMudaliyar
1978VishmayaSiyadu
1978MadhuwanthiJohnson
1978Sri Pathula
1978Hitha Mithura
1978Saara[27]
1978Janaka Saha Manju
1978TikiraDharme[27]
1978Deepanjali
1978Apeksha
1979Raan Kurullo[28]
1979Samanmalee
1979Minisun Athara Minisek
1979Hingana KollaGardener[29]
1979Raja KolloPala's employee
1979Rosa Mal ThunakAnusha's servant
1979AnushaFake daddy
1979Sawudan Jema
1979Subhani
1979Hari Pudumai
1980Silva
1980Anuhasa
1980Doctor Susantha
1980Raja Dawasak
1980Mage Amma
1981Mihidum Sihina
1981KolamkarayoMember Mahaththaya's assistant[24]
1981VajiraElaris
1981Senasuma
1981Sathkulu PawwaAlphonso
1981Dayabara NiluDavid
1981Jeewanthi
1982Sandaa
1982Yasa IsuruSalaman[30]
1982Sudu AyyaCyril
1982Eka Diga Kathawak
1982Wathura KaraththayaInspector Sarayan
1982Sithaara
1982Rail Paara[31]
1982Thakkita Tharikita
1982Major Sir
1982Kadawunu PoronduwaTamil Priest[31]
1983Ranmini MuthuMudalali[32]
1983SandamaliNandoris[32]
1983ChutteyMudalali
1983Sumithuro[32]
1983Karate Joe
1983Thuththiri Mal
1983Hithath Hondai Wadath Hondai
1938Loku Thaththa
1983Rathu MakaraKarolis
1984Kekille RajjuruwoRabbada Aiyya
1984Veera Madduma BandaraPinhamy
1984Ara SoyzaDon[24]
1984Mala GiraviSudu Banda
1984Hitha Honda Kollek
1984KokilaKuddiya
1984Muthu Manike
1985Puthuni Mata Samawenna[33]
1985Aeya Waradidda Oba Kiyanna
1985Obata Diwura KiyannamHotel manager
1986Prarthana
1987Kiwulegedara MohottalaDinga
1988Ko Hathuro[34]
1989Badulu Kochchiya
1990Sambudu Mahima
1990Walawwe Hamu
1991Alibaba Saha Horu Hathaliha

References

  1. 1 2 "Kopi Kade Asilin is gone forever". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  2. ↑ "Actors of Sinhala cinema – Don Sirisena". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "Don Sirisena films". IMDb. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "ප්‍රසිද්ධිය සොයා නොගිය දොන් සිරිසේන". lankadeepa.lk. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "Actress Damitha Saluwadana passes away". News First. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "Damitha who left the life". Divaina. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  7. ↑ "Wimal Kumara de Costa : A versatile actor". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  8. ↑ "Don Sirisena – දොන් සිරිසේන filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  9. ↑ "Dead people are still laughing at us". lifie. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  10. ↑ "සාරයියාට ඇන්ඳ සබරගමු පෙරහරේ ගුණහාමි". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "All about Ran Onchilla". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  12. ↑ "Torana releases three films in DVD". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  13. 1 2 "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  14. ↑ "All about Sujeewa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  15. 1 2 "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  16. ↑ "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  18. ↑ "All about Suhada Pathuma". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  19. 1 2 "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය -60". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  20. ↑ "All about the film Susee". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  21. ↑ "All about Duppathage Hithawatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  22. 1 2 3 "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය – 66". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  23. ↑ "All about Sangeetha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  24. 1 2 3 "In fact, a good comic movie". yamu. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  25. ↑ "Chin Chin Nona, who came before Tom Pachaya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  26. ↑ "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය – 78". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  27. 1 2 "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය -83". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  28. ↑ "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය – 90". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  29. ↑ "All about the film "Hingana Kolla"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  30. ↑ "All about 'Yasa Isuru'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  31. 1 2 "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය -118". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  32. 1 2 3 "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය – 119". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  33. ↑ "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය 140". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  34. ↑ "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය 171". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
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