Somasiri Dehipitiya
Encyclopedia
Dehipitiyage Don Somasiri (1933–1982) was a popular Sri Lanka
n character actor. He won a Presidential Award for his role in Siribo Aiyya but is perhaps best known for performances in Dharmasena Pathiraja
and Vasantha Obeysekera
films.
Dehipitiya was born in Gampaha
and attended Galahitiyawe Madhya Maha Vidyalaya. After completing his primary education, he began work as a civil servant eventually reaching a position at the Vehicles Department - Colombo
in the engineer division.
Dehipitiya made his acting debut in Siri Gunasinghe
's landmark Sath Samudura
in 1967. Throughout the 1970s and early-1980s, he was a mainstay in alternative cinema with roles in such critically acclaimed works as Thun Man Handiya
(1970), Ves Gatho (1970), Hara Lakshaya (1971), Ahas Gauwa (1974), Sihasuna (1974), Walmath Wuvo (1977), Deviyani Oba Koheda (1977), Eya Dan Loku Lamayek (1977), Bambaru Awith (1978), Anupama (1978), Sarungale (1979), Podi Malli (1979), Siribo Aiyya (1980), Para Dige (1980), Karumakarayo (1980), Soldadu Unnahe (1981), Sagarayak Meda (1981) and Ridi Nimnaya (1982).
Dehipitiya also dabbled as an assistant director with Ves Gatho in 1970 and as a playback singer in Walmath Wuvo with Cyril Wickramage
. He died of alcoholism
in 1982.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n character actor. He won a Presidential Award for his role in Siribo Aiyya but is perhaps best known for performances in Dharmasena Pathiraja
Dharmasena Pathiraja
Dharmasena Pathiraja is a Sri Lankan film director andscreenwriter.- Early life :Educated at Dharmaraja College, Kandy,Pathiraja graduated from the University of Peradeniya with an honours degree in Sinhala and Western Classical Culture in 1967. Subsequently he began work as a lecturer in Drama...
and Vasantha Obeysekera
Vasantha Obeysekera
- Early life and career :Obeysekera graduated from the University of Ceylon in 1962. He served on the Editorial Staff of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited from 1964 to 1970...
films.
Dehipitiya was born in Gampaha
Gampaha
Gampaha is an urban city in Sri Lanka and is the capital of the Gampaha District in Western Province, north of Colombo. Gampaha District is separated from Colombo mainly by the Kelani River.-Namesake:...
and attended Galahitiyawe Madhya Maha Vidyalaya. After completing his primary education, he began work as a civil servant eventually reaching a position at the Vehicles Department - Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
in the engineer division.
Dehipitiya made his acting debut in Siri Gunasinghe
Siri Gunasinghe
Siri Gunasinghe is a sanskritist, art historian, premier Sinhalese poet, novelist, literary critic and film maker.-Early life & Career:Siri Gunasinghe was born in Kegalle District of Sri Lanka...
's landmark Sath Samudura
Sath Samudura
Sath Samudura is a landmark Sri Lankan film directed by professor Siri Gunasinghe and released in 1967. This film was critically acclaimed and is considered a major work in Sri Lankan cinema....
in 1967. Throughout the 1970s and early-1980s, he was a mainstay in alternative cinema with roles in such critically acclaimed works as Thun Man Handiya
Thun Man Handiya
Thun Man Handiya is a 1970 dramatic film made by Sri Lankan artist Mahagama Sekera. It is autobiographical and recounts Sekera's childhood though the character of Sirisena.-Plot:...
(1970), Ves Gatho (1970), Hara Lakshaya (1971), Ahas Gauwa (1974), Sihasuna (1974), Walmath Wuvo (1977), Deviyani Oba Koheda (1977), Eya Dan Loku Lamayek (1977), Bambaru Awith (1978), Anupama (1978), Sarungale (1979), Podi Malli (1979), Siribo Aiyya (1980), Para Dige (1980), Karumakarayo (1980), Soldadu Unnahe (1981), Sagarayak Meda (1981) and Ridi Nimnaya (1982).
Dehipitiya also dabbled as an assistant director with Ves Gatho in 1970 and as a playback singer in Walmath Wuvo with Cyril Wickramage
Cyril Wickramage
Cyril Wickramage is a critically acclaimed Sri Lankan actor, director and singer...
. He died of alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
in 1982.