Sarath Chandrasiri (13 June 1964 – 4 December 2021: as සරත් චන්ද්‍රසිරි) [Sinhala]) was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[1][2] He is best known for the role "Samagipura Wasantha" in popular television serial Paba and role "Ukkuwa" in the serial Malee.[3]

Sarath Chandrasiri
සරත් චන්ද්‍රසිරි
Born
Sarath Chandrasiri

(1964-06-13)13 June 1964
Died4 December 2021(2021-12-04) (aged 57)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
EducationSri Sumangala College Panadura
OccupationActor
Years active1980-2021
SpouseCharika Jayamali
Children2

Personal life

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He was born on 13 June 1964 in Panadura, Ceylon. He went to Wekada Bauddhaloka Vidyalaya where he met drama teacher Sarath Kulanga.[4] Later he was educated at Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya, Panadura.

Chandrasiri is married to longtime partner Charika Jayamali. The couple has one son – Kanchuka Thilakshana, and one daughter – Hasara Nilakshi. Kanchuka is an engineer graduated from University of Moratuwa. Hasara is a physics graduate at University of Sri Jayewardenepura.[4]

On 21 November 2016, Chandrasiri was hospitalized by a brief illness while working in a stage play. He was rushed into the Alpitiya hospital.[5][6] In November 2021, he was again hospitalized and has been receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo National Hospital for the many weeks due to an internal hemorrhage.[7] During that period, false rumors circulated that he died at the hospital.[8][9][10] Later on 4 December 2021, he died at the age of 57 while receiving treatment at National Hospital, Colombo due to cerebral hemorrhage.[11][12] Funeral service was held on 6 December 2021 at 4.00 pm at the Walgama Crematorium in Bandaragama.[13]

Career

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Chandrasiri made his acting debut in 1976 on the school stage. In 1979, he won the Best Actor award at the All Island Drama Competition, opened the doors of the stage with the stage play 'Ahas Maliga' produced by veteran songstress Chandrika Siriwardena.[14] Then he started drama career under the guidance of his teacher Sarath Kulanga. Meanwhile, he met several other playwrights including Janak Premalal and Jayalath Manoratne through Kulanga. Under them he acted in many stage plays such as Abuddassa Kolama, Raja Kapuru, Andarela, Thalamala Pipila, Guru Tharuwa and Puthra Samagama.[4]

He made television debut with the serial Sankranthi Samaya directed by Ananda Abenayake. In the preceding years, he joined with many television serials such as: Asani Væsi, Varaperaḷiya, Doo Daruvō, Punchi Vīrayō, Aḍō, Damsārī and Mahaviru Paṇḍu.[13] In 2006, he joined with the regular cast of popular soap opera Paba where he played the popular role of "Samagipura Wasantha". Later he made the many notable roles in the serials including: as "Kuṇu Anṭā" in Depath Nayi, as "Perum Puli" in Wasantha Kusalana, as "Majan" in Ransirigē Sangrāmaya, as "Baṇḍā" as Hiru Soyā, as "Tikiri Baṇḍā" in Guru Tharuva, as "Hanumanthā" in Wesgattō, as "Saraa" in Jodu Gedara and as "Veda Mahaththayā" in Neela Pabaḷu.[14] Meanwhile in 2011, he made the sub lead role "Ukkuwa" in the supernatural drama Malee. After the huge popularity, he reprised the role in second season of the show titled Aththamma. In the third season Sidu he made a cameo role in few early episodes.

In 2000, he made film debut with a minor role of "Purple shirt shooter" in the crime film Rajya Sevaya Pinisai directed by Udayakantha Warnasuriya. Since then he received many villain and thug roles in the films such as; One Shot, Samanala Thatu, Sudu Hansi, Mago Digo Dai and Gamani. Meanwhile, he made the role "Devil" in children's film Ran Kevita. After series of supportive and minor roles in cinema, he made the sub lead role of "Circuit Sarath" in the comedy drama Dr. Nawariyan. His final acting appearance came through the role "Anton, the bus driver" in the television serial Rella Veralata Adarei in 2021.

Selected stage plays

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  • Abuddassa Kolama
  • Andarela
  • Chawdari [15]
  • Dennek Na Ekkenai [16]
  • Eka Sakkuwe
  • Guru Tharuwa
  • Ko Kukko [17]
  • Kolam Pure [18]
  • Mee Harak [19]
  • Nari Burathi [20]
  • Puthra Samagama [21]
  • Raja Kapuru [22]
  • Romba Thanks [23]
  • Sooti Gamarala Saha Raigam Banda [24]
  • Thalamala Pipila

Selected television serials

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Filmography

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Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Ref.
2000 Rajya Sevaya Pinisai Purple shirt shooter [37]
2002 Bahubuthayo Street devil [38]
2003 Le Kiri Kandulu Court bailiff [39]
2004 Samawenna Ma Raththarane
2005 One Shot Poisoning waiter [40]
2005 Samanala Thatu Money exchanger [41]
2006 Kurulu Pihatu Waiter [42]
2007 Sikuru Hathe Police constable [43]
2007 Ran Kevita Devil [44]
2010 Sudu Hansi Shami's guard [45]
2010 Mago Digo Dai Kuhakawaththe Chandare [46]
2010 Tikiri Suwanda Chandare [47]
2011 Challenges Bag thief [48]
2011 Gamani LTTE cadre [49]
2014 Thanha Rathi Ranga [50]
2015 Ira Sewaya [51]
2015 Gindari Malkanthi's drunken uncle [52]
2015 Mage Yalu Malu Driver [53]
2016 Patibhana [54]
2016 Madhura Charika Sudath [55]
2016 Maya 3D Kapuwa [56]
2016 64 Mayam Almeda [57]
2017 Wassanaye Sanda Traffic sergeant [58]
2017 Paha Samath Village farmer [59]
2017 Dr. Nawariyan Circuit Sarath [60]
2018 Nidahase Piya DS Driver Karolis [61]
2019 President Super Star Police media spokesman [62]
2019 Reload Driver Sanath Vipuladeva [63]
2020 Tsunami Gurunnanse [64]
2020 The Newspaper Village monk [65]
2021 Nihada Sewaneli
2022 Hithumathe Jeewithe Maru Sira [66]
2022 Gindari 2 [67]
2023 Midunu Vishwaya [68]
TBA Uyanata Mal Genna
TBA Akarsha
TBA Angara [69]
TBA Adarei Jaanu [70]
TBA Rosa Kale Api Yan [71]

Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2007 Wasantha Kusalana Best Supporting Actor[72] Won

References

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  2. ^ "Sarath Chandrasiri films". IMDb. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
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  10. ^ "Here is the truth behind the rumor that veteran actor Sarath Chandrasiri is dead Gossip Lanka News" (in Sinhala). 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
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  70. ^ "The love story of two like one". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
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