Muthukudu Arachchige Pedris Dias (31 January 1927 – 12 June 2009 as ඇනස්ලි ඩයස්), popularly as Annesley Dias, was an actor of Sri Lankan cinema and television as well as a comedian.[1] He is best known for the role "Hamu Mahaththaya" in Vinoda Samaya television sitcom.[2]
Dias was born on 31 January 1927 as the youngest of the family. He had his primary education at St. Francis College, Dalugama and St. Paul's Waragoda College. He completed secondary education at Saint Joseph's College, Colombo in English medium. He studied pali and Sanskrit from the Vidyalankara Pirivena Kelaniya.
He started his career as an English teacher at Kelaniya Gurukula Vidyalaya. Then he worked at Moratuwa Municipal Council as a clerk. In 1984, he worked as the Public Relations Officer of the Colombo Municipal Development Authority. Later he joined the Official Language Department as a Grade I language translator at Colombo Municipal Council.[3]
He was married to Noelin Dias. They started the relationship while Dias was teaching English at Gurukula Vidyalaya. The marriage was celebrated on October 16, 1957. The couple have two sons - Rajindra and Janak; and four daughters - Jayamali, Nilika, Manori and Samanthi Antonette. Their son Rajindra died suddenly of a heart attack.[4]
Dias died on 12 June 2009 at the age of 81. Remains were kept at his residence at No. 378, Old Kandy Road, Kelaniya. His final rituals took place at Roman Catholic Cemetery in Dalugama on 17 June 2009.[2]
His daughter Antonette was married to Jayantha Niel Wijeratna. Antonette worked as an accountant at the Rupavahini Corporation.[5] Jayantha was an engineer. In August 2012, during a vacation in Canada, Jayantha and his 16 year of daughter Elisa Nimani died after a car accident on the QEW highway in Canada.[6]
Career
He started his acting career with a drama Ohoma Hindada? directed by W.B. Makuloluwa in 1946. He along with closest friends H D Wijedasa, Alfred Perera, Samuel Rodrigo and Berty Gunathilaka made the play Iskolayak.[4] Then he joined Radio Ceylon under the guidance of Wijedasa, who worked as a relief announcer. They produced the radio play Vihilu Thahalu, where it was banned as it focused on condemning the politicians of the time.[2]
After the ban, Dias along with Alfred discussed another comedy program, which marked the initiation of popular radio play Vinoda Samaya. The show became popular along with his fellow actors Berty Gunathilake and Samuel Rodrigo, where they were unofficially dubbed as Raja Thun Kattuwa.[2] In 1982, this radio show was later telecasted as a TV show as well through Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, running up to 240 episodes. Popular as Amaris Ayya, he is one of the most respected comedians and earned a lot of respect from leading politicians and leading Planters like Dinal Hilary Samaranayaka as well.
He published two books, Vinoda Samaye Hamu Mahattaya and Vinoda Samaya.[2]
His maiden cinema acting came through 1968 film Abudassa Kale directed by Kumar Wickremasooriya. He acted in supporting role in the films such as Samaje Sathuro, Binaramali and Maruwa Samaga Wase.[7]
He was also honored with the Lankathilaka Award from the Ministry of Culture of Sri Lanka.[8] In 1994, he was honored with Sri Lanka Thilaka Award.[4]
^"Commemorates second death anniversary of Annasley Dias". Divaina. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
^ abcde"Evergreen entertainer no more". Daily News. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
^"The comedy trinity". Deshaya. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
^ abc"Who can hide these griefs?". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
^"Father and daughter killed in head-on Toronto highway crash; Driver of other vehicle who was allegedly drunk drove wrong way". lankareporter. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
^"TWO SRI LANKAS KILLED ON CANADA'S QEW HIGHWAY CRASH". gossiplankanews. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
^"Annesley Dias - ඇනස්ලි ඩයස් filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
^"Annesley Dias passes away". Dinamina. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
^"All about Binaramalee". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
annesley, dias, muthukudu, arachchige, pedris, dias, january, 1927, june, 2009, ඇනස, ඩයස, popularly, actor, lankan, cinema, television, well, comedian, best, known, role, hamu, mahaththaya, vinoda, samaya, television, sitcom, ඇනස, ඩයස, bornmuthukudu, arachchig. Muthukudu Arachchige Pedris Dias 31 January 1927 12 June 2009 as ඇනස ල ඩයස popularly as Annesley Dias was an actor of Sri Lankan cinema and television as well as a comedian 1 He is best known for the role Hamu Mahaththaya in Vinoda Samaya television sitcom 2 Annesley Dias ඇනස ල ඩයස BornMuthukudu Arachchige Pedris Dias 1927 01 31 January 31 1927Kelaniya Sri LankaDiedJune 12 2009 2009 06 12 aged 82 KelaniyaNationalitySri LankanEducationSt Francis College Saint Joseph s College ColomboOccupation s Actor Comedian Teacher TranslatorYears active1946 2000SpouseNoelin Dias m 1957 Children6ParentAnamaria Perera mother Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Filmography 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditDias was born on 31 January 1927 as the youngest of the family He had his primary education at St Francis College Dalugama and St Paul s Waragoda College He completed secondary education at Saint Joseph s College Colombo in English medium He studied pali and Sanskrit from the Vidyalankara Pirivena Kelaniya He started his career as an English teacher at Kelaniya Gurukula Vidyalaya Then he worked at Moratuwa Municipal Council as a clerk In 1984 he worked as the Public Relations Officer of the Colombo Municipal Development Authority Later he joined the Official Language Department as a Grade I language translator at Colombo Municipal Council 3 He was married to Noelin Dias They started the relationship while Dias was teaching English at Gurukula Vidyalaya The marriage was celebrated on October 16 1957 The couple have two sons Rajindra and Janak and four daughters Jayamali Nilika Manori and Samanthi Antonette Their son Rajindra died suddenly of a heart attack 4 Dias died on 12 June 2009 at the age of 81 Remains were kept at his residence at No 378 Old Kandy Road Kelaniya His final rituals took place at Roman Catholic Cemetery in Dalugama on 17 June 2009 2 His daughter Antonette was married to Jayantha Niel Wijeratna Antonette worked as an accountant at the Rupavahini Corporation 5 Jayantha was an engineer In August 2012 during a vacation in Canada Jayantha and his 16 year of daughter Elisa Nimani died after a car accident on the QEW highway in Canada 6 Career EditHe started his acting career with a drama Ohoma Hindada directed by W B Makuloluwa in 1946 He along with closest friends H D Wijedasa Alfred Perera Samuel Rodrigo and Berty Gunathilaka made the play Iskolayak 4 Then he joined Radio Ceylon under the guidance of Wijedasa who worked as a relief announcer They produced the radio play Vihilu Thahalu where it was banned as it focused on condemning the politicians of the time 2 After the ban Dias along with Alfred discussed another comedy program which marked the initiation of popular radio play Vinoda Samaya The show became popular along with his fellow actors Berty Gunathilake and Samuel Rodrigo where they were unofficially dubbed as Raja Thun Kattuwa 2 In 1982 this radio show was later telecasted as a TV show as well through Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation running up to 240 episodes Popular as Amaris Ayya he is one of the most respected comedians and earned a lot of respect from leading politicians and leading Planters like Dinal Hilary Samaranayaka as well He published two books Vinoda Samaye Hamu Mahattaya and Vinoda Samaya 2 His maiden cinema acting came through 1968 film Abudassa Kale directed by Kumar Wickremasooriya He acted in supporting role in the films such as Samaje Sathuro Binaramali and Maruwa Samaga Wase 7 He was also honored with the Lankathilaka Award from the Ministry of Culture of Sri Lanka 8 In 1994 he was honored with Sri Lanka Thilaka Award 4 Filmography EditYear Film Role Ref 1968 Abudassa Kale1968 Samaje Sathuro1969 Binaramalee Loku Appuhamy 9 1970 Lakseta Kodiya Dance role giver1977 Maruwa Samaga Wase Bus Conductor1979 Geheniyak Stage Master1981 Kolamkarayo Member Mahaththaya s assistant1982 Wathura Karaththaya1991 Asai Bayai1993 Ordinary Magic Yoga Master1995 Deviyani Sathya Surakinna Sergeant2000 Re Daniel Dawal Migel 2References Edit Commemorates second death anniversary of Annasley Dias Divaina Retrieved 2 October 2019 a b c d e Evergreen entertainer no more Daily News Retrieved 2 October 2019 The comedy trinity Deshaya Retrieved 2 October 2019 a b c Who can hide these griefs Sarasaviya Retrieved 2 October 2019 Father and daughter killed in head on Toronto highway crash Driver of other vehicle who was allegedly drunk drove wrong way lankareporter Retrieved 2 October 2019 TWO SRI LANKAS KILLED ON CANADA S QEW HIGHWAY CRASH gossiplankanews Retrieved 2 October 2019 Annesley Dias ඇනස ල ඩයස filmography Sinhala Cinema Database Retrieved 2 October 2019 Annesley Dias passes away Dinamina Retrieved 2 October 2019 All about Binaramalee Sarasaviya Retrieved 22 February 2020 External links EditAnnesley Dias at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Annesley Dias amp oldid 1106366993, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
