Hemasiri Liyanage

Hemasiri Dhanawatha Liyanage (Sinhala: හේමසිරි ලියනගේ, born December 25, 1942), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater, and television.^[1] He is well known for the dramatic roles in Thattu Gewal^[2] and Thaththa teledramas and films Sankranthi, Sthuthi Nawatha Enna and Madhura Charika.

Hemasiri Liyanage
හේමසිරි ලියනගේ
Born	Hemasiri Dhanawatha Liyanage (1942-12-25) December 25, 1942 (age 80) Bulathsinhala, Sri Lanka
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Vidyarathana College, Horana
Occupation(s)	Actor, Dramatist, Director, Teacher
Years active	1967–present
Known for	Acting
Spouse	Kusum Liyanage
Children	Saumya Liyanage Aloka Liyanage Saman Liyanage Indrachapa Liyanage
Relatives	Samanalee Fonseka (daughter-in-law)

Personal life

Hemasiri Liyanage was born on 25 December 1942 in Nahalla village, Bulathsinhala as the third of the family with four siblings. He has one elder brother, one elder sister and one younger brother. He completed education from Vidyarathana College, Horana. He is married to Kusuma Liyanage, who is a cousin sister. She is also a retired teacher.^[3]

He also is the father of four sons - Saumya, Saman, Aloka and Indrachapa.^[3] Eldest son Saumya Liyanage is an actor and a lecturer.^[4] Second son Saman is an artist. Third son Aloka Liyanage is a doctor. He was married to the Madhavee Wathsala, daughter of actor Jackson Anthony, until divorce in 2016.^[5] Youngest son Indrachapa Liyanage is a renowned rock musician who is married to fellow actress Samanalee Fonseka.^[6]

Career

He was selected to University of Kelaniya in 1964 and graduated with an arts degree. He formed the drama organization in the university known as National Drama Corporation. After graduating, he started teaching at Vidyarathana College, Horana. In 1980, he lost the job due to political disputes within the country. He taught economics to A/L students and taught drama as an additional subject. While in the school, he produced the stage drama Nadagam Hewath Sudu Atha Awata Passe in 1969. The drama won the second place in Inter-school drama competition with a controversy. In 1975, Liyanage produced the play Nariya Saha Keju and in 1975 Vijaya Nandasiri and Hemasiri were presented with awards for Best Production and Best Music at the National Drama Festival. His final stage drama production was Chithrage Prema Kathwa staged in 1982.^[7]

He started drama career as a playwright and producer in stage dramas such as Kanakok Suda staged in 1967. He acted as the lead actor in that drama as well. Then he acted in the play Balal Hasthaya produced by Rohana Beddage.

He started cinema career with the 1983 film Niliyakata Pem Kalemi directed by Siri Kularathna.^[8] Her notable cinema came through Aswesuma, Sankranthi, Sthuthi Nawatha Enna,^[9] Madhura Charika^[10] and Sansare Dadayakkaraya.^[11]

Selected television serials

• Amba Yahaluvo ^[12]
• Amuthu Minissu^[13]
• Anantha^[14]
• Asalwasiyo
• Athuru Paara^[15]
• Ayal ^[16]
• Chakraudhaya ^[17]
• Dahas Gawdura^[18]
• Dambulugala Sakmana ^[19]
• Eka Iththaka Mal
• Girikula^[20]
• Idorayaka Mal Pipila^[21]
• Jeewithaya Dakinna ^[22]
• Kadathira ^[23]
• Kampitha Vil^[24]
• Kasee Salu ^[25]
• Kethumathi Neyo ^[26]
• Kokila Sandwaniya^[27]
• Kulawamiya^[28]
• Mayaratne^[29]
• Mayavi ^[30]
• Meedum Amma^[31]
• Minigan Dela^[32]
• Mini Palanga ^[33]
• Ramya Suramya^[34]
• Pinketha
• Podu
• Sanda Dev Diyani ^[35]
• Sandagira ^[36]
• Sindu Kiyana Una Pandura^[37]
• Sisila Ima^[38][39][40]
• Suwanda Yahaluwo^[41]
• Thanamalvila Kollek ^[42]
• Thaththa
• Thattu Gewal^[43]
• Wanawadule Wasanthaya^[44]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1983	Niliyakata Pem Kalemi	Master Mahathaya 'Kalwirale'
1985	Doo Daruwo
1991	Sthree
1992	Sisila Gini Gani	Missionary	^[45]
1992	Kiyala Wadak Na	Jamis Appu
1993	Saptha Kanya	Rony	^[46]
1993	Guru Gedara	Ukkuwa
1994	Aragalaya	Wilson
1997	Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's Poor	Gem Suleiman
1997	Bawa Duka	Gabriel, Nona Hami's father	^[47]
1997	Bawa Karma	Nona Hami's father	^[48]
1998	Channa Kinnari
1999	Nagaran	Master
2001	Aswesuma	Appuwa	^[49]
2001	Anantha Rathriya	Appu	^[50]
2001	Me Mage Sandai		^[51]
2002	Salelu Warama	Suren's father	^[52]
2002	Sudu Sewaneli		^[53]
2003	Pura Sakmana		^[54]
2003	Sudu Kaluwara	Suddhana	^[55]
2005	Sulanga Enu Pinisa	Piyasiri	^[56]
2006	Kurulu Pihatu	Grand father	^[57]
2007	Sankranthi		^[58]
2008	Machan	Manoj's father	^[59]
2010	Sthuthi Nawatha Enna	Vidane	^[60]
2011	Mahindagamanaya	Mantha	^[61]
2013	Miles of a Dream	(french film)	^[62]
2014	Kalpanthe Sihinayak	Village monk	^[63]
2017	Heena Hoyana Samanallu	Tharaka's grandfather	^[64]
2018	Madhura Charika	Wilson Godamanne	^[65]
2018	Nidahase Piya DS	D.D. Pedris	^[66]
2019	Weli Pawuru	Sisira's father	^[67]
2019	Sansare Dadayakkaraya	Monk	^[68]
2019	Vishama Bhaga	Madiris	^[69]
2020	Avilenasului		^[70]
TBD	Vedi Nowadina Lamai		^[71]

Awards and accolades

Raigam Tele'es

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2018	Contribution to cinema	Special Tribute^[72]	Won

References

1. "Hemasiri Liyanage films". IMDb. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
2. "New waves in Sinhala teledrama". Daily News. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
3. "Chat with Hemasiri Liyanage". Hiru FM. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
4. "Aba - good theatre in general - Habara Liyanage steals the show". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
5. "Jackson Anthony's Daughter Madhavi and Hemasiri Liyanage's son Aloka Wedding photos". lankanstuff. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
6. . The Nation (Sri Lanka). 2008-05-11. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013.
7. "The first Sinhala political dramatist". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
8. "Hemasiri Liyanage - හේමසිරි ලියනගේ filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
9. "Sthuthi Newatha Enna". Daily News. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
10. "'Joyful journeys' begins in March". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
11. "Seeking death's place in life". Daily News. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
12. "Story of mango friends". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
13. "'Amuthu Minissu' to appear soon". Sunday Times. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
14. "Swarnavahni's 'Anantha' -The woman who searched for the true meaning of life". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
15. "'Athuru Para': A tribute to disabled soldiers". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
16. "A journey beyond the earth". Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
17. "'Chakraudhaya' on Rupavahini". Daily News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
18. "'Dahas Gawdura': a formulaic telefilm". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
19. "'Dambulugala Sakmana' on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
20. "Sudath Rohana starts Girikula". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
21. "'Idorayaka Mal Pipila': A tragic story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
22. "'Jeewithaya Dakinna' : One Episode miniplays on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
23. "'Kadathira' deals with lay, monastic life". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
24. "'Kampitha Vill' shows the life and times of people in 'Panama'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
25. "'Kasee Salu':A drama in the FTZ". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
26. "Kethumathi Neyo on ITN". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
27. "'Kokila Sandwaniya' deals with an abstract theme". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
28. "'Kulawamiya' relates a story of nobility". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
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30. "'Mayavi' moves with mysteries". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
31. "Meedum Amma on Swarnavahini". timeout. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
32. "Minigandela shooting begins". Daily News. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
33. "'Mini Palanga' tackles a social problem". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
34. "'Ramya Suramya': Two houses full of problems". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
35. "'Sanda Dev Diyani': A tale of courage and determination". Daily News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
36. "'Sandagira' portrays changing phase of society". Daily News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
37. "Children sing around 'the bamboo bush'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
38. "'Sisila Ima': tale of two doctors". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
39. "'Sisila Ima' and 'Sakki': two promising teleplays". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
40. "'Sisila Ima': Tale of a woman". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
41. "'Suwanda Yahaluwo': Deals with human love". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
42. "Thanamalvila Kollek' - Award-winning warmth and fatherly memory". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
43. "Hilarious story of flat dwellers". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
44. "Sudath's stories on screen again". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
45. Wijegunasingha, Piyaseeli. "In the classical realist tradition". Retrieved 12 November 2012.
46. "Unmada Wu Premadara: Saptha Kanya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
47. "Bawa Duka - භව දුක". films.lk. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
48. . Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
49. "'Aswesuma' a film with a novel theme". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
50. ""Anantha Rathriya" - a study of a man's conscience". The Island. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
51. "'Me Mage Sandai' breaks all traditions". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
52. "Vasantha spins a 'Web of Love'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
53. "Ariyaratne returns to his old love". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
54. "Tikiri aims for a plentiful harvest". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
55. "The British Raj and 'Sudu Kaluwara'". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
56. "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
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58. "Sankranthi a tale of a trio". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
59. . Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
60. "'Anticipating Re-arrival' waiting for a donor". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
61. "MAHINDAGAMANAYA - Based on True Historical Buddhist Story". mahindagamanayafilm. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
62. "'Miles of a Dream' A French film from Lanka". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
63. "Channa to voyage on 'Miringu Yaathra'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
64. "Heena Hoyana Samanallu coming soon". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
65. "Madhura Charika". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
66. "Interview with Suneth Malinga". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
67. "Weli Pawura - A must watch family tale". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
68. "Direction by Prasanna Jayakody and work of Simon Navagattegama". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
69. "One perfect shot!". Daily News. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
70. "Two strangers on the same road". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
71. "'Bulletproof Children' competes in China". Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
72. "Raigam Tele'es award list in key categories". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 23 September 2019.

External links

• Hemasiri Liyanage at IMDb
• මාධ්‍යයට මාව වටින්නේ නැතුව ඇති
• Ever shared a naked picture? The Grassrooted Trust presents V Day from The Cloud