Thuiappuarachchi Don Daya de Alwis (born 7 November 1942 – died 27 April 2015 as දයා අල්විස්) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Daya Alwis, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He was also a screenwriter and director. He directed about six teledramas. He was the first person in Sri Lanka to receive an award covering all three areas - stage drama, cinema and teledrama.
He died on 27 April 2015 at the age of 72, while receiving treatment at a hospital after an accident a week earlier.
Personal life Daya Alwis was born on 7 November 1942 in Payagala as the fourth son of the family with seven siblings. He completed his education from Kalutara Vidyalaya. In 1956 at the age of 14, he sang the song Laa Dalu Wanamal. After finishing Bhathkande degree, he joined Tholangamuwa Central College as a music teacher. He made his first drama, Girikuta, at the school.
He was married to Yamuna Dayangani and they had two sons - Sarangadeva and Sapumal Bandara.
Acting career Before entering acting, Alwis traveled to India in 1964 to study music in Bhatkhande Music Institute Deemed University and worked as a sound mixer for on stage events. In 1966, he produced his first film. He started his acting career with stage dramas, Depano, Modara Mola, Ekadhipathi, Kaluware Jaramare, Ran Kanda, such as Sarathchandra's Premathi Jayathi Soko and Kalu Walalu, Gunasena Galapththi's Muhudu Puttu, Henry Jayasena's Makarã Saha Gamanak, Dharmasiri Bandara's Kakarasaya, Dawala Beehishana, Somalatha Subasinghe's Vikurthi and Jayantha Chandrasiri's Môra. His own production Dalpadadu was shown on 6 and 13 October in Sweden and again in October at Harrow and later at the University of London, Westminster. His stage drama Parasthawa also played in London and Birmingham. Some of the stage dramas he directed include Aganthukayo and K Sara. He is the screenplay writer and assistant director for the film Sinhabahu.
Television career Alwis is one of the earliest pillars of Sinhala teledrama history. He made history as the first person who wrote and acted in the first drama, La Hiru Dahasak, broadcast on Sri Lankan television. He also wrote screenplay for the dramas Awarjanaa, Punarawarthana and Bodima. His maiden teledrama direction came through Chandra Yamaya. He acted in the critically acclaimed serial Weda Hamine and then in Chandrayamaya. His most popular television acting came through the Bodima and Paba television serials. He also starred in Ira Bata Taruwa, the first Sri Lankan teledrama filmed in London. In 2001, he directed the serial Awasan Horawa, telecast on ITN channel every Friday at 7.30 p.m. from January 5.
Selected Television serials
Awarjanaa Awasan Horawa Bhagya Bodima Chandrayamaya Gal Pilimaya Saha Bol Pilimaya Ganga ha Nissanka Hikmiya Hiruta Muwawen Ira Batu Tharuwa Kokila Wilapaya Kota Uda Mandira La Hiru Dahasak Makara Vijithaya Manmulawu Mama Nirsathwayo Niwataya Paba Parasathu Malak Pathok Palama Pinsara Dosthara Pitagamkarayo Punarawarthana Ranthaliya Walawwa Samanala Gamanak Sandagalathenna Sathya Sathyaya Siri Sirimal Vasudha Wanasarana Wassana Sihinaya Weda Hamine
Death On 20 April 2015 he met with an accident at Bokundara, Piliyandala with a three-wheeler. He went home without any medications as no any external bleeding had taken place. However, his head had received a contusion and internal bleeding had occurred. He was rushed to the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital. He underwent treatment at Neurological Unit for severe bleeding in his brain. He died on 27 April around 3:50 am, due to internal bleeding while receiving treatment at the hospital.
Filmography Alwis started his film career with Amarnath Jayatilaka's 1976 film Thilake Ha Thilaka. Then he acted in more than 40 films. Some of his popular cinema acting came through Kolamba Sanniya, Madol Duwa, Sarungalaya, Pooja, Maya as well as Wasantha Obeysekara’s Walmathwuwo, where he was nominated for national awards.
No. denotes the number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.
Year No. Film Role Ref. 1976 Thileka Ha Thilaka Mr. Madegoda 1976 Madol Duwa Punchi Mahaththaya 1976 Kolamba Sanniya Saralis 'Cyril Costa' 1976 Selinage Walawwa Anta 1978 Bambaru Avith Priest 1978 Ahasin Polawata 1979 Wasanthaye Dawasak Sarath's friend 1979 Chuda Manikya Railway constable 1979 Handaya Commentator box viewer 1980 Uthumaneni 1980 Jodu Walalu 1980 Siribo Ayya Sadiris 1980 Karumakkarayo Deniya Mahathaya 1980 Sinhabahu 1981 Saaranga 1982 Maha Gedara Appuhamy 1983 Niliyakata Pem Kalemi Timber businessman 1983 Dadayama Minister 1983 Menik Maliga 1984 Maya 1985 Mihidum Salu Tala Munda 1985 Wathsala Akka 1986 Maldeniye Simion Charlie 1986 Pooja 1987 Viragaya Kulasekara 1990 Dese Mal Pipila 1991 Golu Muhude Kunatuwa 1994 Sandamadala School teacher 1994 Mee Haraka Bus driver 1995 Maruthaya Dharme's associate 1995 Chitti 1996 Loku Duwa 1997 Visidela Keerala 1998 Anthima Reya 1998 Julietge Bhumikawa Lawrence 1999 Rathu Aluyama Proctor Weerawardena 2003 Mother Teresa of Calcutta Kaligarth seller 2005 Water Saduram 2005 Sulanga Salesman 2008 Nil Diya Yahana 2010 Uththara 2013 Nikini Vassa 2016 Paththini Royal goldsmith 2019 Sikuru Yogaya Weda Mahaththaya
References
External links Chat with Daya Alwis