Thanthrige Pathirage Mahinda (born March 22, 1952, as මහින්ද පතිරගේ) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Mahinda Pathirage, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Acting particularly in comedy roles, Pathirage is best known for the role Purohitha in television sitcom Raja Sabhawa.
Personal life Mahinda was born on 22 March 1952 in Anuradhapura. His father was Thanthiri Pathirage Hendrick Appuhami. He has 10 siblings in the family. He completed education until grade 10 from Walisinghe Harischandra Maha Vidyalaya. Before entering to drama, he continued his father's business as photo framer and painter.
Mahinda is married to Kumudini Gunawardhana and the couple has one daughter, Nipuni Sharada and one son, Nandun Nisanka.
Career In 1976, he along with many artists in Anuradhapura formed a drama group called Jana Nalu Kela. He first played in the play Aruma Naruma produced by Anuradha Ranjith. He won a merit award for his role in that play. In 1977–79, he worked in Rajarata Sevaya of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation along with his friend Gunadasa Madurasinghe. He took part in a radio play Rasavita produced by Premakeerthi de Alwis.
Mahinda started acting career with 1997 television serial Depethi Dahara directed by Malini Fonseka. In 2000, he acted in popular television comedy Sina Sagaraya telecast by Rupavahini. Then in 2003, he joined with Swarnavahini for the sitcom Raja Sabhawa along with Gunadasa Madurasinghe. The drama gave him enormous popularity, which was later produced into a stage play as well. In 1983, he won the award for the Best Actor in Youth Drama Festival for the role in stage play Paarajika.
His maiden cinema acting came through 2000 film Saroja directed by Somaratne Dissanayake with a minor role. Some of his notable films include Sir Last Chance, Ethumai Methumai, Hero Nero and 64 Mayam. In 2016, Pathirage replaced Vijaya Nandasiri after his demise in the play Aluth Horek One. The first show featuring Pathirage was staged at 3.30 pm and 6.45 pm on September 2 at New Town Hall, Colombo.
Notable theater works
Ahinsaka Prayoge Allai Walge Aluth Horek Onee Chaggudu Sellam Hadannama Be Heen Andare Kaliyuga Kolam Korale Mahaththaya Paarajika Raigamayai Gampalayai Raja Sabawa Sakra Bhavana
Notable television works
Bhootha Wasthuwa Depethi Dahara Diyathaka Senehasa Gem Hathara Waram Kande Handiya Korale Mahaththaya Night Learners Paan Batta Raja Sabhawa Sakala Guru Sakala Guru 2 Sina Sagaraya Somibara Jaramara Synthetic Sihina Tikiri and Ungi
Filmography
Year Film Role Ref. 2000 Saroja 2006 Sonduru Wasanthe Amadoru 2009 Sir Last Chance Detective 2010 Hadawatha Mal Yayai 2010 Thank You Berty SMS Reality show promoter 2011 Ethumai Methumai Tyson 2012 Kusa Pabha Royal Servant 2013 It's a Matter of Love 2014 Rassa Kale 2015 None Mage Sudu None Sando 2016 Hero Nero Minister Lionel 2016 64 Mayam Silva 2017 Ran Sayura Robert 2017 Punchi Apith Baya Na Dan Columbus 2019 Suba Theraniyo Dheeraka 2019 Sikuru Yogaya Tuition master 2019 Reload Music teacher 2023 Guththila Sunaparatha 2024 Jobless Douglas Kochchi Kade Champa
References
External links Goda Perakadoruwa - Mahinda Pathirage and Gunadasa Madurasinghe අප නොදුටු මහින්ද පතිරගේ මහින්ද පතිරගේ අල්ලයි වල්ගේ සමඟ 06දා මහනුවර එදා කෝච්චියෙන් කොළඹ ආව මම අදත් එන්නේ කෝච්චියෙන් විජේවීරට තෙලිතුඩින් පණදුන් සිත්තරා සමකාලීන සිංහල හසරංග කලාවේ අර්බුදය