Arandara Kankanamlage Don Sirisena (born 1934 – died 1986 as දොන් සිරිසේන [Sinhala]), popuarly as Don Sirisena, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and theater. One of the most popular comedy artists ever in Sri Lankan film history, Sirisena had a career spanned about two decades acted more than 150 films.
Personal life Don Sirisena was born on 1934 in Borella, British Ceylon as the youngest in a family of five. His father was a police officer and mother was a housewife. He had two elder brothers and two elder sisters.
Sirisena was married to Enid Saluwadana, where the couple has one daughter, Sujeewā (born in 1971) and one son, Sanjaya (born in 1973). Sirisena had no intention to introduce his children to acting, which resulted them to be business persons.
His wife Enid was the elder sister of popular actress Damitha Saluwadana. After a career more than four decades in cinema, theatre and television, Damitha died on 27 November 2015 at the age of 67. Sirisena's one of the nephews, Dunstan Nandalal is also an actor.
Sirisena died in 1986 at the age of 51 after suffering from prolong illness.
Career Sirisena started acting in stage plays since childhood. After seeing his theatre performances, Ariyadasa Pieris came to meet him to invite his new film Sobana Sitha. With that, Sirisena started his cinema career in 1964 with the film Sobana Sitha. Since then, he continued act in more than 150 films particularly as the supporting comedian with other popular comedy actors of his era such as Freddie Silva, B. S. Perera and Wimal Kumara de Costa. His final cinema appearance came through 1991 film Ali Baba Saha Horu Hathaliha, five years after his death.
He fell ill from time to time since film debut. In 1970s, he was seriously ill and spent almost a year in bed. During this time, he had slow down the cinema career. However, after some rest, he started to perform as a supportive comedian in number of films in golden 70s. Apart from comedy roles, he also performed in few dramatic roles in the films such as: Hadawath Naththo, Rail Paara and Kiwulegedara Mohottala. In the film Rail Paara, he played the role as a blind person, and in the film Kiwulegedara Mohottala, he played as a Vedda leader.
Apart from acting, Sirisena worked as a dolak and tabla player of the Music Association on Southern Road, Mount Lavinia, where singer Walter Fernando is one of his colleague. Although he was a regular member of the Association, he was soon forced to step away from music due to his involvement in films. He also sporadically appeared in theatre and performed in popular stage plays such as: Sivammā Dhanapāla and Kaḍavunu Poronduva.
Filmography Year Film Role Ref. 1964 Sobana Sitha 1965 La Dalu 1965 Saaravita Muslim Mudalali's co-worker 1966 Kapatikama Bookstore owner 1966 Sanda Naga Eddi 1966 Senasili Suwaya Basunah 1967 Sengawunu Menika 1967 Ipadune Ai? 1967 Sura Chauraya 1968 Bicycle Hora 1968 Hangi Hora 1968 Ruhunu Kumari 1968 Ataweni Pudumaya 1969 Kohomada Wade 1969 Harimaga Simon 1969 Kawuda Hari? Jussa 1969 Baduth Ekka Horu Sena 1969 Mee Masso 1969 Pickpocket Pachoris 1969 Uthum Sthriya 1970 Sumudu Bharya 1970 Athma Pooja 1970 Geetha Photographer 1970 Thevatha 1970 Penawa Neda 1970 Ohoma Hondada 1971 Poojithayo Bando 1971 Davena Pipasa 1971 Ran Onchilla 1971 Kathuru Muwath Kathuru Muwath's friend 1971 Seeye Nottuwa 1971 Samanala Kumariyo 1972 Sujeewa Matchmaker 1972 Singapore Charlie 1972 Ada Mehemai Bartender 1972 Hithaka Pipunu Mal 1972 Lokuma Hinawa Sleeping patient 1972 Me Desa Kumatada 1972 Ihatha Athmaya Dumped into street runner / Hawker 1973 Matara Achchi Cyril's city co-worker's father 1973 Suhada Pethuma Chamila's worker 1973 Thushara 1973 Aparadhaya Ha Danduwama 1973 Gopalu Handa 1973 Hathdinnath Tharu Samson 1973 Sunethra Manager 1973 Hondata Hondai Duncan's foreman 1974 Duleeka 1974 Dinum Kanuwa 1974 Sheela Poster affixer 1974 Hadawath Naththo 1974 Sihasuna 1974 Kalyani Ganga Punch Appu 'Manager' 1974 Shanthi 1974 Onna Babo Billo Enawa Gulsan 1974 Susee Leo Mahathaya 1974 Sagarika 1974 Duppathage Hithawatha Ananda's friend 1974 Sahayata Danny Patient with toothache 1974 Rodi Gama Roba 1975 Obai Mamai 1975 Raththaran Amma Hadda 1975 Tharanga Wijesena Silva 1975 Sukiri Kella Engineer David Gunathilake 1975 Kokilayo 1975 Rajagedara Paraviyo 1975 Jeewana Geethaya 1975 Damayanthi 1975 Sadhana 1975 Hadawathaka Wasanthaya 1975 Sangeetha Charlie 1976 Kawuda Raja Bando 1976 Kolamba Sanniya Saping 1976 Vanarayo 1976 Loka Horu 1976 Haratha Hathara 1976 Asha 1976 Hariyata Hari Mudalali's caretaker 1976 Mangala 1976 Ran Thilaka 1977 Sakunthala 1977 Nilukaa 1977 Chin Chin Nona 1977 Sajaa 1977 Maruwa Samaga Wase Mudalali store frequenter 1977 Chandi Shyama 1977 Tom Pachaya Mudaliyar 1978 Vishmaya Siyadu 1978 Madhuwanthi Johnson 1978 Sri Pathula 1978 Hitha Mithura 1978 Saara 1978 Janaka Saha Manju 1978 Tikira Dharme 1978 Deepanjali 1978 Apeksha 1979 Raan Kurullo 1979 Samanmalee 1979 Minisun Athara Minisek 1979 Hingana Kolla Gardener 1979 Raja Kollo Pala's employee 1979 Rosa Mal Thunak Anusha's servant 1979 Anusha Fake daddy 1979 Sawudan Jema 1979 Subhani 1979 Hari Pudumai 1980 Silva 1980 Anuhasa 1980 Doctor Susantha 1980 Raja Dawasak 1980 Mage Amma 1981 Mihidum Sihina 1981 Kolamkarayo Member Mahaththaya's assistant 1981 Vajira Elaris 1981 Senasuma 1981 Sathkulu Pawwa Alphonso 1981 Dayabara Nilu David 1981 Jeewanthi 1982 Sandaa 1982 Yasa Isuru Salaman 1982 Sudu Ayya Cyril 1982 Eka Diga Kathawak 1982 Wathura Karaththaya Inspector Sarayan 1982 Sithaara 1982 Rail Paara 1982 Thakkita Tharikita 1982 Major Sir 1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa Tamil Priest 1983 Ranmini Muthu Mudalali 1983 Sandamali Nandoris 1983 Chuttey Mudalali 1983 Sumithuro 1983 Karate Joe 1983 Thuththiri Mal 1983 Hithath Hondai Wadath Hondai 1938 Loku Thaththa 1983 Rathu Makara Karolis 1984 Kekille Rajjuruwo Rabbada Aiyya 1984 Veera Madduma Bandara Pinhamy 1984 Ara Soyza Don 1984 Mala Giravi Sudu Banda 1984 Hitha Honda Kollek 1984 Kokila Kuddiya 1984 Muthu Manike 1985 Puthuni Mata Samawenna 1985 Aeya Waradidda Oba Kiyanna 1985 Obata Diwura Kiyannam Hotel manager 1986 Prarthana 1987 Kiwulegedara Mohottala Dinga 1988 Ko Hathuro 1989 Badulu Kochchiya 1990 Sambudu Mahima 1990 Walawwe Hamu 1991 Alibaba Saha Horu Hathaliha
References
External links අගැයුමක් නැති මිනිස්සු රත්තරන් දුවත් එක්ක නැවත රඟපාන්න එනවා: ශිරාණි නුගේරා යළි සරසවිය අමතයි