Dharmapriya Dias

Halaperuma Arachchige Dharmapriya Dias (Sinhala: ධර්මප්‍රිය ඩයස්) is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.^[1] And a professional dubbing artist since 1995. Dias has titles such as playwright, actor, set designer, choreographer, teacher of art and has a master's degree in theatre and drama.^[2] He is the performing arts and sculpture art teacher in Shasthrananda Vidyalaya, Dehiwela.^[3]

Dharmapriya Dias
ධර්මප්‍රිය ඩයස්
Born	Halaperuma Arachchige Dharmapriya Dias (1975-04-19) 19 April 1975 (age 49) Kesbewa, Sri Lanka
Citizenship	Sri Lankan
Education	Piliyandala Central College, Sir John Kotelawala College
Alma mater	University of Kelaniya, University of Colombo
Occupation(s)	Actor, Dramatist, Director, Teacher
Notable work	Deweni Inima, Nadagamkarayo, Passport (2024 film), Koombiyo, Machan, Mama Nemai Wena Kenek,
Spouse	Anoja Milanthi (married 2007–present)
Children	2
Parents	Halaperuma Arachchige Publis Dias (father) Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Heen Menike (mother)
Awards	Best Actor, Best Set Designer, Best Choreography

Personal life

Dharmapriya has one brother and three sisters. He studied at Sir Jhon Kothalawala College from grade 1 to O-Levels. He completed his education from Piliyandala Central College, where he started drama under Premakumara Karunaratne.^[4] He is married to Anoja Milanthi and the couple has two sons - Swarna Rawana and Prawara Bhashana.^[3]

Theatre career

Just after advanced level, he started to act in stage dramas. He acted in a stage play together with his fellow school leavers and the drama was selected for the final stage of State Drama Festival as well. His talents were polished under the direction of Sri Lanka's renowned artists such as Bandula Vithanage, K. B. Herath, Jayalath Manoratne, Rajitha Dissanayake, Thumindu Dodantenna and Chamika Hathlawaththa.^[4]

His maiden stage drama direction came through Saadaya Marai Salli Hamarai. The drama reached a box office success within two years having run more than 200 shows. The drama also won several awards at the State Drama Festival, 2015 for the categories of best actor, actress, and state manager. The final show before the break was staged on 20 November 2016.^[5] The drama won the awards for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Stage management at the 2015 Sri Lankan State Drama Festival.^[6] He won the best Set Designer Award at the state drama festival for Daasa Mallige Bangalawa co-directed by Ruwan Malith Peris, and Kalana Gunasekara. He is also the set designer of his own productions such as: Gahanu Vada Arabathi aka Lysistrata, Sadaya Marai Salli Hamarai, Mama Nevei Vena Kenek, Julius Ceaser, as well as Jayalath Manoratne's Lokaya Thani Yayak, and Rajitha Dissanayake's plays Siriwardena Pawula, Sihina Horu Aran, Bakamuna Veedi Basi.^[7]

Notable works

• Apahu Heranna Ba
• Arundhathi
• Asinamaali^[8]
• Bakamuna Weedi Basi ^[9]
• Banku Weeraya^[10]
• Baraniya
• Buruwa Mahaththaya
• Dasa Mallige Bangalawa
• Deveni Mahindha
• Dolahak^[11]
• Guru Tharuva
• Guti Kemata Niyamithai^[12]
• Hari Apuru Dawasak ^[13]
• Hayina
• Hithala Gaththu Theeranayak^[14][15]
• Jayasirita Pissu^[16]
• Julius Caesar
• Kaneru Mal
• Lysistrata(Gahanu Veda arabathi)
• Makarakshaya
• Malima
• Mama Newei Wena Kenek^[17]
• Mata Wedi Thiyan Nedda?^[18]
• Muhunata Muhuna
• Muthu Ataye Geethaya
• Nambu Kara Vilasini
• Nathuwa Bari Minihek^[19][20]
• Romaya Gini Gani
• Sadaya Marai Salli Hamarai^[21]
• Sihina Horu Aran^[22]
• Sihina Sappuwa
• Suriyamal
• Sukarayek Samaga
• Vara Mal
• Vanisiye Wellenda
• Vasu Deva
• Veeraya Marila^[23]
• Visekariyo

Short plays

• Poparmama Saha Pinthuraya
• Binduwa
• Sanda Sewannella
• Kiri Muttiya Gagegiya
• Chandravathi samaga rathriyak
• Parani Malavun(Based on Franze Kafka's Short Story)
• Chakrayudham (Hithata wedunu misayila 2 by Sachithra Rahubadda)

Television career

With award-winning performances in stage dramas, Dias was able to move into the television drama career with some popular serials directed by Saranga Mendis, Sudatha Rohana, Janaka Siriwardena, and Dee Gee Somapala.^[4]

Notable works

• Adisi Nadiya ^[24]
• Deweni Inima as Ananda^[25]
• Gamane Ya
• His Ahasa Yata^[26]
• Hiru Kumari
• Husma Saha Oxygen^[27]
• Ingammaruwa^[28]
• Ithin Ita Passe
• Jeewithaya Dakinna ^[29]
• Jodu Gedara^[30]
• Koombiyo as Padmakumara Kasthuri^[31]
• Lock Down Stories
• Maddahana
• Mahapolawa
• Nadagamkarayo
• Nil Ahasa Oba^[32]
• Nilla Penena Manaya ^[33]
• Oba Nisa as Pramodha Dunukebandara
• Paradeesaya ^[34]
• Pawara Menuwara
• Pini Bindu ^[35]
• Pork Veediya ^[36]
• Queen^[37]
• Rahai Jeewithe
• Ran Siri Mal
• Rantharu
• Sahodaraya^[38]
• "Uthuvan Kande Saradiyal"
• Sihina Genena Kumariye as Cyril
• Snap
• Sulanga Maha Meraka^[39]
• Three-wheel Malli ^[40]

Filmography

Dias started his film career with Walapatala back in 2008, directed by Vijitha Gunarathna with a minor role.^[41] He played minor roles in Vijitha Gunaratne's Wala Patala and two other films Bora Diya Pokuna and Nahi Werena Werani.^[4] His most popular cinema acting came through films Machan, Puthandiya and Asandhimitta.^[42] The role in Machan as Stanley was highly praised by the critics and earned him the award for Best Actor.^[43][44]

Key

†	Denotes films that have not yet been released

Mama Nemai Wena Kenek (Stage Drama) at The Pioneer Theatre Sydney , Australia

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
2008	Walapatala		[45]
2008	Machan	Stanley	[46]
2012	Matha	Lt. Kelum Dias	[47]
2012	Prathiroo	Linta	[48]
2016	Puthandiya	Ajith	[49]
2016	Red Butterfly Dream		[50]
2017	Kaala	Wattaka's henchman	[51]
2018	Madhura Charika	Threewheel driver	[52]
2018	Davena Wihagun	Police inspector	[53]
2019	Asandhimitta	Wickramasekara	[54]
2019	President Super Star	multiple roles	[55]
2020	Ethalaya		[56]
2020	The Newspaper	Journalist	[57]
2021	Colombo	Jude	[58]
2023	Viyasiduru	Driver
2023	Rahas Kiyana Kandu		[59]
2024	Sinhabahu		[60]
2024	Passport	Saman	[61]
TBA	Nirwana Dupatha †

Awards and Accolades

He has won several awards at the local stage drama festivals and television festivals, for acting, direction and choreography.^[4][62]

Youth Drama Festival Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1996	Sanda Sewanalla (Sejant)	Best Supportive Actor	Won
-	-	-	Won

State Drama Festival Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2003	Hayna	Best Actor	Won
2004	Dasa Mallige Bangalawa	Best Set Designer	Won
	Gehenu Weda Arambathi	Best Choreography	Won
1997	Popar Mama Saha Pinthuraya	Merit Award	Won
2001	Asinamaali	Merit Award	Won
2017	Nathuwa Bari Minihek	Best Actor	Won

Sarasavi Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2008	Machan	Best Actor	Won

SIGNIES Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2008	Machan	Best Actor	Won

Sumathi Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
-	Tatte Api Awa	Best Actor	Nominated	2021	Pork Weediya	Best Supporting Actor	Nominated

Participation in International Theater and Cinema Festivals

·       6 th BHARATH RANGA MAHOTHSAWA Theatre Festival, New Delhi in 2004 (“HAYNA” stage production)

·        8 th BHARATH RANGA MAHOTHSAWA Theatre Festival, New Delhi in 2006 (“SIHINA HORU ARAN” Stage production)

·       11th BHARATH RANGA MAHOTHSAWA Theatre Festival, New Delhi in 2009 (“makarakshaya” Stage production)

·       21st International Theatre Festival for Experimental Drama , Cairo in 2009 (“A WONDERUL DAY” Stage production)

·        22nd International Theatre Festival for Experimental Drama , Cairo in 2010 (“NO RETURN” Stage production)

·        Kathmandu International Theatre Festival, Kathmandu in 2010 (“ A WONDERFUL DAY” Stage Production)

·        72nd Venice Film Festival, Venice in 2008 (“MACHAN” movie)

·       4 th Dubai International Film Festival, Dubai, in 2009 (“MACHAN” movie)

·       10th Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea, in 2009 (“MACHAN” movie)

·       39th Molodist International Film Festival, Ukraine in 2009 (“MACHAN “ movie)

References

1. "All about Dharmapriya Dias". Official website. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
2. "Dharmapriya : Daring actor and devotee of theatre". Sunday Times. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
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4. "Dharmapriya: Daring actor and devotee of theatre". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
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7. "Indulging In Commercialism In The Dark". Sunday Leader. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
8. "Asinamaali Dreams of an escape". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
9. "Rajitha back with Bakamuna". Sunday Times. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
10. "Banku Weeraya in Colombo". Daily News. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
11. "Dolahak with Athula pathirana". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
12. "Comedy of Trio". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
13. "'Hari Apuru Davasak' on boards". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
14. "Falling in and out of love". The Morning. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
15. "Multi awarded Rajitha's play at Elphinstone". sundaytimes. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
16. "Jayasirita pissu". timeout. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
17. "Eventually only a handful of workers are left". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
18. "Rajitha's maiden public show". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
19. "Returns to Tower Hall". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
20. "Nathuwa Bari Minihek". rangahala. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
21. "Sadaya Marai Salli Hamarai". Rangahala. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
22. "'Dreams Robbed' Sihina Horu Arang". timeout. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
23. "When idealisms succumb to realism(s)". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
24. "Kapila's Adisi Nadiya on the tele screen by Chandana". සරසවිය. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
25. "Dias speaks about Deweni Inima". ceylonhitz. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
26. "Who told to stop Saadaya Marai". Divaina. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
27. "New tele by Sumith Wellalage". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
28. "Machan changed me". Ravaya. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
29. "'Jeewithaya Dakinna' : One Episode miniplays on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
30. "Swarnavahini to bring a bucket full of laughter to your doorstep - 'JoduGedara'". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
31. "Koombiyo: Story Of A Criminal Mastermind". asianmirror.lk. 11 August 2017.
32. "Jayammana airs Nil Ahasa Oba". Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
33. "'Nilla Penena Manaya': Good and the bad". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
34. "Depicts social differences". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
35. "'Pinibindu', a play on hide and seek". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
36. "Poke Street brought by Salinda". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
37. "A Queen on television". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
38. "Namal Jayasinghe's 'Sahodaraya' From November". Asian Mirror. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
39. "Sudath Devapriya newest teledrama starts". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
40. "Daya brings humour with 'Three-wheel Malli'". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
41. "Dharmapriya Dias - ධර්මප්‍රිය ඩයස් films". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
42. "Dharmapriya Dias filmography". IMDb. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
43. "Machan - Done to perfection". The Nation. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
44. "Machan — a rare cinematic treat". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
45. "Microscopic view of the systemic ailment Walapatala - Penumbra by Vijitha Gunarathne". The Sunday Observer. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
46. "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
47. "Maatha film". IMDb. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
48. "Prathiroo". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
49. "Puthandiya". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
50. "Red Butterfly Dream". Film Affinity. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
51. "Kaala - කාල". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
52. "Madhura Charika". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
53. "Davena Vihagun flying tomorrow". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
54. "We are smiling about the kind of glow of a society - Handagama". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
55. "The presidential stage where four people are competing". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
56. "The standard purpose of an abusive young woman: Eethalaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
57. "Friends who seek justice against media injustice". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
58. "Colombo arrives today with a new director and producer". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
59. ""Secret Mountains" Special Praise". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
60. "කිරුළ නොපැතූ කුමාරියකගේ ප්‍රේම වන්දනාව". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
61. "Passport' flies to India and Europe". Daily News. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
62. "Rajitha's play on post-war Sri Lanka wins many State Drama Awards". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 July 2019.

External links

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