15 Facts About Somasiri Dehipitiya

Dehipitiyage Don Somasiri, popularly as Somasiri Dehipitiya, was a popular Sri Lankan character actor.

Somasiri Dehipitiya is best known for performances in Dharmasena Pathiraja and Vasantha Obeysekera films.

Somasiri Dehipitiya completed education from Gampaha Primary School and later at Galahitiyawa Central College.

Somasiri Dehipitiya's younger brother, Chandrasiri Dehipitiya was a renowned actor, art director and sculptor.

Somasiri Dehipitiya was a member of the choir in the play 'Maname'.

Somasiri Dehipitiya was married to his longtime partner Rupa Ranasinghe who worked as a dance teacher in government schools and acted as a dancer in about four films including Laa Dalu and Akkara Paha.

Somasiri Dehipitiya was a father of one son: Damith Sirilal, and one daughter: Nayananjali, who specializes in advertising as well as film costume design.

Somasiri Dehipitiya displayed his artistic talents since the age of ten, where in 1951 he greeted the then Prime Minister DS Senanayake with a warm welcome who came to his college.

Somasiri Dehipitiya later moved to drama and later won the Best Actor award for his role in Manamula at the 1954 School Drama Competition.

Somasiri Dehipitiya then entered radio at a young age with many talents.

Somasiri Dehipitiya once played the flute and at one time exhibited his talents as a radio dramatist.

Somasiri Dehipitiya started to act in stage plays such as Mati Karaththaya, Rathnawali produced by P Welikala as well as Mahagamasekera's Kundalakeshi, Swarnahansi.

Somasiri Dehipitiya made his acting debut in Siri Gunasinghe's landmark Sath Samudura in 1967.

Somasiri Dehipitiya dabbled as an assistant director with Ves Gatho in 1970 and as a playback singer in Walmath Wuvo with Cyril Wickramage.

In 1980, Somasiri Dehipitiya won the award for the Best Supporting Actor for his role in Siribo Ayya in Presidential Award Ceremony.