{{short description|Sri Lankan actor and comedian (1934–1986)}} {{Infobox person | name = Don Sirisena <br>දොන් සිරිසේන | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = 1934 | birth_name = Arandara Kankanamlage Don Sirisena | birth_place = Borella, British Ceylon | death_date = 1986 (aged 51) | death_place = Colombo, Sri Lanka | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | education = Sri Punyakami Maha Vidyalaya | years_active = 1964–1986 | other_names = A.K.D. Sirisena | relatives = Damitha Saluwadana (cousin sister)<ref name= damitha>{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2015/12/03/?fn=sa15120324 | title=Kopi Kade Asilin is gone forever | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=8 July 2020}}</ref> | website = | footnotes = | occupation = Actor, comedian }}
'''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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nfc.gov.lk/artist/don-sirisena-646/ | title=Actors of Sinhala cinema – Don Sirisena | publisher=National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka| access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4763471/ | title=Don Sirisena films | publisher=IMDb| access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref>
==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.<ref name= sirisenabio>{{cite web | url=https://www.lankadeepa.lk/Rasawitha/පරසදධය-සය-නගය-දන-සරසන/57-602289 | title=ප්රසිද්ධිය සොයා නොගිය දොන් සිරිසේන | website=lankadeepa.lk| access-date=30 January 2025}}</ref>
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.<ref name= sirisenabio />
His wife Enid was the elder sister of popular actress Damitha Saluwadana.<ref name= damitha /> After a career more than four decades in cinema, theatre and television, Damitha died on 27 November 2015 at the age of 67.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2015/11/28/actress-damitha-saluwadana-passes-away/ | title=Actress Damitha Saluwadana passes away | publisher=News First | access-date=8 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.divaina.com/2015/12/06/meewitha04.html | title=Damitha who left the life | publisher=Divaina | access-date=8 July 2020 | archive-date=8 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708182020/https://www.divaina.com/2015/12/06/meewitha04.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> Sirisena's one of the nephews, Dunstan Nandalal is also an actor.<ref name= sirisenabio />
Sirisena died in 1986 at the age of 51 after suffering from prolong illness.<ref name= sirisenabio />
==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''.<ref name= sirisenabio /> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2016/11/27/wimal-kumara-de-costa-versatile-actor | title=Wimal Kumara de Costa : A versatile actor | publisher=Sunday Observer | access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> His final cinema appearance came through 1991 film ''Ali Baba Saha Horu Hathaliha'', five years after his death.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.films.lk/sinhala-cinema-artist-don-sirisena-970.html | title=Don Sirisena – දොන් සිරිසේන filmography | publisher=Sinhala Cinema Database| access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lifie.lk/2019/10/21/comedians-who-passed-away/ | title=Dead people are still laughing at us | publisher=lifie| access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref>
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.<ref name= sirisenabio /> 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.<ref name= sirisenabio />
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 threatre and performed in popular stage plays such as: ''Sivammā Dhanapāla'' and ''Kaḍavunu Poronduva''.<ref name= sirisenabio />
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Ref. |- | 1964 || ''Sobana Sitha'' || || |- | 1965 || ''La Dalu'' || || |- | 1965 || ''Saaravita'' || Muslim Mudalali's co-worker ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lankadeepa.lk/rasawitha/සරයයට-ඇනඳ-සබරගම-පරහර-ගණහම/57-523753 |title=සාරයියාට ඇන්ඳ සබරගමු පෙරහරේ ගුණහාමි|publisher=Lankadeepa |access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref> |- | 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'' || ||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-films/2019/11/07/11979/අපට-කොයින්දෝ-රන්වන්-රං-ඔන්චිල්ලා |title=All about Ran Onchilla |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=23 December 2017}}</ref> |- | 1971 || ''Kathuru Muwath'' || Kathuru Muwath's friend ||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/life/Torana--releases-three-films-in-DVD/243-179652 | title=Torana releases three films in DVD | publisher=Daily Mirror| access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> |- | 1971 || ''Seeye Nottuwa'' || ||<ref name= no14>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/02/16/_art.asp?fn=sa12021624&pn=23|title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1971 || ''Samanala Kumariyo'' || ||<ref name= no14 /> |- | 1972 || ''Sujeewa'' || Matchmaker ||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-films-local/2020/07/23/18069/චන්දන-ඇල්ලෙන්-නාලා |title=All about Sujeewa |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref> |- | 1972 || ''Singapore Charlie'' || || |- | 1972 || ''Ada Mehemai'' || Bartender || |- | 1972 || ''Hithaka Pipunu Mal'' || ||<ref name= no13>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/03/08/_art.asp?fn=sa12030825&pn=24|title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1972 || ''Lokuma Hinawa'' || Sleeping patient || |- | 1972 || ''Me Desa Kumatada'' || ||<ref name= no13 /> |- | 1972 || ''Ihatha Athmaya'' || Dumped into street runner / Hawker ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/03/15/_art.asp?fn=sa12031523&pn=23 |title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1973 || ''Matara Achchi'' || Cyril's city co-worker's father ||<ref name= no15>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/03/22/_art.asp?fn=sa12032222&pn=24|title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1973 || ''Suhada Pethuma'' || Chamila's worker ||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2020/03/12/17247/සෙවනැළි-සීතල-ලිය-ගොමුවේ | title=All about Suhada Pathuma | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=21 September 2016}}</ref> |- | 1973 || ''Thushara'' || ||<ref name= no15 /> |- | 1973 || ''Aparadhaya Ha Danduwama'' || ||<ref name= no15 /> |- | 1973 || ''Gopalu Handa'' || || |- | 1973 || ''Hathdinnath Tharu'' || Samson || |- | 1973 || ''Sunethra'' || Manager || |- | 1973 || ''Hondata Hondai'' || Duncan's foreman || |- | 1974 || ''Duleeka'' || ||<ref name= no12>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/04/12/?fn=sa12041226&pn=24|title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය -60 |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1974 || ''Dinum Kanuwa'' || ||<ref name= no12 /> |- | 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 ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=All about the film Susee |url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2018/08/30/?fn=sa18083034 |access-date=2021-01-10 |website=Sarasaviya}}</ref> |- | 1974 || ''Sagarika'' || || |- | 1974 || ''Duppathage Hithawatha'' || Ananda's friend ||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2020/03/05/16839/දුප්පත්-පොහොසත්-දෙකක්-ඕන-නෑ | title=All about Duppathage Hithawatha | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref> |- | 1974 || ''Sahayata Danny'' || Patient with toothache || |- | 1974 || ''Rodi Gama'' || Roba || |- | 1975 || ''Obai Mamai'' || ||<ref name= no17>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/movies//?fn=sa1205247|title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය – 66|publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1975 || ''Raththaran Amma'' || Hadda ||<ref name= no17 /> |- | 1975 || ''Tharanga'' || Wijesena Silva ||<ref name= no17 /> |- | 1975 || ''Sukiri Kella'' || Engineer David Gunathilake || |- | 1975 || ''Kokilayo'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Rajagedara Paraviyo'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Jeewana Geethaya'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Damayanthi'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Sadhana'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Hadawathaka Wasanthaya'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Sangeetha'' || Charlie ||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2019/11/28/12689/ඔබෙ-සැප-මගේ-සතුටයි |title=All about Sangeetha |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=23 December 2017}}</ref> |- | 1976 || ''Kawuda Raja'' || Bando || |- | 1976 || ''Kolamba Sanniya'' || Saping ||<ref name= bestfilms>{{cite web | url=https://www.yamu.lk/blog/9-popular-sinhala-comedy-movies-of-all-time | title=In fact, a good comic movie | publisher=yamu| access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> |- | 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'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chin Chin Nona, who came before Tom Pachaya |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films-local-story/2021/03/04/19939/ටොම්-පචයාට-කලින්-ආව-චිං-චිං-නෝනා |access-date=2021-03-05 |website=sarasaviya}}</ref> |- | 1977 || ''Sajaa'' || ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/09/13/?fn=sa1209136|title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය – 78 |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 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'' || ||<ref name= no11>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/10/18/?fn=sa12101828|title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය -83 |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1978 || ''Janaka Saha Manju'' || || |- | 1978 || ''Tikira'' || Dharme ||<ref name= no11 /> |- | 1978 || ''Deepanjali'' || || |- | 1978 || ''Apeksha'' || || |- | 1979 || ''Raan Kurullo'' || ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/12/06/?fn=sa12120621|title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය – 90 |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1979 || ''Samanmalee'' || || |- | 1979 || ''Minisun Athara Minisek'' || || |- | 1979 || ''Hingana Kolla'' || Gardener ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=All about the film "Hingana Kolla" |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2019/07/11/6918/මනමාලයි-මනහාරයි-හිඟන-කොල්ලා |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=Sarasaviya}}</ref> |- | 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 ||<ref name= bestfilms /> |- | 1981 || ''Vajira'' || Elaris || |- | 1981 || ''Senasuma'' || || |- | 1981 || ''Sathkulu Pawwa'' || Alphonso || |- | 1981 || ''Dayabara Nilu'' || David || |- | 1981 || ''Jeewanthi'' || || |- | 1982 || ''Sandaa'' || || |- | 1982 || ''Yasa Isuru'' || Salaman ||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2020/08/20/18469/සුරලොව-සිට-අත-පා-ඒ-කඳුළැලි-පිසිනා |title=All about 'Yasa Isuru' |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1982 || ''Sudu Ayya'' || Cyril || |- | 1982 || ''Eka Diga Kathawak'' || || |- | 1982 || ''Wathura Karaththaya'' || Inspector Sarayan || |- | 1982 || ''Sithaara'' || || |- | 1982 || ''Rail Paara'' || ||<ref name= no>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2013/06/27/?fn=sa1306276 |title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය -118 |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1982 || ''Thakkita Tharikita'' || || |- | 1982 || ''Major Sir'' || || |- | 1982 || ''Kadawunu Poronduwa'' || Tamil Priest ||<ref name= no /> |- | 1983 || ''Ranmini Muthu'' || Mudalali ||<ref name= no18>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2013/07/04/?fn=sa13070424|title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය – 119|publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1983 || ''Sandamali'' || Nandoris ||<ref name= no18 /> |- | 1983 || ''Chuttey'' || Mudalali || |- | 1983 || ''Sumithuro'' || ||<ref name= no18 /> |- | 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 ||<ref name= bestfilms /> |- | 1984 || ''Mala Giravi'' || Sudu Banda || |- | 1984 || ''Hitha Honda Kollek'' || || |- | 1984 || ''Kokila'' || Kuddiya || |- | 1984 || ''Muthu Manike'' || || |- | 1985 || ''Puthuni Mata Samawenna'' || ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2013/12/05/?fn=sa13120541|title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය 140|publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1985 || ''Aeya Waradidda Oba Kiyanna'' || || |- | 1985 || ''Obata Diwura Kiyannam'' || Hotel manager || |- | 1986 || ''Prarthana'' || || |- | 1987 || ''Kiwulegedara Mohottala'' || Dinga || |- | 1988 || ''Ko Hathuro'' || ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2014/09/04/?fn=sa14090456 |title=සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය 171 |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> |- | 1989 || ''Badulu Kochchiya'' || || |- | 1990 || ''Sambudu Mahima'' || || |- | 1990 || ''Walawwe Hamu'' || || |- | 1991 || ''Alibaba Saha Horu Hathaliha'' || || |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.dinamina.lk/2019/06/21/විශේෂාංග/75577/අගැයුමක්-නැති-මිනිස්සු?page=55 අගැයුමක් නැති මිනිස්සු] * [https://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2013/01/17/?fn=sa1301175 රත්තරන් දුවත් එක්ක නැවත රඟපාන්න එනවා: ශිරාණි නුගේරා යළි සරසවිය අමතයි] {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sirisena, Don}} Category:1934 births Category:1986 deaths Category:Sri Lankan male film actors Category:Sri Lankan comedians Category:Sri Lankan male stage actors