Daya Alwis


Thuiappuarachchi Don Daya de Alwis, popularly known as Daya Alwis, was an award-winning actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He was also a screenwriter and director. He directed about six teledramas. He was the first person in Sri Lanka to receive an award covering all three areas - Stage Drama, Cinema and Teledrama.
He died on 27 April 2015 at the age of 72, while receiving treatment after an accident.

Personal life

Daya Alwis was born on 7 November 1942 in Payagala as the fourth son of the family with seven siblings. He completed his education from Kalutara Gnanodaya Vidyalaya. In 1956 at the age of 14, he sang the song Laa Dalu Wanamal. After finishing Bhathkande degree, he entered to Tholangamuwa Central College as the music teacher. He made his first drama, Girikula, at the school.
He was married to Yamuna Dayangani and they had two sons - Sarangadeva and Sapumal Bandara.

Acting career

Before entering acting, Alwis traveled to India in 1964 to study music in Bhatkhande Music Institute Deemed University and worked as a sound mixer for on stage events. In 1966, he produced his first film. He started acting career with stage dramas, Depano, Modara Mola, Ekadhipathi, Kaluware Jaramare,Ran Kanda, such as Sarathchandra's Premathi Jayathi Soko and Kalu Walalu, Gunasena Galapththi's Muhudu Puttu, Henry Jayasena's Makarã Saha Gamanak, Dharmasiri Bandara's Kakarasaya, Dawala Beehishana, Somalatha Subasinghe's Vikurthi and Jayantha Chandrasiri's Môra. His own production Dalpadadu was shown on 6 and 13 October in Sweden and again in October at Harrow and later at the University of London, Westminster. His stage drama Parasthawa also played in London and Birmingham. Some of stage dramas he directed include Aganthukayo and K Sara. He is the screenplay writer and assistant director for the film Sinhabahu.

Television career

Alwis is one of the earliest pillars of Sinhala teledrama history. He made history as the first person who wrote and acted in the very first drama, La Hiru Dahasak, which was televised, in Sri Lankan television. He also wrote screenplay for the dramas Awarjanaa, Punarawarthana and Bodima. His maiden teledrama direction came through Chandra Yamaya. He acted in the critically acclaimed serial Weda Hamine and then on Chandrayamaya. His most popular television acting came through the Bodima and Paba television serials. He also starred in Ira Bata Taruwa, the first Sri Lankan teledrama filmed in London. In 2001, he directed the serial Awasan Horawa telecast on ITN channel every Friday at 7.30 p.m. from January 5th.

Television serials

On 20 April 2015 he met with an accident at Bokundara, Piliyandala with a threewheel. He went home without any medications as no any external bleeding had taken place. However, internal bleeding had occurred and his head had received a contusion in the accident. He was then rushed to the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital. He underwent treatment at Neurological Unit for severe bleeding in his brain. He died on 27 April around 3.50am, due to internal bleeding while receiving treatment at the hospital.

Filmography

Alwis started his film career with Amarnath Jayatilaka's 1976 film Thilake Ha Thilaka. Then he acted in more than 40 films. Some of his popular cinema acting came through Kolamba Sanniya, Madol Duwa, Sarungalaya, Pooja, Maya as well as Wasantha Obeysekara’s Walmathwuwo, where he was nominated for national awards.
YearNo.FilmRoleRef.
1976Thileka Ha ThilakaMr. Madegoda
1976Madol DuwaPunchi Mahaththaya
1976Kolamba SanniyaSaralis 'Cyril Costa'
1976Selinage WalawwaAnta
1978Bambaru AvithPriest
1978Ahasin Polawata
1979Wasanthaye DawasakSarath's friend
1979Chuda ManikyaRailway constable
1979HandayaCommentator box viewer
1980Uthumaneni
1980Jodu Walalu
1980Siribo AyyaSadiris
1980KarumakkarayoDeniya Mahathaya
1980Sinhabahu
1981Saaranga
1982Maha GedaraAppuhamy
1983Niliyakata Pem KalemiTimber businessman
1983DadayamaMinister
1983Menik Maliga
1984Maya
1985Mihidum SaluTala Munda
1985Wathsala Akka
1986Maldeniye SimionCharlie
1986Pooja
1987ViragayaKulasekara
1990Dese Mal Pipila
1991Golu Muhude Kunatuwa
1994SandamadalaSchool teacher
1994Mee HarakaBus driver
1995MaruthayaDharme's associate
1995Chitti
1996Loku Duwa
1997VisidelaKeerala
1998Anthima Reya
1998Julietge BhumikawaLawrence
1999Rathu AluyamaProctor Weerawardena
2003Mother Teresa of CalcuttaKaligarth seller
2005WaterSaduram
2005SulangaSalesman
2008Nil Diya Yahana
2010Uththara
2013Nikini Vassa
2016PaththiniRoyal goldsmith
2019Sikuru Yogaya