Dharmapriya Dias is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Dias has titles such as playwright, actor, set designer, choreographer, teacher of art and has a master's degree in theatre and drama. He is the performing arts and sculpture art teacher in Shasthrananda Vidyalaya, Dehiwela.
Personal life
He completed his education from Piliyandala Central College, where he started drama under Premakumara Karunaratne. He is married to Anoja Milanthi and the couple has two sons - Swarna Rawana and Prawara Bhashana.
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. 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 150 shows. The drama also won several awards at the State Drama Festival, 2015 for the categories of actor, actress and stage manager. The final show before the break was staged on November 20, 2016. The drama won the awards for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Stage management at 2015 State Drama Festival. He is the set designer of stage drama Siriwardena Pawla directed by Rajitha Dissanayke.
Notable works
Asinamaali
Bakamuna Weedi Basi
Banku Weeraya
Dolahak
Guti Kemata Niyamithai
Hari Apuru Dawasak
Hithala Gaththu Theeranayak
Jayasirita Pissu
Julius Caesar
Lysistrata
Mata Wedi Thiyan Nedda?
Nathuwa Bari Minihek
Sadaya Marai Salli Hamarai
Sihina Horu Aran
Veeraya Marila
Heyna
Arundhathi
Apahu Heranna Ba
Kaneru Mal
Garu Tharuva
Deveni Mahindha
Vasu Deva
Romaya Gini Gani
Vanisiye Vellendha
Sihina Sappuwa
Muthu Ataye Geethaya
Malima
Short plays
Poparmama Saha Pinthuraya
Binduwa
Sanda Sewannella
Kiri Muttiya Gagegiya
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 Nalan Mendis, Sudatha Rohana, Janaka Siriwardena and Dee Gee Somapala.
Dias started his film career with Walapatala back in 2008, directed by Vijitha Gunarathna with a minor role. He played minor roles in Vijitha Gunaratne's Wala Patala and two other films Bora Diya Pokuna and Nahi Werena Werani. His most popular cinema acting came through films Machan, Puthandiya and Asandhimitta. The role in Machan as Stanley was highly praised by the critics and earned him the award for Best Actor.
