Roy de Silva


Chathurartha Devadithya Gardiyawasam Lindamulage Roy Aloysius Felix de Silva, popularly known as Roy de Silva, was a Sri Lankan actor and film director in Sri Lankan cinema and former acting president of the Olympic Council of Asia. He entered the film industry as an actor in 1964 with Sujage Rahasa directed by Palaniyaandi Neelakantan. He then moved towards cinema direction, becoming one of the most successful film makers in the Sri Lankan film industry. His blockbuster movies such as Re Daniel Dawal Migel series, Cheriyo series, Clean Out, and Sir Last Chance were economically successful and made hallmarks in the industry.

Personal life

Born on 30 August 1937, as Chathurartha Devadithya Gardiyawasam Lindamulage Roy Aloysius Felix de Silva, he quickly changed his name to Roy de Silva in the beginning of his cinema career. He was born in Yatawatta, Matale as the fourth of seven siblings.
He first attended Yatawatta Sinhala School, and then moved to St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa and completed advanced level from St. Joseph's College, Colombo. Just after completing school, he started to act in many stage dramas such as Narbona Hee Ranaweera Sebala and Surath Liliya.
He is married to fellow Sri Lankan actress Sumana Amarasinghe and they have two children.

Career as an actor

De Silva came to the silver screen through Sujage Rahasa directed by P. Neelakantan, a famous South Indian director that accompanied with MGR as well. The film was released on 24 December 1964 and received a positive reception from critics. His success was achieved through stylish acting, Tamil Indian actor like personality and fluency in Tamil. This in turn gave him many opportunities to act under many Tamil directors in his early days.
In 1972, de Silva's film Sujeewa surpassed the gross earning of Edath Suraya Adath Suraya, starring the most famous Sri Lankan actor of that time, Gamini Fonseka.
De Silva's acting career mostly came under directors like Joe Dev Anand, Danny Mariyadasan, M S Anandan, K Venkat,Kingsley Rajapakse, Robin Tampoe, Lenin Morayes, and Cyril P. Abeyratne.
De Silva had the ability to remember long dialogues.

As a singer

Apart from direction and acting, De Silva also performed as a playback singer on an few occasions, such as in the films Tom Pachaya and Minisun Athara Minisek.

Acting President of OCA

After the death of Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, De Silva served as acting president of the Olympic Council of Asia. In 1991, he retired and handed over over office to Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the current president of the council.

Death & Legacy

On 30 June 2018, De Silva died while being treated for a heart attack at Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital. His remains were buried on 2 July 2018 at Kanatte Cemetery.
On 1 September 2018, de Silva's autobiography was launched at Tharangani Hall. The book is titled Ada Siyawasaka Sadadara Roy.
On 5 July 2020, de Silva's wife Sumana Amarasinghe organized an alms giving at an old house in Colombo in two year commemoration of his death.

Filmography

YearNo.FilmRole
1964116Sujage Rahasa
1966152Sudu Duwa
1966155Sanasili Suwaya
1967162Sangawunu Menika
1968193Ruhunu Kumari
1969213Uthum SthreeMahindayaa
1969212Pick PocketAsoka
1970222Sumudu Bharya
1970227Geetha
1971237Dawena Pipasaya
1971247Samanala Kumariyo
1972255SujeewaSamantha
1972256Singapuru Charlie
1972260Hathara WateRohana
1972263Me Dasa KumatadaDoctor Roy de Silva
1973277Sinawai Inawai
1973278SunethraUpul Mahinda Seneviratne
1974287SheelaTissa Gunawardena
1975306Obai MamaiSuminda Wijegunaratne
1975312Sukiri KellaSenaka Dharmapala
1975316Mage Nangi Shyama
1975321Ranwan Rekha
1976358Ran Thilakaa
1977361Sudu ParaviyoChandi
1977371Honda Hitha
1977Saazish
1978387Mage Ran Putha
1978403Deepanjalee
1979410SamanmaliAmitha
1979312Minisun Athara MinisekKeerthi
1979427AnushaSarath
1980443SilvaChamika
1980447Adara RathneLal
1981531Mihidum SihinaSinna
1981484Sanasuma
1982517Pethi Gomara
1985624Obata Diwura Kiyannam
1987670AhinsaJaye
1988671Rasa Rahasak
1988676Amme Oba Nisa
1988677Angulimala
1989688Okkoma Rajawaru
1990704Hondin Naththam Narakin
1990710Madu Sihina
1990712Christhu CharithayaCaiaphas
1991723Obata Pamanay Adare
1992744Jaya Sri We Kumariye
1992762Suranimala
1992764Muwan Palasse Kadira
1993773Sagara Thilina
1993779Chaya Maya
1993774Prathingya
1993776Sasara Sarisarana Thek Oba Mage
1993777Mawila Penewi Roope
1993780Come O' Go ChicagoMr. Wickremasinghe
1993781Yasasa
1994798Nohadan Kumariyo
1994813Aathma
1994814Sudu Piruwata
1997881Apaye Thappara 84000k
2002975Sansara Prarthana
20151239My Name Is BanduSinhabahu

As a director

De Silva was primarily a director of comedy films, which made him one of Sri Lanka's promising directors in Sri Lanka cinema industry. His first direction was of the 1977 film Tom Pachaya, co-directed with Stanley Perera. Up to 2016, he directed 33 films, with more than 70 percent of the films easily passing 100 days and becoming blockbuster hits. De Silva's first English film direction was It's a Matter of Time in 1991.
YearNo.FilmRole
1977379Tom PachayaChaminda Edward
1982507Thana Girawi
1982531Mihidum SihinaSinna
1982541Kadawunu Poronduwaremake
1983547Sumithuro
1984588Hitha Honda Kollek
1987657Thaathi Man Adarei
1987674Gedara Budun AmmaSamantha
1990710Madhu SihinaSinna
1990714Hitha Honda Puthek
1991It's a Matter of Time
1991734Cheriyo Doctor
1992758Okkoma Kanapita
1993778Soorayan Athara Veeraya
1993783Jeevan Malli
1994815Love 94Baby's Father
1995822Vijay Saha Ajay
1995839Cheriyo Captain
1996863Cheriyo Darling
1997875Ramba Saha Madu
1998894Re Daniel Dawal Migel 1Detective Cobra
2000932Re Daniel Dawal Migel 2Detective Cobra
2000944Pem Kekula
2001959Jonsun and GonsunStation Master
2002991Love 2002
20031006Sepata Dukata Sunny
20041026Clean Out
20041034Selamuthu Pinna
20041034Re Daniel Dawal Migel 3
20061075Sonduru WasantheJayawardena
20071083Mr Dana Rina
20091122Sir Last Chance
2011It’s a Matter of Love