Somasiri Dehipitiya


Dehipitiyage Don Somasiri, popularly as Somasiri Dehipitiya, was a popular Sri Lankan character actor. He is best known for performances in Dharmasena Pathiraja and Vasantha Obeysekera films.

Personal life

Dehipitiya was born in Gampaha and attended Galahitiyawe Madhya Maha Vidyalaya. After completing his primary education, he began work as a civil servant eventually reaching a position at the Vehicles Department - Colombo in the engineer division.
He died of alcoholism in 1982.

Drama career

He started to act in stage plays such as Mati Karaththaya produced by P. Welikala. Then he joined Ediriweera Sarachchandra for his numerous stage plays such as Pabawathi, Raththaran, Elowa Gihin Melowa Awa and Kundala Keshi. Then he acted in Dayananda Gunawardena's Ibi Katta, Neil Wijesinghe's Ane Massine.

Cinema career

Dehipitiya made his acting debut in Siri Gunasinghe's landmark Sath Samudura in 1967. Throughout the 1970s and early-1980s, he was a mainstay in alternative cinema with roles in such critically acclaimed works as Thun Man Handiya, Ves Gatho, Hara Lakshaya, Ahas Gauwa, Sihasuna, Walmath Wuvo, Deviyani Oba Koheda, Eya Dan Loku Lamayek, Bambaru Awith, Anupama, Sarungale, Podi Malli, Siribo Aiyya, Para Dige, Karumakarayo, Soldadu Unnahe, Sagarayak Meda and Ridi Nimnaya.
Dehipitiya also dabbled as an assistant director with Ves Gatho in 1970 and as a playback singer in Walmath Wuvo with Cyril Wickramage. In 1980, Dehipitiya won the award for the Best Supporting Actor for his role in Siribo Ayya in Presidential Award Ceremony.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1967Sath SamuduraPeter
1970Thun Man HandiyaJamis
1970Wes GaththoSomey
1971Haara LakshayaSeney's brother-in-law
1973Hathdinnath TharuPearli's father
1973Dahakin EkekConsoling Villager
1973Sadahatama Oba Mage
1974Ahas GauwaSomey
1974SihasunaKirigora
1974Kasthuri SuwandaDanapala 'Dannaya'
1974Dinum Kanuwa
1974Kalyani GangaFisherman
1974Sagarika
1975Aese Idiripita
1975Lassana DawasakSomey
1976Pradeepe Ma Wewa
1976Saradielge PuthaMudalithuma 'Mudaliyar'
1976Mangala
1976Nilla Soya
1976Walmath WuwoSomadasa
1976DiyamanthiKushan Gunawardena 'Kojath Gune'
1977Deviyani Oba KohidaJamis
1977Pembara Madhu
1977Eya Dan Loku LamayekBootlegger
1977Chandi PuthaCyril
1977Maruwa Samaga WasePiyadasa 'Mudalali'
1978Asha Dasin
1978Selinage WalawwaSimon 'Aiyya'
1978Veera Puran AppuPuran Appu's brother
1978Bambaru AvithAnton's friend
1978Kumara KumariyoWilliam
1978AnupamaMudalali
1979SarungaleMr. Jayasekara
1979Visihathara PeyaJothindra
1980Jodu Walalu
1980Kanchana
1980Siribo AyyaBandulahamy
1980ParithyagayaJayathilaka's uncle
1980Para dige
1980KarumakkarayoWeladum Mahathaya
1981Valampuri
1981Soldadu Unnehe
1981VajiraVajira's father
1981Sagarayak MedaJailed abortion doctor
1981Sathara Diganthaya
1981SamawennaPeter
1982Re ManamaliManori's father
1982Sakvithi SuwayaMr. Gunawardena 'Gune'
1982Ridee Nimnaya
1982Yahalu YeheliKalu Diyonis
1983SandamaliAppuhamy
1983SumithuroSuranga's father
1983Niliyakata Pem KalemiBrucle 'Mudalali'
1983BonikkaDuncan Wickremasinghe
1984Niwan Dakna Jathi Dakwa
1984Batti
1985Karadiya Walalla