Somasiri Dehipitiya

Who is Somasiri Dehipitiya?

Dehipitiyage Don Somasiri was a popular Sri Lankan character actor. He won a Presidential Award for his role in Siribo Aiyya but is perhaps best known for performances in Dharmasena Pathiraja and Vasantha Obeysekera films.

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.

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. He died of alcoholism in 1982.