W. Jayasiri Explained

W. Jayasiri
Native Name Lang:si
Native Name:ඩබ්ලිව්. ජයසිරි
Birth Date:1 May 1947
Birth Place:Galle, British Ceylon
Death Place:Colombo, Sri Lanka
Education:St. Thomas' College, Matara Vidyaloka College, Galle
Years Active:1966–2024
Awards:Best Supporting Actor (Presidential Film Awards)
Occupation:Actor, lyricist, screenplay writer

Weerapullige Jayasiri (1 May 1947 – 22 September 2024), popularly known as W. Jayasiri, was a Sri Lankan actor in film, television and on stage, and who also worked as a script writer and lyricist.[1]

Personal life

Jayasiri was born in Hirimbura, Galle on 1 May 1947.[2] He had three brothers.[3] His first school was Kithulampitiya Central Girls' College. Then he moved to Matara, and studied at Sumangala Vidyalaya. Next he attended St. Thomas' College, Matara until S.S.C exam. He was revoked from the school due to his misbehaviours and finally attended Vidyaloka College, Galle.[3]

Jayasiri was selected to University of Colombo for higher studies on Economics, Indian history and Sinhala. At the university, he engaged in several drama festivals and also worked as the editor of drama circle. At that time he organized drama festivals where he met Sugathapala de Silva, and became close friends.

After series of losses in drama career, he went to Saudi Arabia for work in US company. After few years, he returned and started to play in drama again. He was married and the couple has two daughters.

Death

Jaysiri died in Colombo on 22 September 2024, at the age of 77.[4]

Acting career

Jaysiri was also a close friend of renowned director Dharmasena Pathiraja, at that time he used to play cameo roles in stage dramas. According to him, he started to play major roles only after he turned 40 years of age. His maiden stage drama acting came through Harima badu Hayak second edition in 1966. He played roles in de Silva's popular stage dramas such as Dunna Dunugamuwa, Muthu Kumari and then in Pathiraja's Eya Dan Loku Lamyek. He became popular with the films Seilama and Visidela, both directed by H. D. Premaratne.[5]

His critically acclaimed stage drama acting came through stage drama Mara Sade in 1985, which is considered a milestone in the Sinhala theater.[6] He is the lyricist of popular film Bambaru Awith. In 2005, Jayasiri translated the television script Sanda Mudunata which was originally written by director Samy Pavel in French.[7]

Selected stage dramas

Selected television serials

Radio plays

As a lyricist

The first song "Sulan Hamai Lowa Nalawei" wrote by Jayasiri was recorded in the early 70s for a solo concert by the singer Sanath Nandasiri.[50] The he wrote a song titled "Asuna Wedi Hadak" for the stage play Dhawala Bheeshana produced by Dharmasiri Bandaranayake. In 1978, he worked in the blockbuster film Bambaru Avith and made the critically acclaimed song "Udumbara Hinahenawa" where music composed by Premasiri Khemadasa.

In 1980, he made the lyrics of the film song "Senehasa Pupura" sung by Ivor Dennis for the Bandaranayake's film Hansa Vilak. In the same year, Jayasiri wrote the song "Pawela Pawela" for the film Para Dige, which became the first film song sung by Vijaya Kumaratunga. Other than film songs, he continuously made theme songs for the teledramas, including: "Gamburu Ananthe" for Gal Pilimaya Saha Bol Pilimaya; "Mee Masi Nodeni" for Theth Saha Viyali; "Hankawisiyaka Rali Nagai" for Sulanga Matha Mohothak; "Akasaye Padasayaka" for Bhawanthara; "Tharakawa Dura Dakinna" for Uththamavi and the song "Bonda Wee His Akashaye" for the 1990 popular teledrama Weda Hamine directed by Jayantha Chandrasiri.

In 1995, he composed the song "Lorensoda Almeda" for the film Chitti, where the song was sung by Sunil Perera. Then he made the "Niwena Hina" song for Sangeeth Wijesuriya based on a previously composed melody at the invitation of musician Harsha Ariyasinghe. Other songs he made are: "Muhunuwara Obe Dutuwa" (Kumari Munasighe), "Kola Sithin Desa Wasaaya" (Kaushalya Fernando), "Sathbumu Mahale" (W. D. Amaradeva), "Sihina Sandun Ge" (Bandula Wijeweera), "Biduwen Biduwata" (Amaradeva & Neela Wickramasinghe), "Ira Pena Ira Rashmiya" (Neela Wickramasinghe) and "Thaniwunu Oruwaka" (D.R. Danny).

Refusal of award

In 2018, he refused to attend the Kalabooshana state awards festival to protest the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister. On social media, he condemned the president, Maithripala Sirisena, and refused an award offered by him.[51]

Filmography

Jayasiri started his film career with a minor role in 1973 film Dahakin Ekak directed by Meril Albert.[52] He contributed to several critically acclaimed films such as Seilama, Wisidela, Bawa Duka, Duwata Mawaka Misa, Sankranthi and Gamani.[53]

Year Film Role Ref.
1973 Dahakin Ekek Club drunk fighter
1976 Diyamanthi Caldera's thug [54]
1978 Bambaru Awith Micheal
1980 Para Dige
1980 Hansa Vilak
1981 Soldadu Unnahe
1982 Ridee Nimnaya
1994 Handana Kinkini
1995 Mee Haraka Mansoor
1995 Seilama Marcus
1995 Chitti
1995 Ayoma
1997 Duwata Mawaka Misa
1997 Bawa Duka Officer [55]
1997 Bawa Karma
1997 Mother Teresa Mr. Goma
1997 Visidela Gunapala [56]
1999 Surangana Yahana
1999 Mandakini [57]
1999 Sathyadevi Jinadasa [58]
2000 Pem Kekula [59]
2001 Daru Upatha
2001 Me Mage Sandai [60]
2002 Sathkampa Benjamin [61] [62]
2002 Arumosam Wahi [63]
2002 Mamath Geheniyak
2003 Thani Thatuwen Piyabanna Doctor [64]
2003 Sudu Kaluwara Arachchi [65]
2004 Mille Soya [66]
2007 Sankranthi Dr. Gerad [67]
2009 Rosa Mal Sayanaya
2011 Gamani Sumedha, chief monk [68]
2013 Abhinikmana Chief monk [69]
2014 Swaroopa Gregory Samson [70]
2014 Que Sera Ananda [71]
2014 Death in a Noble Day
2015 Suhada Koka Minister Gajanayake [72]
2016 Sakkarang Jeramiyas [73]
2016 Weerawarna Ivan Salgadu [74]
2017 Kaala Wattaka Nilame [75]
2017 Aloko Udapadi Jain Nighantha Giri [76]
2018 Punchi Andare [77]
2019 Asandhimitta Old Wickramasekara [78]
2019 President Super Star Minister [79]
2020 Nim Him [80]
2020 Soosthi Soosa's father [81]
2022 Night Rider [82]
2023 Swara
TBD Anora
TBD Akarsha [83]
TBD Elakandiye Marcus [84]
TBD Suvisi Vivarana [85]

Awards

He won a Presidential Film Award for the Best Supporting Actor for his role in the movie Duwata Mawaka Misa in 1997.

1997 - Best Supporting Actor (Duwata Mawaka Misa)

2012 - Best Supporting Actor (Gamani)[86]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sri Lankan actors - W. Jayasiri . National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka . 25 April 2019 . 17 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190717082127/http://www.nfc.gov.lk/artist/w-jayasiri-200/ . dead .
  2. Web site: W. Jayasiri turns 70 . Mirror . 17 July 2019.
  3. Web site: Interview with W. Jayasiri . Janayugaya . 17 July 2019.
  4. Web site: Veteran Sri Lancan Actor W. Jaysiri Dies at Age 77, Leaving Behind a Rich Legacy . lancasara.com . 22 September 2024.
  5. Web site: Unsung hero of the arts scene . Daily News . 17 July 2019.
  6. Web site: A book not to be missed . Daily Mirror . 17 July 2019.
  7. Web site: A director with a mission . Sunday Times . 4 December 2019.
  8. Web site: Dolahak with Athula pathirana . Sarasaviya . 15 August 2019.
  9. Web site: Comedy of Trio . Sunday Times . 17 July 2019.
  10. Web site: "Dhawala Bheeshana" Back Again . Mirror Arts . 17 July 2019.
  11. Web site: Glamour of theatrical reality in genuine art . Sunday Observer . 17 July 2019.
  12. Web site: Makarakshaya . Time out . 17 July 2019.
  13. Web site: SLASA presents 'Handa Nihanda'. Daily Mirror . 17 July 2019.
  14. Web site: 2 February 2022 . Kapila's Adisi Nadiya on the tele screen by Chandana . 14 February 2022 . සරසවිය.
  15. Web site: 'Ado' Viewers live a big dream until it ultimately shatters - News Features | Daily Mirror.
  16. Web site: Seven Iconic Teledramas In Sri Lanka's Television History . Roar Media. 17 July 2019.
  17. Web site: Treat yourself to Arungal . Daily News . 30 July 2019.
  18. Web site: Bim Kaluwara: The story of environmental change . Sunday Times . 16 August 2016.
  19. Web site: Range of An Arrow - Dandubasnamanaya . MUBI . 17 July 2019.
  20. Web site: 'Dhawala Kanya' : A mystery story . Sunday Times . 29 November 2019.
  21. Web site: 'Dambulugala Sakmana' on Rupavahini . Sunday Times . 10 December 2019.
  22. Web site: 'Gajamuthu' glitters on mini screen . Sunday Times . 17 July 2019.
  23. Web site: Girikula now in editing process . Daily Mirror . 30 July 2019.
  24. Web site: Kids hit ball for 'Haye Pahara' . Sunday Times. 22 July 2019.
  25. Web site: 'Idorayaka Mal Pipila': A tragic story . Sunday Times . 27 November 2019.
  26. News: Koombiyo: Story Of A Criminal Mastermind. 11 August 2017. asianmirror.lk. en-gb. 27 October 2017. 17 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20171027181048/http://www.asianmirror.lk/entertainment/item/24864-koombiyo-criminal-mastermind-in-action. dead.
  27. Web site: 'Laabai Apple' underway . Sunday Times. 7 May 2019.
  28. Web site: 'Mage Kaviya Mata Denna' : Mano's filmic dream . Sunday Times . 18 August 2019.
  29. Web site: 10 December 2021 . "Manikkawatha": The television is ready for a turning point in the art of teledrama - ITN News රස බර . 16 December 2021 . ITN News . si-LK.
  30. Web site: රෝෂන් මිණි මුතු සමඟ . Sarasaviya . 29 March 2019.
  31. Web site: The East is Calling . Sunday Times . 17 July 2019.
  32. Web site: Story of Lives that stopped in the wrong places. Sarasaviya . 8 August 2018.
  33. Web site: Futility of war on mini screen . Sunday Times . 17 July 2019.
  34. Web site: Ran Kira Soya Tele Film . sinhalatv . 17 July 2019.
  35. Web site: 'Rankiri Soya' gives kids a hand . Sunday times . 17 November 2017.
  36. Web site: Sadgunakaraya: A story of six generations . Sunday Times . 25 July 2019.
  37. Web site: Story of 'Sanda Mudunata' . Sunday Times . 25 July 2019.
  38. Web site: Tale of a struggle for power . Sunday Times . 17 July 2019.
  39. Web site: 'Suddilage Kathawa' back on miniscreen . Sunday Times . 4 December 2019.
  40. Web site: Work – Teledramas. Shalani Tharaka website. 2 September 2019. 22 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190822103604/http://www.shalanitharaka.com/work.html. dead.
  41. Web site: 'Wet and Dry': An emotional tale . Sunday Times . 4 December 2019.
  42. Web site: Thimiragira on Derana . Sarasaviya . 25 July 2019.
  43. Web site: 5 January 2022 . Thumpane on Television . 7 January 2022 . Sarasaviya.
  44. Web site: Saradiel re-lived . Sunday Observer . 30 July 2019.
  45. Web site: 'Vishwanthari': World Class literature on miniscreen . Sunday Times . 8 December 2019.
  46. Web site: Sudath's stories on screen again . Sunday Times . 16 August 2016.
  47. Web site: 'Wassana Sihinaya' on Derana . Sunday Times . 22 December 2019.
  48. Web site: Jayalath Manorathna - Radio Play (Tharuwansaranai). youtube . 16 October 2019.
  49. Web site: Critics 'tune' in to wrong frequency . dailymirror . 16 October 2018 . 31 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200131060830/http://mirrorcitizen.dailymirror.lk/2018/10/16/critics-tune-in-to-wrong-frequency/ . dead .
  50. Web site: ඩබ්ලිව්. ජයසිරි - අප්‍රකට ගීත රචකයාගේ ප්‍රකට ගීත. 13 October 2025 . mirrorarts.lk . 13 October 2025.
  51. Web site: W. Jayasiri rejects state award . Sri Lanka Mirror . 17 July 2019.
  52. Web site: W. Jayasiri - ඩබ්ලිව් ජයසිරි films . Sinhala Cinema Database. 15 July 2019.
  53. Web site: W. Jayasiri filmography . IMDb . 17 July 2019.
  54. Web site: All about Diyamanthi . Sarasaviya . 23 December 2017.
  55. Web site: Sinhala screened films . Sarasaviya . 11 March 2017.
  56. Web site: The Fishing Net (1994) . IMDb . 11 March 2017.
  57. Web site: Mandakini - මන්දාකිනි . Sinhala Cinema Database . 30 November 2019.
  58. Web site: 'Sathyadevi' comes with a human touch . Sunday Times . 1 March 2017.
  59. Web site: 'Pem Kekula' goes back to a hilarious past . Sunday Times. 11 March 2017.
  60. Web site: 'Me Mage Sandai' breaks all traditions . Sunday Times . 11 March 2017.
  61. Web site: සිංහල සිනමාවේ එදා මෙදා තිරගත වූ චිත්‍රපට . Sarasaviya . 11 March 2017.
  62. Web site: 'Sathkampa' tells of a woman's tragedy . Sunday Times. 29 November 2019.
  63. Web site: 'Arumosam Wehi' to storm Lankan cinema . Sunday Times . 27 November 2019.
  64. Web site: FLYING WITH ONE WING . 21 May 2015 . WordPress.com. . 11 March 2017.
  65. Web site: The Intruders (Sudu Kaluwara) - A cinematic spring of patriotism . The Island. 17 July 2019.
  66. Web site: Laudable exercise in free cinema concept. Daily News . 11 March 2017.
  67. Web site: Review: The Tender Trap (Sankranthi) Room for maturity. Indeewara Thilakarathne. 6 May 2007. Sunday Observer. 17 July 2019.
  68. Web site: Rear Admiral (Dr) Sarath Weerasekera's debut cinema creation 'GAMANI' in cinemas island-wide . Ada Derana . 25 February 2017.
  69. Web site: Abhinikmana – අභිනික්මන . cinema.lk . 3 March 2017 . 3 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170303201228/http://cinema.lk/Movie-detail/abhinikmana/ . dead .
  70. Web site: පතිරාජගේ ස්වරූප හෙට එයි . Sarasaviya . 7 September 2017.
  71. Web site: Que Sera; a movie for a noval audience . Sunday Times . 1 March 2017.
  72. Web site: සුහද කොකා අද ඇඩ්ඩ්‍රස් නෑ හෙට . Sarasaviya . 25 February 2017.
  73. Web site: 'Sakkarang' Film about transformation from feudalism to modernity. Sunday Times. 25 June 2016.
  74. Web site: Weerawarna . National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka . 26 February 2017 . 27 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170227150234/http://www.nfc.gov.lk/films/weerawarna-139/ . dead .
  75. Web site: Kaala . National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka . 3 March 2017 . 4 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170304035320/http://www.nfc.gov.lk/films/kaala-124/ . dead .
  76. News: World premiere for 'Aloka Udapadi' at IFFI. Susitha R. Fernando. 27 November 2016. Sunday Times. 1 December 2019.
  77. Web site: Punchi Andare is the work after immense dedication . Sinhala Cinema Database . 23 April 2018.
  78. Web site: Handagama's new movie 'Asandhimitta' to hold its World Premiere . Sunday Times. 7 September 2017.
  79. Web site: The presidential stage where four people are competing . Sarasaviya . 10 August 2019.
  80. Web site: The oscillation between love and hate – plot of Nim Him . Sarasaviya . 31 October 2019.
  81. Web site: Their journey that is not theirs . Sarasaviya . 29 August 2019.
  82. Web site: Nonviolent girl caught in a mob . Sarasaviya . 12 September 2019.
  83. Web site: 'Akarsha soon on cinema . Sunday Times . 17 July 2019.
  84. Web site: Tale of Elakandiye Marcus . Sarasaviya . 31 May 2019.
  85. Web site: සිත් මල විකසිත සිතුවිලි නර්තනය සූවිසි විවරණ . Sarasaviya . 9 February 2024.
  86. Web site: Awards at Derana Film Awards 2011 . Derana.lk . 11 March 2017 . 24 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170324174040/http://www.derana.lk/image/data/1347696761derana_first_film_awards.jpg . dead .

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