Hemasiri Dhanawaththa Liyanage (Sinhala: හේමසිරි ධනවත්ත ලියනගේ, born December 25, 1942), is a Sri Lankan actor, dramatist, and former educator. Widely regarded as one of the finest actors on Sri Lankan stage, television and cinema, he is well known for his dramatic roles in the television series Thattu Gewal and Thaththa, as well as the feature films Sankranthi, Sthuthi Nawatha Enna, and Madhura Charika.
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Personal life
Hemasiri Liyanage was born on 25 December 1942 in Nahalla, Bulathsinhala, the third of four children. He completed his secondary education at Vidyarathana College in Horana. He later married Kusum Liyanage, a retired teacher. The couple had four sons: Saumya, an actor and academic; Saman, an artist; Aloka, a physician; and Indrachapa, a rock musician. His daughter-in-law is actress and social activist Samanalee Fonseka, who married his son Indrachapa in 2010.
Career
Education and teaching career (1964-1980)
In 1964, Liyanage gained admission to the University of Kelaniya, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. During his time at university, he founded the student drama organization National Drama Corporation. Following graduation, he worked as a teacher at Vidyarathana College in Horana, where he taught Advanced Level economics and drama as a supplementary subject. He lost his teaching position in July 1980 after participating in the nationwide general strike, during which President J. R. Jayewardene's government dismissed over 40,000 public sector workers.
Acting career (1967-present)
Liyanage began his theatre career in 1967 as a playwright, producer, and lead actor in the stage drama Kanakok Suda. He subsequently appeared in Rohana Beddage's play Balal Hasthaya. While studying, he produced the 1969 stage drama Nadagam Hewath Sudu Atha Awata Passe, which controversially earned second place in the Inter-school drama competition. In 1975, he produced Nariya Saha Keju; he and co-creator Vijaya Nandasiri received awards for Best Production and Best Music at the National Drama Festival that year. His final stage drama production was Chithrage Prema Kathwa in 1982.
Liyanage made his feature film debut in 1983 with a minor role in Siri Kularathna's Niliyakata Pem Kalemi. His early film career primarily consisted of cameo appearances, including roles in Doo Daruwo (1985), Sisila Gini Gani (1992), Kiyala Wadak Na (1992), Guru Gedara (1993), and Bawa Duka (1997). He later appeared in notable cinematic releases such as Aswesuma (2001), Me Mage Sandai (2001), Sulanga Enu Pinisa (2005), Sankranthi (2007), Sthuthi Nawatha Enna (2010), Madhura Charika (2018), and Sansare Dadayakkaraya (2019). In 2022, he featured in Sumith Rathnayaka's drama Ran Kolla.
His television career began in 1997 with a role in the international television film Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's Poor, directed by Kevin Connor. He subsequently established a prominent career in Sri Lankan television, starring in numerous serials including Amba Yahaluwo, Eka Iththaka Mal, Sanda Dev Diyani, Idorayaka Mal Pipila, Sindu Kiyana Una Pandura, Thattu Gewal, Kokila Sandwaniya, Ayal, Dahas Gawdura, and Thanamalvila Kollek. In 2018, Liyanage received a special tribute award at the Raigam Tele'es ceremony for his lifelong contributions to Sri Lankan television and cinema.
