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Suminda Sirisena (Sinhala: සුමින්ද සිරිසේන) (born July 04, 1948) is an award-winning Sri Lankan stage, teledrama and film actor, having performed for nearly 60 years. He is known for playing a wide range of starring or supporting roles.

Early Life
Sirisena was born on July 04, 1948 in Bossella, a rural village in Kegalle, Sri Lanka. His father was a small-time businessman in the village who also performed traditional Sri Lankan folk dramas. After having his primary education at the village school, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Tholangamuwa Central College in 1963.

At Tholangamuwa he studied under Ariyawansa Ranaweera, Jayasumana Dissanayake, Daya Alwis and Wijayaratne Athurupane who were scholars and artists that had a major influence on Sri Lankan theatre and arts for many decades. In 1967 Sirisena played the lead role in the stage drama Girikutha which was selected to the final round of State School Drama Festival.

Career
After his school education Sirisena moved to Colombo to join the Sri Lankan Railways as a Special Apprentice in 1969. In the same year he joined the first batch of students of the theatre school Ranga Shilpa Shalika at Lionel Wendt Art Centre founded by Dhamma Jagoda. After completing the studies he joined the drama group of Ediriweera Sarachchandra.

Sirisena’s first teledrama was Kumarihami, produced by Sri Lanka Rupavahini in 1986, where he played the supporting role of Hicchi Mahattaya. Since then he has acted in more than 30 teleseries, including Pipi Pium, Weten Eha , Paramitha , Dumriya Andaraya , Mehew Rate , Yasa Isuru and Boralu Para.

He has also acted on films such as Uppalawanna, Uduganyamaya , Pitasakwala Kumaraya , Bomba Saha Rosa , Gamani and Ira Handa Yata.

Since 2012 Sirisena has not taken part in any productions due to illness.

Personal Life
Suminda Sirisena lives with his wife Leela Sirisena in Gampaha. They have two children.

Honors
Suminda Sirisena was awarded the Deshanethru award by the Sri Lankan government in 2014, honoring the service he had rendered to the country’s performing arts.

Later in the same year he was awarded the Kalabhushana state award.

State Drama Festival, Sri Lanka

 * 1992
 * Megha
 * Best Supporting Actor
 * Won
 * 1995
 * Andarela
 * Best Supporting Actor
 * Won
 * 1997
 * Romaya Gini Gani
 * Best Actor
 * Won
 * }
 * Best Actor
 * Won
 * }

State Tele Awards Festival, Sri Lanka

 * 2013
 * Monara Tenna
 * Best Supporting Actor
 * Won
 * }
 * }

Sumathi Tele Awards, Sri Lanka

 * 1997
 * Megha
 * Best Supporting Actor
 * Won
 * 1999
 * Nisala Wila
 * Best Actor
 * Won
 * 2003
 * Ransirige Sangramaya
 * Best Supporting Actor
 * Won
 * 2004
 * Ramya Suramya
 * Best Supporting Actor
 * Won
 * }
 * Ramya Suramya
 * Best Supporting Actor
 * Won
 * }

Signis Awards, Sri Lanka

 * 1995
 * Siyapatha
 * Best Actor
 * Won
 * 1995
 * Isiwara Asapuwa
 * Best Supporting Actor
 * Won
 * 2002
 * Asani Wesi
 * Best Actor
 * Won
 * 2004
 * Hadavila Sakmana
 * Best Actor
 * Won
 * 2005
 * Uttamaviya
 * Best Actor
 * Won
 * 2005
 * Ginikirillee
 * Outstanding Performance
 * Won
 * 2006
 * Teth Saha Viyali
 * Best Actor
 * Won
 * 2011
 * Abarthu Atha
 * Best Supporting Actor
 * Won
 * }
 * Best Actor
 * Won
 * 2011
 * Abarthu Atha
 * Best Supporting Actor
 * Won
 * }
 * }

Raigam Awards, Sri Lanka

 * 2003
 * Punchirala
 * Best Actor
 * Won
 * }
 * }