Hiddadura Jude Neil Sriyantha Mendis (born 25 October 1957) (Sinhala: ශ්රියන්ත මෙන්ඩිස්), popularly as Sriyantha Mendis, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[2][3] Highly versatile actor from drama to comedy, Mendis has received awards for the Best actor and Best supporting actor on multiple occasions at local award festivals.[4] He and his spouse consistently aligned themselves with specific political parties and figures, notably throwing their support behind individuals like Mahinda Rajapakshe in the political arena.
Personal life
Mendis was born on 25 October 1957 in Ragama, Sri Lanka as the eldest of a family with three siblings. His father Hiddadura Lazarus Mendis was a time keeper at the Ceylon Transport Board and later became an executive officer at Sri Lanka Ports Authority.[5] His mother Eliadura Karoline Soyza was a teacher at Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya as well as practiced music at Haywood. Sriyantha's grandfather Hiddadura Juan Mendis was a devout Catholic. His mother's father was Eliyadura Evgeny Zoysa and his mother was Welisarage Juliana Fernando. Sriyantha's parents were married on October 17, 1956. Sriyantha has one younger brother, Ajith and one younger sister Menik. Sriyantha's father died on July 25, 2007, at the age of 79.[6]
He completed his education at De Mazenod College, Kandana. He did not take part in any aesthetic activities during school times. He is clever at karate during school times. His first teaching appointment was made to Pokuwagonna Maha Vidyalaya, Ganewatta, far from Polgahawela, Kurunegala.[5] On 7 July 1979, he became a science teacher at St. Bernadette's College, Polgahawela. Later, he completed 32 years as a teacher in several schools island-wide.[7]
Mendis is married to Kusum Renu, who is also a renowned actress in Sinhala cinema, stage and television.[8] He met Renu during the stage drama Pandukabhaya in 1984 and the couple married on 25 October 1986 after the proposal in April 1985.[9] The couple has two daughters.[10]
Career
After finishing education, Mendis along with fellow actor Senaka Perera started to produce a stage play Illeesa. In 1979, Sriyantha was introduced to the stage for the first time as the devil in the play Parassa by its producer Rohana Dandeniya. He also had the opportunity to act in Neville Dias Subasinghe's play Manawayo. In November 1979, he acted in another stage play Sathuro produced by doctor Chandrapala, who worked at Ragama rehabilitation hospital.[7] Meanwhile, he wanted to study drama, and met German theater producer Norbert J. Myer. Then he played in Myer's comedy play Ane Abilik.[11] In 1984, he acted in the teledrama Palingu Menike directed by Dhamma Jagoda. The character 'Surasena' was so popular that there were people who imitated the character, behavior and dialogues.[5]
After appearing in his first teledrama Palingu Menike, Sriyantha entered to the silver screen in 1987, through H. D. Premaratne's movie Mangala Thegga. He won the Best Actor Award at the State Drama Festival in 1988 for his role in Mora drama.[12] At the 1996 Youth Drama Festival, he won the Best Actor award for his play Numba Vitharak Thala Elelui. Since then, he became a character actor in television where he made several notable characters in the television serials such as Dǣkæthi Muwahatha, Mihikathagē Daruvō, Ingammāruva, Hiru Sandu Hamuvē, Hiruṭa Muvāven, Mæṇik Nadiya Galā Basī, Bōgala Savundiris, Danḍubasnāmānaya, Chala Achala, Bæddegedara, Nǣdǣyō, Akāla Sandhyā, Weda Hāminē, Ves Muhuṇu, Asalvæsiyō, Viśva Bhū Sankrānthiya, Mayarathna and Ruwan Maliga. In 1996, he won the SIGNIS Award for Best Actor for the character 'Arachchila' in the serial Danḍubasnāmānaya. Sriyantha has won the Best Actor award for his teledramas Sath Gunalankaraya, Dǣkæthi Muwahatha, Bawa Karma and Viśhva Sankrānthiya.[5]
