# Dharmapriya Dias

Halaperuma Arachchige Dharmapriya Dias (Sinhala: ධර්මප්‍රිය ඩයස්) is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. And a professional dubbing artist since 1995. Dias has titles such as playwright, actor, set designer, choreographer, teacher of art and has a master's degree in theatre and drama. He is the performing arts and sculpture art teacher in Shasthrananda Vidyalaya, Dehiwela.

## Personal life

Dharmapriya has one brother and three sisters. He studied at Sir Jhon Kothalawala College from grade 1 to O-Levels. He completed his education from Piliyandala Central College, where he started drama under Premakumara Karunaratne. He is married to Anoja Milanthi and the couple has two sons - Swarna Rawana and Prawara Bhashana.

## Theatre career

Just after advanced level, he started to act in stage dramas. He acted in a stage play together with his fellow school leavers and the drama was selected for the final stage of State Drama Festival as well. His talents were polished under the direction of Sri Lanka's renowned artists such as Bandula Vithanage, K. B. Herath, Jayalath Manoratne, Rajitha Dissanayake, Thumindu Dodantenna and Chamika Hathlawaththa.
His maiden stage drama direction came through Saadaya Marai Salli Hamarai. The drama reached a box office success within two years having run more than 200 shows. The drama also won several awards at the State Drama Festival, 2015 for the categories of best actor, actress, and state manager. The final show before the break was staged on 20 November 2016. The drama won the awards for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Stage management at the 2015 Sri Lankan State Drama Festival. He won the best Set Designer Award at the state drama festival for Daasa Mallige Bangalawa co-directed by Ruwan Malith Peris, and Kalana Gunasekara. He is also the set designer of his own productions such as: Gahanu Vada Arabathi aka Lysistrata, Sadaya Marai Salli Hamarai, Mama Nevei Vena Kenek, Julius Ceaser, as well as Jayalath Manoratne's Lokaya Thani Yayak, and Rajitha Dissanayake's plays Siriwardena Pawula, Sihina Horu Aran, Bakamuna Veedi Basi.

### Notable works

* Apahu Heranna Ba
* Arundhathi
* Asinamaali
* Bakamuna Weedi Basi
* Banku Weeraya
* Baraniya
* Buruwa Mahaththaya
* Dasa Mallige Bangalawa
* Deveni Mahindha
* Dolahak
* Guru Tharuva
* Guti Kemata Niyamithai
* Hari Apuru Dawasak
* Hayina
* Hithala Gaththu Theeranayak
* Jayasirita Pissu
* Julius Caesar
* Kaneru Mal
* Lysistrata(Gahanu Veda arabathi)
* Makarakshaya
* Malima
* Mama Newei Wena Kenek
* Mata Wedi Thiyan Nedda?
* Muhunata Muhuna
* Muthu Ataye Geethaya
* Nambu Kara Vilasini
* Nathuwa Bari Minihek
* Romaya Gini Gani
* Sadaya Marai Salli Hamarai
* Sihina Horu Aran
* Sihina Sappuwa
* Suriyamal
* Sukarayek Samaga
* Vara Mal
* Vanisiye Wellenda
* Vasu Deva
* Veeraya Marila
* Visekariyo

### Short plays

* Poparmama Saha Pinthuraya
* Binduwa
* Sanda Sewannella
* Kiri Muttiya Gagegiya
* Chandravathi samaga rathriyak
* Parani Malavun(Based on Franze Kafka's Short Story)
* Chakrayudham (Hithata wedunu misayila 2 by Sachithra Rahubadda)

## Television career

With award-winning performances in stage dramas, Dias was able to move into the television drama career with some popular serials directed by Saranga Mendis, Sudatha Rohana, Janaka Siriwardena, and Dee Gee Somapala.

### Notable works

* Adisi Nadiya
* Deweni Inima as Ananda
* Gamane Ya
* His Ahasa Yata
* Hiru Kumari
* Husma Saha Oxygen
* Ingammaruwa
* Ithin Ita Passe
* Jeewithaya Dakinna
* Jodu Gedara
* Koombiyo as Padmakumara Kasthuri
* Lock Down Stories
* Maddahana
* Mahapolawa
* Nadagamkarayo
* Nil Ahasa Oba
* Nilla Penena Manaya
* Oba Nisa as Pramodha Dunukebandara
* Paradeesaya
* Pawara Menuwara
* Pini Bindu
* Pork Veediya
* Queen
* Rahai Jeewithe
* Ran Siri Mal
* Rantharu
* Sahodaraya
* Uthuvan Kande Saradiyal
* Sihina Genena Kumariye as Cyril
* Snap
* Sulanga Maha Meraka
* Three-wheel Malli

## Filmography

Dias started his film career with Walapatala back in 2008, directed by Vijitha Gunarathna with a minor role. He played minor roles in Vijitha Gunaratne's Wala Patala and two other films Bora Diya Pokuna and Nahi Werena Werani. His most popular cinema acting came through films Machan, Puthandiya and Asandhimitta. The role in Machan as Stanley was highly praised by the critics and earned him the award for Best Actor.
Key :
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Role |
| 2008 | Walapatala | |
| 2008 | Machan | Stanley |
| 2012 | Matha | Lt. Kelum Dias |
| 2012 | Prathiroo | Linta |
| 2016 | Puthandiya | Ajith |
| 2016 | Red Butterfly Dream | |
| 2017 | Kaala | Wattaka's henchman |
| 2018 | Madhura Charika | Threewheel driver |
| 2018 | Davena Wihagun | Police inspector |
| 2019 | Asandhimitta | Wickramasekara |
| 2019 | President Super Star | multiple roles |
| 2020 | Ethalaya | |
| 2020 | The Newspaper | Journalist |
| 2021 | Colombo | Jude |
| 2023 | Viyasiduru | Driver |
| 2023 | Rahas Kiyana Kandu | |
| 2024 | Sinhabahu | |
| 2024 | Passport | Saman |
| TBA | Nirwana Dupatha † | |
| TBA | Sulanga Numba Avidin † | |

## Awards and Accolades

He has won several awards at the local stage drama festivals and television festivals, for acting, direction and choreography.

### Youth Drama Festival Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1996 | Sanda Sewanalla (Sejant) | Best Supportive Actor | Won |
| - | - | - | Won |

### State Drama Festival Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2003 | Hayna | Best Actor | Won |
| 2004 | Dasa Mallige Bangalawa | Best Set Designer | Won |
| | Gehenu Weda Arambathi | Best Choreography | Won |
| 1997 | Popar Mama Saha Pinthuraya | Merit Award | Won |
| 2001 | Asinamaali | Merit Award | Won |
| 2017 | Nathuwa Bari Minihek | Best Actor | Won |

### Sarasavi Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2008 | Machan | Best Actor | Won |
SIGNIES Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2008 | Machan | Best Actor | Won |
Sumathi Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| - | Tatte Api Awa | Best Actor | Nominated | 2021 | Pork Weediya | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
Participation in International Theater and Cinema Festivals
* 6th BHARATH RANGA MAHOTHSAWA Theatre Festival, New Delhi in 2004 (HAYNA stage production)
* 8th BHARATH RANGA MAHOTHSAWA Theatre Festival, New Delhi in 2006 (SIHINA HORU ARAN Stage production)
* 11th BHARATH RANGA MAHOTHSAWA Theatre Festival, New Delhi in 2009 (makarakshaya Stage production)
* 21st International Theatre Festival for Experimental Drama, Cairo in 2009 (A WONDERUL DAY Stage production)
* 22nd International Theatre Festival for Experimental Drama, Cairo in 2010 (NO RETURN Stage production)
* Kathmandu International Theatre Festival, Kathmandu in 2010 (A WONDERFUL DAY Stage Production)
* 72nd Venice Film Festival, Venice in 2008 (MACHAN movie)
* 4th Dubai International Film Festival, Dubai, in 2009 (MACHAN movie)
* 10th Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea, in 2009 (MACHAN movie)
* 39th Molodist International Film Festival, Ukraine in 2009 (MACHAN movie)