# Sriyantha Mendis

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. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
Mendis is married to Kusum Renu, who is also a renowned actress in Sinhala cinema, stage and television. He met Renu during the stage drama Pandukabhaya in 1984 and the couple married on 25 October 1986 after the proposal in April 1985. The couple has two daughters.

## 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. Meanwhile, he wanted to study drama, and met German theater producer Norbert J. Myer. Then he played in Myer's comedy play Ane Abilik. 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.
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. 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.

### Selected television serials

* 1987 – Palingu Menike as Soorasena
* 1990 – Weda Hamine as Dharmapriya
* 1991 – Sandaluthalaya
* 1991 – Dolos Mahe Api
* 1993 – Ape Eththo
* 1996 – Nedeyo
* 1996 – Ammai Thaththai
* 1998 – Inganmaruwa
* 1999 – Bonikko
* 1999 – Sudu Mahaththuru
* 1999 – Paravi Dhenuwa as Kalinga
* 1999 – Deyyo Sakki as Thusitha
* 1999 – Varana Kambili as Lalith
* 2000 – Sathmahala as Hemantha
* 2000 – Badde Gedara
* 2000 – De Kathi Muwahatha as Jayasekara
* 2000 – Yaddehi Gedara as Randunu Bandara
* 2000 – Bonikko
* 2001 – Wedi Handa
* 2001 – Maayaratna as Maayaratna
* 2002 – Sakva Lihiniyo
* 2002 – Wara Mal
* 2002 – Depath Nai
* 2002 – Pem Piyawara
* 2003 – Bogala Sawundaris as Sawundiris
* 2003 – Mathi Nethi Daa
* 2003 – Hima Varusa
* 2004 – Dhawala Kanya as Percy
* 2004 – Gimhana Tharanaya as Vajira
* 2005 – Pinkada Simona
* 2005 – Suddilage Kathawa
* 2005 – Samanala Yaya
* 2005 – Indrachapa
* 2005 – Wasantha Kusalana
* 2005 – Kinduru Adaviya
* 2006 – Chakraudhaya as Madaatuwe Appuhamy
* 2006 – Heeye Manaya
* 2006 – Ridee Ittankaraya
* 2007 – Satharadenek Senpathiyo
* 2008 – Nil Ahasa Oba as Gurunnanse
* 2009 – Api Api Wage
* 2009 – Sadgunakaraya
* 2009 – Ravana Adaviya
* 2010 – Rosa Katu
* 2010 – Sadisi Tharanaya
* 2010 – Ruwan Maliga as Ranaraja
* 2010 – Sanda Numba Nam
* 2010 – E Brain
* 2011 – Dhawala Kadulla
* 2011 – Monarathenna
* 2011 – Sanda Madiyama
* 2011 – Mathaka Ahasa
* 2012 – Saranganaa
* 2012 – Ridee Siththam
* 2012 – Visula Ahasa Yata
* 2013 – Dhawala Kadulla as Angkutta
* 2015 – Maada Obama Viya
* 2015 – Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli as Thummulle Padme
* 2016 – Vishnu Sankranthiya
* 2016 – Seethala Gini Del
* 2016 – Urumakkarayo
* 2016 – Maada Obama Viya
* 2016 – Chakra
* 2017 – Kutu Kutu Mama
* 2018 – Urumayaka Aragalaya
* 2018 – Thriloka
* 2019 – Sanda Hangila
* 2019 – Ran Bedi Minissu as Muthubanda
* 2019 – Sangeethe as Asela
* 2019 – Iththo
* 2019 – Jeewithaya Athi Thura
* 2019 – Deweni Gamana
* 2020 - Api Ape
* 2021 - Sakuuge Lokaya
* 2021 - Rehe
* 2022 - Lan Wee
* 2022 - Bandhana
* 2022 - Sangili Kanadarawa as Gurunnanse
* 2022 - Nannaththara
* 2023 - Heenayaki Me Adare
* Dandubasnamanaya as Arachchila
* Diyasuliya
* Dekethi Muwahatha
* Beddegedara
* Denuwara Gedara
* Hansa Pihatu as Gurunnanse
* Hiruta Muwawen
* Kavi Kandula
* Pabalu Menike
* Sagarayak Meda

### Selected stage dramas

* Deyyange Punchi Akkaraya
* Gabbara Minisa
* Kema Lasthiyi
* Maha Samayama
* Mamai Anduwa
* Padada Asapuwa
* Pansa Deke Hansaya
* Raassa Parassa
* Suba Saha Yasa
* Sudu Saha Kalu
* Warna
* Yathuru Hilen Balanna

## Filmography

Key :
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Role |
| 1987 | Mangala Thagga | |
| 1989 | Siri Medura | |
| 1990 | Saharawe Sihinaya | |
| 1990 | Palama Yata | |
| 1992 | Umayangana | Palitha |
| 1993 | Juriya Mamai | |
| 1994 | Vimukthi | Journalist |
| 1995 | Ayoma | |
| 1996 | Sihina Deshayen | |
| 1997 | Mahameara Usata | |
| 1998 | Anthima Reya | Rohana Wijeweera |
| 1998 | Julietge Bhumikawa | Theater director |
| 1998 | Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli | Andarawatte Lokaya |
| 1999 | Seetha Sameere | Samson |
| 2002 | Punchi Suranganavi | Mr. Perera |
| 2004 | Bambara Senakeli | |
| 2004 | Mille Soya | Jude |
| 2005 | Shades of Ash | Gambara Attho |
| 2005 | Guerilla Marketing | |
| 2006 | Bherunda Pakshiya | |
| 2007 | Naga Kanya | |
| 2008 | Aba | Parumukhaya |
| 2009 | Sinasuna Adaren | Bhathiya Karandeniya |
| 2009 | Paya Enna Hiru Se | Harris |
| 2009 | Juliya | Lesli |
| 2010 | Bambara Walalla | Jine |
| 2010 | Kshema Bhoomi | |
| 2012 | Prathiroo | Teacher |
| 2014 | Ahelepola Kumarihami | Kepetipola |
| 2014 | Siri Daladagamanaya | King Paandu |
| 2014 | Kosthapal Punyasoma | OIC Panditharathna |
| 2015 | Anagarika Dharmapala Srimathano | Wijewardena |
| 2015 | Maharaja Gemunu | King Kavan Tissa |
| 2015 | Gindari | Minister Edwin Balachandra |
| 2018 | Porisadaya | Desmond aka Porisadaya |
| 2018 | Nidahase Piya DS | Wrestling coach |
| 2019 | Suba Theraniyo | Suba's father |
| 2019 | Goree | Minister |
| 2019 | Jaya Sri Amathithuma | Minister Galigamuwa |
| 2019 | President Super Star | Dasharaj Dharmapala |
| 2019 | Face to Face | Rose's father |
| 2019 | Bhavatharana | |
| 2021 | Uthuru Sulanga | Ralahamy Mama |
| 2023 | Midunu Vishwaya | |
| 2022 | The Game | OIC Samaradivakara |
| 2024 | Sihinayaki Adare | |
| TBA | Thanapathilage Gedara † | |
| TBA | Kalpana † | |
| TBA | Yathra † | |

## Awards
### Youth Services Youth Drama Festival

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1981 | Numba Witharak Thala Elalui | Best Actor | Won |

### State Drama Festival

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1988 | Mora | Best Actor | Won |

### Sumathi Awards

Sumathi Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1999 | Peoples'vote | Most popular Actor | Won |
| 2001 | Sanda Amawakai | Best Actor | Won |
| 2009 | Sathgunakaraya | Best Actor | Won |
| 2010 | Sadisi Tharanaya | Best Actor | Won |
| 2016 | Vishnu Sankranthiya | Best Actor | Won |

### Presidential Film Awards

Presidential Film Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2006 | Bherunda Pakshiya | Best Actor | Won |

### Raigam Tele'es

Raigam Tele'es
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2007 | Peoples' vote | Most Popular Actor | Won |
| 2013 | Dhawala Kadulla | Best Actor | Won |

### SIGNIS Salutation Awards Ceremony

SIGNIS Salutation Awards Ceremony
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2010 | Bambara Walalla | Best Supporting Actor | Won |

### Television State Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2013 | Dhawala Kadulla | Best Actor | Won |