Dharmapriya Dias
Dharmapriya Dias () 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. 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 Stage 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 Stage Drama Festival, 2015 for the categories of best actor, actress, and stage 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 2015 State Drama Festival. He won the best Set Designer Award at the stage 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". 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. 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. Awards and accolades. He has won several awards at the local stage drama festivals and television festivals, for acting, direction and choreography.