Dharmasiri Bandaranayake

• Name — Dharmasiri Bandaranayake ධර්මසිරි බණ්ඩාරනායක • Born — 6 October 1949 • Birthplace — Wadduwa, Sri Lanka • Years Active — 1969-present • Known for — Film directoring and playwright • Spouse — Swarna Mallawarachchi • Children — 1

Bandaranyake's debut Hansa Vilak in 1980 dealt with facets of a society at odds with itself. His other films like Thunveni Yamaya (1983), Suddilage Kathaawa (1984), Bawa Duka and Bawa Karma (1997) followed similar themes. Two films Bawa Duka and Bawa Karma challenged the repressive dogma of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.[3] Common arcs in Bandaranayake's films follow the conflicted lives of men and women, transformation of private lives into public affairs, the unpleasant reality of marriage and society and the dark side of human desire. He produced many stage plays such as Eka Adhipathi, Makarakshaya, Dhawala Bheeshana,[4] Yakshagamanaya and Trojan Kanthavo have all dealt with current issues of national and political importance.[5] In 1999, Bandaranayake first staged the play Trojan Kanthawo which adapted Euripides' Greek drama The Trojan Women for a Sinhala and Tamil audience.[6] It is meant as an anti-war statement and proved to be controversial with the Sri Lankan government despite critical acclaim. Bandaranayake received several death threats in 2001 after he made plans to stage the play in predominantly Tamil areas. In 2021, his film Hansa Vilak, a new copy has been reprinted with colored format and screened in cinemas from March 10.[7]

• Year — Film — Role — Ref. • 1969 — Bakmaha Deege — Premadasa • 1978 — Veera Puran Appu — Punchi Rala • 1979 — Palagetiyo — Sarath Gunewardena • 1980 — Sevaneli Aeda Minissu — Victor • 1980 — Hansa Vilak — Nissanka Weerasinghe[8] • 1981 — Bamba Ketu Hati — Sugath • 1981 — Sathara Pera Nimithi — Sudath 'Sadhu' • 1983 — Muhudu Lihini • 2015 — Bora Diya Pokuna — Desmond

• Year — Film — Other roles — Ref. • 1980 — Hansa Vilak — Screenwriter, producer • 1983 — Thunveni Yamaya — Screenwriter • 1985 — Suddilage Kathaawa — Technical Advisor • 1997 — Bawa Duka — Screenwriter • 1997 — Bawa Karma — Screenwriter