Sathischandra Edirisinghe
Sri Lankan actor, dramatist and director (1941–2025)

Sathischandra Edirisinghe
සතිස්චන්ද්‍ර එදිරිසිංහ
Born
Patikirige Sathischandra Edirisinghe

(1941-02-11)11 February 1941
Kelaniya, British Ceylon
Died23 December 2025(2025-12-23) (aged 84)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
EducationSri Dharmaloka College
St. Mary's College
Alma materVidyodaya Pirivena, Maligakanda
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
  • director
  • writer
  • author
Years active1961–2025
SpouseShriya Kariyapperuma (m. 1965)
Children3
Parents
  • Patikirige Edirisinghe (father)
  • Elizabeth Perera (mother)
RelativesSunil Edirisinghe (brother)
AwardsBest Supporting Actor
Websitewww.youtube.com/sathischandra

Kalasuri Patikirige Sathischandra Edirisinghe (Sinhala: සතිස්චන්ද්‍ර එදිරිසිංහ; 11 February 1941 – 23 December 2025) was a Sri Lankan actor in film, stage drama and television.[1] Edirisinghe was an actor and director whose professional career in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre, and television spanned more than six decades.[2][3][4][5]

Background

Sathischandra Edirisinghe was born in Kelaniya on 11 February 1941 as the sixth child of the family. His father, Patikirige Edirisinghe, served as a chief supervisor in the Department of Cottage Industries, and his mother, Ushettige Elizabeth Perera, was a housewife. He had one elder brother, Dharmasiri; four elder sisters, Techla Sandaseelee, Florida Katherine, Mershia Sirima, and Mary Elizabeth; and two younger brothers, Nimal Ranjith and Sunil. His younger brother, Sunil Edirisinghe, is a singer in the Sri Lankan music industry.[6]

Edirisinghe completed his education at five schools. He started his preschool career with Sir D. B. Jayatilaka Vidyalaya, then entered Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya, in 1947. After ten years at the school, Edirisinghe then moved to St. Mary's College, Elpitiya, in 1958 to complete A/L from art stream.[7] In 1960, he entered Stafford College, and in 1964, he completed his secondary education at Vidyodaya Pirivena, Maligakanda.[6]

In 1965, he married Kariyapperuma Arachchige Sriya Kariyapperuma. Sriya was born on 7 November 1941. She met Sathischandra Edirisinghe at Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya. They had three children, Udaya, Shashini, and Udara.[citation needed]

The elder son, Udaya Shashipriya, studied at S. Thomas' College, Gurutalawa. He currently handles his own business, U and I Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd. The middle child and daughter, Shashini, studied at St. Paul's Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Kelaniya. She is a B.Com graduate and currently resides in Australia. The youngest child, Udara Asanga, studied at Royal College, Colombo. He is interested in textile and fashion designing in Australia. All are married.[1]

Edirisinghe died on 23 December 2025 at age 84 while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Thalawathugoda, Colombo.[8][9][10] His remains were laid to rest for public rites at his residence on 24 December. The final rites were scheduled to take place at Kanatte Cemetery.[8][11]

Theatre work

Edirisinghe's first teacher at Sri Dharmaloka Central College was Ravilal Wimaladharma, who had a keen interest in literature and music. At grade 5, he tried to act as Madduma Bandara at home, a drama from his literature book.[6] After Wimaladharma saw his capabilities, Edirisinghe was put in charge of the stage play Sudo Sudu in the school. In 1953, he joined Lamapitiya program in Radio Ceylon.[12] For his role in Anton Chekhov’s Proposal at the inter-school drama competition, Edirisinghe was adjudged the Best Actor of the Southern Province.[6]

In 1961, Edirisinghe started his stage drama career when his elder brother, Dharmasiri Edirisinghe, introduced him to Kala Guru J. D. A. Perera. In 1999, after the service in CTB and Mahaweli Authority, he became a full-time artist.[1] His peak as a theatre actor came through his role in John de Silva's stage play Wessanthara. With wider recognition, he was able to cooperate with the country's leading scriptwriters, such as Gunasena Galappathi, Dayananda Gunawardane, Henry Jayasena, Sugathapala de Silva, R.R. Samarakoon, Sunanda Mahendra, Ranjit Dharmakeerthi, S. Karunaratne, Lucien Bulathsinghala, and Dhamma Jagoda.[12] His memorable theater acting came through Henry Jayasena's Manaranjana Vedavarjana in 1965.[13]

Notable works

  • Baka Thapas
  • Vessanthara
  • Sri Wicrama
  • Ibi Katta
  • Manaranja Wedewarjana
  • Liyathabara
  • Maha Hene Hiriyaka
  • Maha Gedere
  • Cheri Uyana (Cherry Orchard)
  • Onna Babo Ethiniya
  • Habun Katai Bath Dekatai
  • Elade
  • Erabodu Mal Pottu Pipila
  • Geheniyak
  • Sauren Ae Lada
  • Ane Massine
  • Ruduraya Saha Gangawa
  • Liya Thambara

Television acting

Edirisinghe's first television role was Lucien Bulathsinhala's Ekamawakage Daruwo in 1982. In the drama, he played the main role, a school principal. He played in many popular films during the early stage of Sri Lankan television, such as Mihikathage Daruwo, Tharadevi, and Palingu Menike.[14]

Notable works - as actor

  • Ambu Daruwo[15]
  • Aravinda saha Indu
  • Avindu Adura
  • Chandi Kumarihami [16]
  • Eke Mawakege Daruwo
  • Gauwen Gauwa
  • Kadathira[17]
  • Kokila Ginna[18][19]
  • Mihikathege Daruwo
  • Minigandela[20]
  • Nisala Vilthera[21]
  • Paligu Menike
  • Sausiri Uyana[22]
  • Senehelatha Menike
  • Sivmansala
  • Sonduru SIthaththi
  • Sudu Hamine[23]
  • Sudu Mahaththuru[24]
  • Sudu Paraviyo
  • Sujatha[25]
  • Sura-asura
  • Suseema [26]
  • Thara Devi
  • Uthuru Sulanga
  • Uthuwankande Sura Saradiyel[27]
  • Wassanaye Hiru Evidin [28]

Notable works - both as producer and actor

  • Tikiri Nileme
  • Namal Golla
  • Bopath Sakkiya[29]
  • Girikula Andereya
  • Suwanda Padma[30]
  • Diyawadana Maluwa[31]
  • Monaravila[32]
  • Sathmahala[33]

Stage and film directing

In 1963, Edirisinghe started his first direction and production of stage dramas with the play Baka Thapas. Out of 20 stage plays he acted in, six of them were his production and direction.[6] In 1964 he produced a second stage play, Atthikka Mal Pipila, with his own script. He produced another four stage dramas—Hotabari Yuddae, based on George Orwell's Animal Farm, Thahanchi, Sokkano Rajano and Apaya Avurudu.[5]

Edirisinghe began directing films in 1973. His first cinematic direction came through Matara Aachchi in 1973.[12] The film featured his brother Sunil Edirisinghe as a singer, Wally Nanayakkara as lyricist, and Victor Ratnayake as music director.[6]

Edirisinghe has produced eleven television serials, of which he directed seven. In 2019, he was honored with the Janabhimani Honorary Award at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.[34]

Beyond acting

In 1965, Edirisinghe was attached to Ceylon Transport of Bus (CTB) as a clerk. After the marriage and a few years of work, he resigned from CTB and joined Mahaweli Authority in 1986. In the authority, he served as the Manager in Cultural Affairs from 1986 to 1998.[6]

In 2008, Edirisinghe was invited to take the position of Consultant in Cultural Affairs in the Ministry of Irrigation.[6]

Edirisinghe was an author with several published works, such as Apa Sathu Minimuthu, Kata Wata Kara Weta, and Jalaya Saha Minisa.[35][36] He wrote nearly 25 books, eight of which were children's literature. He went with a scriptwriter to Kuwait in 1990 for a stage drama. During that period, Sadaam Hussein captured control of Kuwait, and the crew was stuck there for 47 days in the Middle East, after which they returned to Sri Lanka. [5] A felicitation ceremony titled Sathischandra Edirisinghe in Retrospect was held on January 16th, 2011, at 6pm at Kularatne Hall in Ananda College Maradana, which was organized by Telemakers Guild.[37]

During a family trip to Ella, Badulla, in January 2019, gold jewellery and cash worth nearly Rs.189,000 were stolen from the family. Police said that the thief might have entered the room through a window, as one of the windows was opened.[38]

Author works

  • Apa Sathu Minimuthu
  • Kata Wata Kara Weta
  • Jalaya Saha Minisa
  • Adaraya Saha Vivahaya
  • Ape Thaththa
  • Guru Bhumika Nirupanaya
  • Raththaran Daruwek
  • Thanhawa Dukata Hethu We
  • Wanduru Nuwana

Legacy

On January 14, 2008, a felicitation programme titled Sathischandra Prathibhanaya was held at 3 pm at Sarasavi Studio, Dalugama, Kelaniya. The programme was organized by the Nuwana Youth Organisation.[12]

He was awarded the Kala Suri title in 1990 by President Ranasinghe Premadasa and conferred with an honorary degree from the University of Kelaniya in 2006.[12]

Awards

Presidential Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1985 Hima Kathara[6] Best Supporting Actor Won

Sumathi Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003 Contribution to drama[39] U.W. Sumathipala Award Won

Raigam Tele'es

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 Contribution to drama[40] Prathibha Prabha Award Won

Filmography

Edirisinghe started his film career with Sadol Kandulu back in 1966, directed by Senator Reggie Perera.[6] Through that, he performed dramatic and supportive roles in more than 35 films. [41][42] In 1982, his film Adhishtanaya was screened at the International Mannheim Film Festival in Germany, where it received recognition, which he also took to the Ludwigshafen Film Congress.

  • No. denotes the number of Sri Lankan films in the Sri Lankan cinema.[43]
Year No. Film Role Notes Ref.
1966 150 Sampatha
170 Sadol Kandulu Monk first cinematic appearance
1969 205 Hari Maga Monk
1970 229 Sidadiyen Hayak
1971 236 Poojithayo Father
1973 269 Matara Achchi Cyril also as Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1975 322 Rajagedata Paraviyo also as Director, Screenwriter
1977 363 Sri Madara also as Director, Screenwriter
1979 433 Podi Malli Palitharatne
1981 497 Sathara Diganthaya also as Director, Producer
1982 513 Adhishtanaya also as Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1983 556 Karate Joe
1984 586 Veera Madduma Bandara
594 Wadula Galapathy Kandey Vidanaya also as Director
597 Hima Kathara Silva
1985 626 Rosy
1986 646 Koti Waligaya
1990 712 Christhu Charithaya Peduru [44][45]
1992 764 Muwan Palesse Kadira
1994 797 Jayagrahanaya [46]
804 Sujathaa Colonel Weerakoon [47]
1996 864 Bithu Sithuwam [48]
846 Body Guard [49]
1997 872 Tharanaya [50]
1998 904 Dorakada Marawa Subha's father [51]
1999 918 Surangana Yahana [52]
2000 930 Undaya Ranil Seneviratne [53]
2002 993 Sathkampa Kumari's father [54]
2003
-
 Mother Teresa Sikh Government Inspector Home movie
2009 1132 Kanyavi Janaka's father [55]
2010 1144 Ira Handa Yata Monk [56]
2015 1237 Suhada Koka Minister Narendrasinghe [57]
2017
-
 Hath Pana Story teller Home movie
2018 1303 Punchi Andare Andare's grandfather [58]
TBD Kondadeniye Hamuduruwo [59]
TBD Sihina Sarungal [60]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Our beloved elder is 80 years old now". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  2. ^ "අමරණීය සතිස් මතක". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  3. ^ "වේදිකාව, සිනමාව හා ටෙලි නළුව එකලු කළ සතිස්චන්ද්‍". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Today, tele-drama is a victim of advertising: Veteran actor Satishchandra Edirisinghe". සරසවිය. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Nandana. "Be A Light Not A Judge-Sathischandra Edirisinghe". mirrorarts. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Sathischandra Edirisinghe biography". sathischandraedirisinghe. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Sathischandra Edirisinghe is the hero of 90 seconds". Silumina. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Veteran actor Sathischandra Edirisinghe passes away". adaderana.lk. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Veteran Actor Sathischandra Edirisinghe passes away". dailynews.lk. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Veteran actor Sathischandra Edirisinghe passes away". dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Final rites of late veteran actor Sathischandra Edirisinghe to be performed on Thursday". adaderana.lk. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Sathis celebrates golden jubilee". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  13. ^ "Sathischandra Edirisinghe stage plays". sathischandraedirisinghe. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Sathischandra Edirisinghe teledramas". sathischandraedirisinghe. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  15. ^ "'Ambu Daruwo':Sudath Rohana's new creation". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Two creations by Charith Abeysinghe for small screen and silver screen ..." Sarasaviya. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Kadathira". paradisaya. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Kokila Ginna". Paradisaya. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Kokila Ginna: tragedy strikes singer". Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  20. ^ "Minigandela shooting begins". Daily News. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  21. ^ "'Nisala Wilthera': Sathischandra discusses samsara". Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  22. ^ "Sausiri Uyana-based on changing social ethos". The Island. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  23. ^ "Sudu Hamine; A tale with a twist". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 August 2019.[dead link]
  24. ^ "Return of 'Sudu Mahaththuru'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  25. ^ "'Sujatha': Big screen hit ready to hit small screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  26. ^ "'Susima' on DVD format". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  27. ^ "Saradiel re-lived". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  28. ^ "Of love, sacrifice and mystery". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  29. ^ "Erosion of traditional values in a typical Sri Lankan milieu". The Island. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  30. ^ "Suwanda Padma focuses on our past". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  31. ^ "'Diyawadana Maluwa' : A story about water heritage". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  32. ^ "'Monaravila' portrays patriots". Sunday times. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  33. ^ "Sathmahala: story of changing times". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  34. ^ "Presented Janabhimani to veteran legends". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  35. ^ "Sathischandra Edirisinghe publications". sathischandraedirisinghe. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  36. ^ "Sathischandra Edirisinghe publications". Sarasavi. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  37. ^ "Salutation for Sathis". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  38. ^ "Sathischandra Edirisinghe, family robbed in Ella". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  39. ^ "About Sumathi Awards". www.sumathiawards.lk.
  40. ^ "Raigam Tele'es 2009 award winners". Sarasaviya.
  41. ^ "Sathischandra Edirisinghe filmography". sathischandraedirisinghe. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  42. ^ "Sathischandra Edirisinghe - සතිස්චන්ද්‍ර එදිරිසිංහ". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  43. ^ "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  44. ^ "All about Kristhu Charithaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  45. ^ "Christhu Charithaya - ක්‍රිස්තු චරිතය". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  46. ^ "Jayagrahanaya - ජයග්‍රහණය". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  47. ^ "Sujatha". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  48. ^ "Bithu Sithuwam - බිතු සිතුවම්". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  49. ^ "Body Guard - බොඩි ගාර්ඩ්". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  50. ^ "Tharanaya - තරණය". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  51. ^ "'Dorakada Marawa' release on fifth circuit". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  52. ^ "Surangana Yahana - සුරගන යහන". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  53. ^ "Undaya - උණ්ඩය". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  54. ^ "සිංහල සිනමාවේ එදා මෙදා තිරගත වූ චිත්‍රපට". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  55. ^ "Kanyavi — A timeless partnership". The Nation. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  56. ^ "Ira Handa Yata: A flawed jewel". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  57. ^ "සුහද කොකාගේ සුද 23 දා සිට පෙනේ". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  58. ^ "Family Entertainment for Holiday Season". Sunday Times. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  59. ^ "Kondadeniye Hamuduruwo - කොන්ඩදෙනියේ හාමුදුරුවෝ". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  60. ^ "Tale of Guththila becomes a cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  • Sathischandra's Youtube channel
  • Sathischandra Edirisinghe pays a visit to the Vedda chief
  • Meeting Sathischandra Edirisinghe
  • ‘caltex water & life’ enters north and east
  • මම රස්සාවකට ගියේ නෑ ගියේ සේවයට
  • 'Sathmahala' : Story of rich and affluent
  • සතිස්ගේ යකඩ කට
  • Sathischandra Edirisinghe at IMDb
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