| Dharma Sri Munasinghe | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 1, 1930 Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| Died | August 28, 2004 (aged 74) Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Other names | Munasinghe Mudiyanse Ralalage Dharma Sri Munasinghe |
| Alma mater | Dharmaraja College, Kandy |
| Known for | Prominent Sinhala Radio Play writer |
Dharma Sri Munasinghe (March 1, 1930 - August 30, 2004) was a Sinhala Radio Play writer and Film screenwriter & Director, best known for his work as the writer of the famous sinhala radio plays Muvan palessa and Monara thenna. He was also an award-winning Sinhala drama actor, and featured in the play Maname.
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Dharma Sri Munasinghe was born on 1 March 1930 in Kandy. He was educated at Dharmaraja College, Kandy where he excelled in studies, and was selected to the University of Ceylon. But Dharma Sri had other plans, as he turned down University entrance, and moved to Colombo in search of employment.
He joined the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, then the Radio Ceylon, in 1952 as a clerk. Young Dharma Sri had the fortune of working with many contemporary greats of Sinhala broadcasting at Radio Ceylon such as Thevis Guruge, D.M. Colombage, H.M.Gunasekera, P. Velikala and Praba Perera. It was an important period of his life, as Dharma Sri was inspired by these great personalities.
He left the Radio Ceylon in 1956 to pursue a career in the Inland Revenue Department. But he continued writing Radio plays and working as an announcer for SLBC, and even appeared in the famous radio Comedy show Vinoda samaya with comedians Annesley Dias & Berty Gunathilake. Dharma Sri is the writer of 23 Radio play series in total.
Dharma Sri Munasinghe excelled in many disciplines of popular art. He was a brilliant Sinhala Radio Play writer; a Radio dramatist, announcer, comedian, producer and actor; an award-winning Theatre actor; a Tele drama screenwriter and actor; an award-winning Film actor, screenwriter & director; and an Oriental dancer.[1]
He was married to Mrs. Silwari Perera(Manel) and was the father of two sons and three daughters. Dharma Sri Munasinghe died on 28th August 2004, at the age of 74. He was a rare artiste who displayed equal celebrity in different spheres of arts, and it's inevitable for Sri Lanka to feel the absence of an artiste like Dharma Sri Munasinghe.[2]