Asoka Peiris an inimitable actor

Award winning actor Asoka Peiris who bid farewell to Sri Lankan cinema and teledrama scene on the day before Christmas has created a void in the local art circle. With his inimitable talent to play powerful roles were treats to watch for millions of his audience. He was an actor with a style of his own who adorned the silver screen, the small screen and the stage.

Award winning actor Asoka Peiris

Head of the aristocratic Kandyan family in the popular teledrama'Amba Yahaluwo' or the ruthless politician in the film 'Guru Gedara', Asoka's characterization was one which will stay forever in the hearts and minds of his audience. Asoka was a past student of S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia.

He made his debut in 1965 playing the main role in the drama 'Palá Malla'. He followed it with a role in an English drama directed by Lucian de Soyza. In the world of films he made his appearance in one of Dr. Lester James Pieris' films 'Delovak Athara.'

His first lead role was in Roy de Silva's film 'Thana Girav'. His remarkable performances were seen in Dr. Lester James Pieris' 'Uganathaya', and 'Baddegama', Sumithra's film 'Yahalu- Yeheli', D. B. Warnasiri's 'Sathyagrahanaya', Tissa Abeysekara's 'Viragaya', Wijaya Dharma-Sri's 'Guru- Gedara', more recently in Wasantha Obeysekara's 'Máruthaya' and 'Yaksha-Weshaya' and foreign films 'Shadow of the Cobra' and 'Death Stone'.

Asoka made his entry in to tele-dramas through Tissa Abesekara's ‘Bicycle’ and held the audience spellbound by his performance in 'Amba-Yahaluwo' and 'Irata Handana Mal' and many more. In 1994 Sarasaviya Award Festival. he won the Best Actor award for Vijaya Dharmasri's ‘Guru Gedara’.

Asoka was a creative and talented actor who led a quiet life was a large hearted human being. At the age of 65 years, Asoka Peiris passed away on December 24 following a heart attack.