Roger Seneviratne
රොජර් සෙනෙවිරත්න
Born
Joseph Roger Seneviratne

(1962-05-05) May 5, 1962
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationSt. Thomas' College, Kotte
Saint Joseph's College, Colombo
Occupation(s)Actor, politician
Years active1976–present
Political partyNational Freedom Front
SpouseVineetha Chandrasekara
Parent
  • Riyency Steinwall (father)
AwardsBest Actor 2008
WebsiteOfficial Website

Joseph Roger Seneviratne (born 5 May 1962 as රොජර් සෙනෙවිරත්න) [Sinhala]), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema,[1] stage drama and television as well as singer and politician by profession.[2] Highly versatile actor who dominated television screen, he is best known for the roles in teledrama Batti, Chathurya and as King Vijaya in film Vijaya Kuweni.[3]

Personal life

He is a past pupil of St. Thomas' College, Kotte and Saint Joseph's College, Colombo. He is married to Vineetha Chandrasekara and the couple has one daughter Divya Vihari and one son Digantha.[4]

His father Riyency Steinwall Seneviratne was a retired officer in Sri Lanka Ports Authority. He died in 2012 at the age of 84.[5] Roger is the second of the family with nine siblings. His elder brother is Ralston and younger brother is Ralph. He has six sisters, Kristine, Darliya, Sharmane, Linet, Michel and Virginia.[6]

Acting career

His acting career started in 1976 when his friend Milton Jayasooriya introduced him to dramatist Sugathapala de Silva. He acted in de Silva's stage play Dunna Dunu Gamuwe and also worked as assistant stage manager of that play.[7] Then he continued to act in stage plays such as Ediriweera Sarachchandra's Wessanthara, Veniceye Welenda, Twelfth Night and Mandaram Wehi. In 1986, he made a short play by translating Anton Chekhov's play Death of a Clerk as an experimental production. Then he translated Albert Kaman’s Caligula as Paswenna.[8] The drama won eleven awards at the drama competition conducted by the National Youth Services Council. In 1993, Paswenna won awards for the best director and best production at the State Drama Festival.[7]

Seneviratne also involved for international collaborations such as Italian productions Return to Bangalore Mother Theresa and French production Father Mannika.[8]

His cinema career started in 1981 with a short film Parajithayo directed by Prasanna Amarasinghe.[8] His maiden cinema appearance came through Christu Charithaya directed by Sunil Ariyaratne with a minor role. In 2001, he produced the television serial Santhrasaya which achieved the best rating for ITN in that year. His second production came through blockbuster hit Chathurya.[7] His maiden television drama acting came through Irata Handana Mal. Under his production company 2R Creations, Seneviratne produced the television serials such as Ranarala and Wijayaba Kollaya.[8]

Notable theater works

  • Dunna Dunu Gamuwe
  • Wessanthara
  • Veniceye Welenda
  • Twelfth Night
  • Mandaram Wehi
  • Paswenna
  • Spartacus
  • Avamanawa
  • Men with Shadows
  • Romaya Gini Gani 2[9]

Notable television works

Beyond acting

He entered politics in 1978 when University of Peradeniya started a riot campaign to protest against White Paper introduced by the Education Department. He was a former councilor of the Western Provincial Council representing the National Freedom Front (NFF) in 2009. He resigned from the post in 2018.[46] In 2014, he contested from United People’s Freedom alliance for the Western Province Council under United People’s Freedom Alliance.[47] He took 44,011 votes and selected as a councilor for Western provincial council.[48]

In 1986, he worked at Rupavahini Corporation to perform documentaries Ruwan Wassa and Diriya Duwa. Then he worked with Darmasena Pathiraja’s Nadunana Puthu.[49]

Arrest

In January 2002, Seneviratne assaulted with a club and caused injuries to Jayantha Mihira Wickremarachchi at Kalalgoda Road in Pannipitiya. Due to the assault, his leg fractured in three places. The rival initiated when Jayantha's wife befriended with Seneviratne and left him. She went live with Seneviratne in a house at Kalalgoda Road.[50] The assault took place, when Jayantha went to that home to meet his wife. Seneviratne was accused had committed an offense under Section 317 of the Penal Code and arrested. After he fount to be guilty, Kaduwela magistrate sentenced Seneviratne to one year’s rigorous imprisonment. In 2014, Seneviratne was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment suspended for five years by Avissawella Magistrate.[51]

In 2018, Seneviratne appeared before 12 June 2018 on Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court with other member of National Freedom Front.[52] The case was filed against inconveniencing the public by protesting against the arrival of the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Prince Zeid Raad Al Hussein outside the UN complex in Thunmulla in 2016.[53][54]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1994Loku Duwa
1995Ayoma
1996Sihina Deshayen
1997Duwata Mawaka Misa
1997Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's PoorProtest leader
1998Channa Kinnari
1998Dorakada MarawaPriyantha's friend[55]
1999Pawuru WalaluRanjith[56]
2000Thisaravi[57]
2001Kinihiriya MalVijitha[58]
2002Mamath Geheniyak
2002Pathiniyakage Horawa[59]
2004Sumedha[60]
2004Mille SoyaMichael[61]
2005SulangaDonald[62]
2010Ira Handa Yata[63]
2010Dakina Dakina MalKumar[64]
2011Dheewari[65]
2011Angara DangaraMr. Wickramasinghe[66]
2012Vijaya KuweniKing Vijaya[67]
2013AnithyaDerrick[68]
2013Samanala SandhawaniyaRevatha Dissanayake[69]
2014RanjaSub Inspector[70]
2017Ran SayuraOIC[71]
TBDKuveni 2: YakshadeshayaRanduna[72]
TBDGunananda Himi MigettuwatteMigel aka Gunananda Thero[73]
TBDShakthi[74]
TBDRidee Seenu[75]
TBDApe Principal[76]

Awards and accolades

He has won several awards for the Best Actor, Supporting Actor and Popular Actor in many local television and theater award festivals.[77]

Sumathi Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1996Nadunana PuththuMerit AwardWon
2008Wanabime SirakaruwaBest ActorWon

References

  1. ↑ "Roger Seneviratne bio". Rate your music. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  2. ↑ "Roger Seneviratne". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  3. ↑ "Roger Seneviratne fan forum". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  4. ↑ "Soldier Roger grows in stature". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  5. ↑ "රොජර් ගේ පියා මිය යයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  6. ↑ "Papa I'm home". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 "Root-collecting actor : Roger rooted in teledramas". Daily News. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Roger Seneviratne- man with a mission and vision". The Island. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  9. ↑ "'Igniting' the podium". Daily News. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  10. ↑ "Dilemma of a husband who goes astray". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  11. ↑ "'Ahanna Kenek Na' by Sunil Costa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  12. ↑ "'Aparna' is full of deception". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  13. ↑ "'Athuru Para': A tribute to disabled soldiers". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  14. ↑ "'Batti' passes 150th milestone". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  15. ↑ "'Chakraudhaya' on Rupavahini". Daily News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  16. ↑ "Adding colour to character". Daily News. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  17. ↑ "'Dahas Gawdura': a formulaic telefilm". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  18. ↑ "Teledrama off the beaten track". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  19. ↑ "Denuwara Manike". paradisaya. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  20. ↑ "Sangeetha excels in dual roles". Daily News. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  21. ↑ "Sudharma Nethicumara Launches New Teledrama". Business Today. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  22. ↑ "'Doratu Rakinno' opens for public". Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  23. ↑ "'Railway Stories': for a novel journey in teledrama". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  24. ↑ "Popular cinema on television". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  25. ↑ "The story of Gajaman Nona". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  26. ↑ "'Gini Dalu Meda': depicts gloomy side of war". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  27. ↑ "'Kammiththa' from Daya's comic story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  28. ↑ "Teacher learns from life". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  29. ↑ "A teacher's tale of woe". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  30. ↑ "Treble teledrama treat from Swarnavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  31. ↑ "'Kulawanthayo' has a social impact". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  32. ↑ "'Mindada': A story on trade union and love". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  33. ↑ "'Nil Mal Viyana': Manel's final bow". Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  34. ↑ "'Nisala Diya Sasala Viya': A love story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  35. ↑ "'Pata Veeduru': Drama off the beaten track". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  36. ↑ ""Sakisanda Suwaris" soon on Rupavahini". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  37. ↑ "'Samanalayano': A tale of love". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  38. ↑ "Samudra Chaya: a tender love story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  39. ↑ "Santhrase". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  40. ↑ "'Satya' embarks on social reform and pays with his life". Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  41. ↑ "'Senuri' on mini screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  42. ↑ "'Sudu Mal Kanda': A love story". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  43. ↑ "'Ulamage Rathriya' reveals the country's past". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  44. ↑ "'Wanabime Sirakaruwo': A tale of a brave Boer". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  45. ↑ "'Wara Mal' portrays a teacher, a politician". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  46. ↑ "Roger resigns from Wimal's NFF". ilankanews. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  47. ↑ "My aim is to rank among the top three". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  48. ↑ "Colombo District Preferential Votes: Complete list of winners". News First. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  49. ↑ "Acting is what I live and breathe". The Nation. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  50. ↑ "Two-year suspended jail sentence for Roger Seneviratne". lankanewspapers. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  51. ↑ "Two-year suspended jail sentence for Roger Seneviratne". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  52. ↑ "Verdict on case against Wimal issued on Nov 12". Ada Derana. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  53. ↑ "Arrest warrants issued against MPs Wimal Weerawansa & Jayantha Samaraweera". Colombo Page. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  54. ↑ "Roger Seneviratne's Issued Warrant". fastnews. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  55. ↑ "Dorakada Marawa: a tense drama of human relationships". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  56. ↑ "A reel from the past: Pawuru Walalu at Sooriya Village". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  57. ↑ "'Thisaravi' Shehara". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  58. ↑ "Kinihiriya Mal - කිනිහිරියා මල්". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  59. ↑ "'Pathiniyakage Horawa' depicts ills of society". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  60. ↑ "'Sumedha' to go on screen". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  61. ↑ "To 'enjoy' dreadful reality". The Island. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  62. ↑ "Sulanga screened in Kurunegala today". Daily News. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  63. ↑ "Ira Handa Yata Brings A Message To Every Sri Lankan". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  64. ↑ "'Dakina Dakina Mal' marks 50th production for Sunil T." Sunday Observer. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  65. ↑ "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  66. ↑ "'Angara Dangara' now on screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  67. ↑ "Vijaya Kuweni". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  68. ↑ "Anithya – අනිත්‍යා – Sinhala Movie". cinema.lk. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  69. ↑ "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  70. ↑ "Ranja – රන්ඡා". Cinema.lk. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  71. ↑ "1269 Film in Sri Lankan Cinema". www.nfc.gov.lk.
  72. ↑ "Yakshadeshaya starts". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  73. ↑ "Film on greatest religious icon". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  74. ↑ "Sri Lanka to produce first 3D movie". NewsIn.Asia. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  75. ↑ "The silver bells are finished". සරසවිය. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  76. ↑ ""වැරැදුණු මඟ නිවැරැදි කළ" අපේ ප්‍රින්සිපල්". සරසවිය. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  77. ↑ "Sumathi Awards 2008". The Nation. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
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