Lakshman Mendis

Lakshman Mendis’s full name is Balapaduwaduge Manulasuriya Lakshman Mendis. He is a Sri Lankan actor who mainly works in Sri Lankan theatre, cinema, and television. He was born on May 19, 1955. Lakshman Mendis’s place of birth is Colombo, Sri Lanka. He finished his studies at Royal College, Colombo. His father’s name is Reggie Mendis, and he was a former member of the Central Committee of the LSSP (Lanka Sama Samaja Party). In the past, Reggie Mendis was the secretary of the Board of Education of the ancient LSSP. He was also considered the pivotal role of educating his party members to be trained & experienced in Marxism today. He married Geetha Shyamali of Balangoda. He has a son and a daughter. His son pursuing gemology at the University of Moratuwa and is also involved in the gem business. His daughter is pursuing psychology at the University of Cambridge, England.

During his initial days, Lakshman Mendis worked as a clerk in the Embilipitiya paper mill. But he was later expelled for political reasons. After that, he took the guidance of his father's friend, Lakshman Mendis studied gemology. He then ran the gem business for eleven years. Later, he became a prosperous gem merchant in Kahawatta. In 1985, he began his acting career at the age of twenty-nine with the documentary tele drama “Gangulen Egodata,” directed by his friend Dr. Dharmasena Pathiraja. As a production manager, Lakshman Mendis has worked in the Pathiraja’s teledrama “Nadunana Puththu” in 1995. Sudath Mahadivulweva did a similar teledrama with the title “Dalulana Gini,” in which he portrayed the supportive character of Renganathan.

The following year, Lakshman Mendis made a critically acclaimed role of Bryan in the thriller movie "Demodara Palama,” directed by Dinesh Priyasad. He earned the Best Upcoming Actor award at the twenty-fourth Sarasaviya Festival for his performance in the film. In 2007, Lakshman Mendis received the Merit Award for Best Performances at the thirty-two Sarasaviya Festival for his role of Priyadasa in the movie “Anjalika.” In 2011, he appeared as Chief Priest in the Sri Lankan Sinhala historical film “Mahindagamanaya" and as a villager in the thriller biological film "Gamani.” In 2012, he appeared in the political thriller television series “Koombiyo,” directed by Lakmal Darmarathna. The series was telecast in ITN in 2016, and it became the highest-rated crime television show.

In 2013, he was cast as Lorenso Sylvester in the Sri Lankan Sinhala comedy family film “Peeter One, directed by Bandu Samarasinghe. The same year, he played the role of Jayasekara in the Sinhala drama film "Nikini Vassa,” directed by Aruna Jayawardana. In 2017, Lakshman Mendis acted in two films such as “Nimnayaka Hudekalawa" (as a wise man) and "Swaroopa" (as Manager of Mr. Solomons). The same year, he starred in the drama serial “Maddahana,” directed by Sumith Ratnayake. He earned the award for Best Supporting Actor at the Sumathi Awards and Raigam Tele’es for this role. In 2018, Lakshman Mendis starred in the biopic movie "Nidahase Piya DS,” directed by Suneth Malinga Lokuhewa.

In the film, he portrayed the lead role of D. S. Senanayake. The same year, he acted in the stage play titled “Handa Nihanda,” produced by Jayalath Manoratne. In 2022, he appeared as Mr. Bernad in the Sri Lankan science fiction short film “Temporal,” directed by Akash Sunethkumara. The following year, he essayed the character of a retired army officer in the Sri Lankan Sinhala crime romantic thriller film "Viyasiduru,” directed by Prabhath Agampodi. In 2019, Lakshman Mendis was elected as the Secretary of the Sinhala Cultural Institute commonly called Sudarshi. In 2020, he was cast in two television series such as Sudu Andagena Kalu Awidin and Ahanna Kenek Na, both earned many awards at local festivals.