BIOGRAPHY

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Amarasiri Kalansuriya, popularly known as Kalan (born September 20, 1940), is a Sri Lankan film actor. Kalansuriya made his first film appearance alongside Vijaya Kumaratunga in Hanthana Kathawa. His next film Ahas Gauwa won him a best actor award in 1974. He was born in Kandy, and is an alumnus of Dharmaraja College.

EARLY LIFE

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Kalansuriya was born in Sri Lanka to Kalansuriya Francis Appuhami and Bengamuwa Arachchige Podi Hamine. Kalansuriya started his school career with Kiribathkumbura Sri Swarnajothi School and then attended to Dharmaraja College in Kandy.

Kalansuriya began his career life from the Agricultural Department in Mahiyanganaya as a minor worker. After that he worked as a lance corporal in Sri Lankan Army for six years. Then worked in Mallika Studio in Mahanuwara and then he worked in Mahanuwara Lion Cafe.

After a quarrel with a boss he vowed to not work under anyone and went off to pursue less strict work. In this pursuit he saved up Rs. 300 and started a small business selling clothes in Kegalle and Peradeniya. Successful he moved up into tailoring and owned two tailor shops. Here he got the chance to make clothes for the army and rub shoulders with rising political figures like Lalith Athulathmudali.

ACTING CAREER

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Kalansuriya accepted an invitation from H. D. Premaratne to star in the film Apeksha in 1978. His second film after the hiatus, Parithyagaya, won him more awards from OCIC and Sarasaviya. He won Best Supporting Actor for Puja in Presidential Award in 1986. Kalanasuriya had a leading role in the first television serial made in Sri Lanka, Dimuthu Muthu directed by D. B. Nihalsinghe. After another hiatus, Kalansuriya returned to film with Shilpa Denumena in 2001.Directed by Rodney Widanapathirana

SPECIAL AWARDS

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• Social Science Society - Ruhunu University
• Journalist Society - Colombo University
• Minimuthu Award - Welfar Socity
• Social Science Society - University of Peradeniya
• "Signees" - once in alife time awrad in 2004