Saman Almeida bids farewell

Veteran actor Saman Almeida, who illuminated the Sri Lankan art scene for a long time with his innate comedic acting talent, has passed away. The sudden demise of this great artist, who entertained the local audience with laughter for several decades, has plunged the entire world of comedy art, as well as his beloved fans, into deep sorrow.

The character 'Pintu,' which he portrayed as a security officer in the highly popular 'Yes Boss' teledrama series broadcast on Sirasa TV, left an indelible mark in the history of local teledramas. With his unique comedic acting style, he gained popularity among various strata of society and was an actor capable of consistently bringing a smile to the faces of audiences burdened by the stresses of everyday life.

In addition to the 'Yes Boss' teledrama, Mr. Saman Almeida contributed his acting talents to numerous other audience-favorite teledramas, including 'Sabanda Pabilis,' 'Sakisanda Eliyas,' 'Daam,' 'Swayanjatha,' 'Uthuwankande Saradiel,' 'Isuru Bhawanaya,' and 'Bakery Gedara.' Not limited to the teledrama field, he entered cinema with the 1998 film 'Mohothin Mohotha' and subsequently enriched local cinema by portraying supporting and comedic roles in many films such as 'Sathyadevi,' 'Hi Baby Hi,' 'Pissu Double,' 'Mago Digo Dai,' 'Thank You Bertie,' 'Parawarthana,' 'Patibana,' 'Gindari,' 'Meka Puduma Kathawak,' and 'Passport,' which was screened in 2024.

In early March 2026, due to a severe illness, this veteran artist received inpatient treatment in Ward 14 of the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital in Colombo. The news of an artist who once made an entire nation laugh being severely ill on a hospital bed deeply shocked people in the art field as well as fans, and contemporary artists inquired about his well-being and provided necessary support. Various videos and posts circulated on social media regarding his illness, and close artists at the time clarified that it was not caused by his previous lifestyle.