Saman Almeida (Sinhala: සමන් අල්මේදා 18 October 1965 – 26 June 2026) was a Sri Lankan actor and comedian. He was best known for his comedic roles in television teledramas and cinema.[1][2] He rose to prominence for his portrayal of the character 'Pinto' in the Sirasa TV sitcomYes Boss.[3][4]

Saman Almeida
සමන් අල්මේදා
Born(1965-10-18)18 October 1965
Ceylon
Died26 June 2026(2026-06-26) (aged 60)
Maharagama, Sri Lanka
OccupationsActor, comedian
Years active2000s–2026

Life and career

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Almeida was born on 18 October 1965 in Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon. He began his acting career with the television serial Thahanchi. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he appeared in numerous television programmes including Bakery Gedara, Yes Boss, Swayanjatha, Pabilis, Daam, Kuwera Wara[5], Isuru Bhawana, Thuwankande Saradiel and Pethi Ahulana Mala.[6]

In addition to television, Almeida also contributed to the Sri Lankan cinema, performing comedic and supporting roles in films such as Kauda Bole Alice (2000), Aladinge Waldin (2003)[7], Sihinaya Dige Enna (2012)[8], Gindari: Bahubuthayo 2 (2015), Patibhana (2016)[9], and Passport (2024).

On 11 March 2026, it was reported that Almeida had been admitted to the Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital in Colombo.[10] He died on 26 June, at the age of 60.[11][12]

Selected television series

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  • Daam
  • Isuru Bhawana
  • Kuwera Wara
  • Pethi Ahulana Mala
  • Punchi Walawwa
  • Sabanda Eliyas
  • Sabanda Pabilis
  • Sakisanda Eliyas
  • Sakisanda Suwaris
  • Sathara Waram
  • Siri Sirimal
  • Swayanjatha
  • Uthuwan Kande Saradiyel
  • Yes Boss

References

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  1. "ප්‍රවීණ රංගන ශිල්පී සමන් අල්මේදා අභාවප්‍රාප්ත වෙයි". Divaina (in Sinhala). 26 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  2. "රංගන ශිල්පී සමන් අල්මේදා අභාවප්‍රාප්ත වෙයි". News First (in Sinhala). 26 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  3. "Yes Boss නාට්‍යයෙන් රටම හිනැස්සු සමන් අල්මේදාට අසාධ්‍යයි". Radio Gagana (in Sinhala). Retrieved 27 June 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ""ඌව බේරන්න ගිහින් වාහනය බෝක්කුවක වැදුණා. යටි ඇන්දෙ දතක් කැඩුණා..." - සමන් අල්මේදා - Saman Almeda - Hiru Gossip, Lanka Gossip | Hirugossip | Hiru Gossip | Hiru Fm Gossip | Hiru Gossip Official Web Site |Lanka Gossip - A Rayynor Silva Holdings Company". gossip.hirufm.lk (in Sinhala). Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  5. "'Kuwera Wara' revolves around an ambitious man". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  6. "Mapitigama works on his 55th project". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  7. "Film History - nfc.gov.lk". www.nfc.gov.lk. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  8. "Sinhala film release in Jaffna after 30 years". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  9. "සිංහල සිනමා විස්තරය". www.sarasaviya.lk. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  10. english, gossiplanka (11 March 2026). "Popular actor Saman Almeida in the hospital". Gossip Lanka News [English]. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  11. "රටක් සිනහා සයුරේ ගිල්වූ ජනප්‍රිය රංගන ශිල්පියෙක් ජීවන ගමනට සමුදෙයි - ගගන". Radio Gagana (in Sinhala). Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  12. "ප්‍රවීණ රංගන ශිල්පී සමන් අල්මේදා අභාවප්‍රාප්ත වෙයි". Hiru News. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
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