Arts Council of Sri Lanka
Drama Advisory Board

State Drama Advisory Board is established for the purpose of advising and assisting the Arts council on the general advancement of the theatre and Drama and to support a vibrant community of Sri Lankan playwrights, directors, actors, costume and scenic designers etc, theatre groups and organizations so that the public can experience the highest standard of Theatre and Drama in Sri Lanka.

State Drama Advisory Board functions under a statutory Act for the uplift of local Dramas annually. Major annual projects organized by this Panel  they are

  • State Drama Festival  (Sinhala and Tamil)
  • State Short Drama Festival
  • State Children’s Drama Festival

At the beginning of such year applications are called for by a press advertisement. Above Drama Festivals are organized according to the received applications. Each festival is held in three rounds-first, second and third. Selections are made by a board of the eminent judges and the selected artists are appreciated by awarding.In addition to these festivals which organized annually , for the purpose of regain in the field of Dramas, workshops are held at the selected areas with the participation of eminent personnel in the field to give practical knowledge to interested apprentices.Any applicant who wishes to participate in the drama festival should obtain the application form with a copy of rules and regulations from the Drama Panel and should present it in accordance with the rules and regulations.

 

Panel Profile

Prof. Ariyarathna Athugala
Chairman
Senior Professor

Prof. Ariyarathna Athugala is a Senior Professor in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He is the former Chairman of Sri Lanka's national broadcaster Rupavahini and also the former Director General of Department of Government Information, Sri Lanka. He has been teaching since 1991. He is presently teaching advanced Placement Mass Communication (Honours/General), as well as MA, MSSc, PhD and Communication Diploma courses.


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Dr. M. Nadeera
Member
Dr.

Dr. M. Nadeera has been appointed as a member of State Drama Advisory Board.


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Chandrasiri Bogamuwa
Member
Senior Lecturer

Senior Lecturer Chandrasiri Bogamuwa has been appointed as a member of State Drama Advisory Board.


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L.S. Mohan Raj
Member

Mr. L.S. Mohan Raj has been appointed as a member of State Drama Advisory Board.


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Ajith Lokuge
Member
Actor

Ajith Lokuge is an actor and assistant director, known for Seethala Gini Kandu (2002), Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli (1998) and Yathra.


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Wasantha Wittachchi
Member
Actor

Wasantha Wittachchi is known for his work on Jullietge Bhoomikawa (1998), Sangawunu Mitiyawatha and Samanala Sandhawaniya (2013).


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Tharupathi Munasinghe
Member
Senior Lecturer

Thisara Tharupathi Munasinghe, born in 1975 was exposed to a family environment that encouraged learning music. Late Austin Munasinghe, Tharu’s loving father was a one of the pioneer musicologist who rendered a great service to the Sri Lankan music arena. He had contributed to all the applied versions of music, Cinema, Stage plays and Tele-Dramas and was the music composer of many of the memorable light songs such as “Dampatin La Sanda Basa Yanawa” ( sung by Late Gunadasa Kapuge and Late Malanee Bulathsinghale ).


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Parakrama Ekanayake
Member
Programe Director

Parakrama Ekanayake is a Programe Director of popular programs on telecast in televison and he also direct the teledramas. His novels also popular within Sri Lankan readers.

TV programes – Art eka (Sirasa Tv), Cult eka (Hiru TV), Adisi Re 10 (Hiru TV), Ayemath Adaren (Hiru TV), Bookmark (Sirasa TV)

Tele Dramas – Jayadewage Awurudda (Siyatha TV), Sithuvili (TV Derana), Piya Vippayo (Colombo Television)

Novels – Tikiriliya Tharu Medde Giya, Hatharadenek Kumarawaru


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Rathna Lalani Jayakodi
Member
Senior Artist/Teacher

Rathna Lalani Jayakody, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. She is a teacher by profession.


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Dr. Tharanga Dandeniya
Member
Senior Lecturer

Dr. Tharanga Dandeniya is an award-winning theatre director, playwright, author as well as an actor. Tharanga conducted his Doctoral research at Monash University (2016) and Master of Arts by Research Degree at La Trobe University in Melbourne Australia (2007). Tharanga also received a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Theatre and Drama from the University of Kelaniya (2002) and a Higher Diploma (Drama and Theatre) at Tower Hall Theatre Foundation (1997). Tharanga is the recipient of the Sri Lanka Presidential Scholarship for Performing Arts (2002), Australian Postgraduate Award (2011), International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (2011) Monash Performance Academy Grant (2014), Enrichment Bursary of PSi (2014-2015), and several publication grants.


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Prasannajith Abeysuriya
Member
Senior Lecturer/Artist

Mr. Prasannajith Abeysuriya is a Senior Lecturer at University of Visual & Performing Arts. He is a popular actor.


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G.A. Jinapriya
Secretary
Cultural Development Assistant

Mr. G.A. Jinapriya has been appointed as a Secretary of State Drama Advisory Board.


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Prabha Karunarathne
Assistant Secretary
Cultural Development Assistant

Mrs. Prabha Karunarathne has been appointed as a Assistant Secretary of State Drama Advisory Board.


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