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Academic Qualifications

●  M.A. in Festive Arts at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Ireland. Second Class Honours - Grade 1 (2018/2019).

●  Bachelor in Metaphysical Sciences, B.Msc. University of Metaphysical Sciences, California, USA (2013).

●  Diploma in Tabla - Sharadha Kalanikethan, University of Bhathkande, India (2005).

●  Diploma in Kathak – Sharadha Kalanikethan, University of Bhathkande, India (2005).

●  Diploma in Kathakali – Kalatharangani, Kerala, India (2003).

●  Mudranatya and Nartana Praveena, Deepasikha National Theatre, Sri Lanka (2001)

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Scholarship

●  Recipient of the Stepping Stones Scholarship for full tuition fees, by the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, Limerick, Ireland (2018).

●  Participated in the 2nd South Asian Music Residency (SAMUR) launched by the Goethe-Institute, Chennai India (2017).

●  Recipient of the Fulbright Award as a Visiting Scholar to conduct a 4 months comparative study with affiliation to the Department of Ethnomusicology of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) on the topic ‘World Percussion Traditions and their Spiritual Aspects’ (2010).

 

Teaching & Community Service

●  Examiner for Aptitude Practical Examination, Department of Performing Arts, Sri Palee Campus, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2017).

●  Visiting Lecturer in Production Project (Dancing) module for final year performing arts undergraduates at the Department of Performing Arts, Sri Palee Campus, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2016 and 2017).

●  Invited as a Resource person for Media and Communication Design by the University of Moratuwa, Department of Integrated Design (2016).

●  Music trainer for ‘Heritage Projects in Rural Schools’ funded by Concerts Norway Organization. Conducted workshops & theatre productions for rural schools (2012).

●  Drum and Dance Instructor for the Sarasavi Dehena Kala Ashram institute for performing arts in Sri Lanka (2006 to 2018).

●  Drum Instructor for Deepashika National Theatre institute for performing arts in Sri Lanka (1995 to 2010).

●  Conceptual director for Dhyan Yathra, a project that provided exposure for young musicians to perform with professionals and gain exposure to World music (2005).

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International Performance

●  Invited and performed at the Asian Bands Festival in Delhi, India (2012).

●  Performance and a workshop on Sri Lankan drumming at the University of

California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2010.

●  Performed at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh (2009).

 

      Founder member of Bands in Sri Lanka

●  Renowned fusion band Thriloka

●  Percussion Band ‘Naadro

●  Mantra Rock Band ‘Tapas’

●  Classic Rock Band ‘Akaash’

(Best original Song TNL Music awards 2004)

●  (Member of) Ethnic Fusion Band ‘Megha’

●  (Member of) Gothic Rock band ‘Stonebroke’

●  Folk Rock Band ‘Yaga’

 

Awards In Theatre

●  Co-director of the dance drama ‘Amavaka’ for the State Ballet Festival, which was nominated as one of the Best Five Plays to be staged (1996).

●  Participant in the National Festival of Dance Drama ‘Apeksha’, which won the Dance Drama of the year (1996).

●  Participant in the Festival of Dance Drama – ‘Amma’, ‘Amal Biso’, ‘Sebaliya’ (1993).

 

Film & TV Studio Artist

●  Twenty years experience as a session artist, working with leading composers and musicians in the Sri Lankan field and as well as international exposure.

●  Music Director for Sri Lankan Tele production Sakkaran (2019).

●  Music Director for Sri Lanka’s first Sci Fi movie Suparna (2020).

●  Session artist for Sri Lankan films; Aba (2008) & Dhavala Duvili (2009).

●  Session artist for Sri Lankan Tele productions; Sadhgunakaraya, Mahathala

Hatana, Saradiyel and Sathara Denek Senpathiyo (2005 – 2010).

 

Music Albums & Collaborations

●  20 minutes long experimental piece inspired by Sri Lankan up-country ‘Kohomba Kankariya’ ritual, traditionally performed for ‘Kuweni Asne’ lament. Crowd-funded by Thriloka fans (2015).

●  Collaborated with Afro-Cuban musicians, directors, choreographers and artistic directors during Fulbright Scholarship journey across the USA (2010-2011).

●  Electronic music & live drumming for ‘Warehouse Project’ with Nepali DJ Kichaa M Chitraakar (2011).

●  Percussion & music arrangements for Album ‘Reinkarnation’ for Belarus Band ‘Vedaikya’ (2011).

●  Thriloka debut album ‘Bisura - Realm of Higher Listening’ under M Entertainment label (2007).

●  Second Thriloka album ‘Nirmanarathiya’ under Sony label (2010).

●  Music Director for an audio CD ‘Checkpoint’ Book of Poetry for renowned Sri

Lankan Poet Krishantha SriBhaggiyadatta (2005).

●  Composer for over 15songs with locally renowned independent history

researchers ‘Ravana Brothers’ (2009 onwards).

 

Director, Composer & Choreographer for Public Theatre Productions

●  Invited by a leading Girls’ school of Sri Lanka as composer, choreographer, director, costume & prop designer for theatre production ‘Ravana Hatana’ with 176 cast members, concluding in 3 fully sold public shows (2015).

●  Co-music composer for the stage production Patachara (2014).

●  Director and choreographer for the dance drama Maha Rāvana: The Rising Sun

of a Dying Realm” (2008).

●  Director and choreographer of the dance drama Iris (2004).

 

Academic / Research Collaborations

●  Curated an online exhibition on Sinhala ritualistic masks for the final Project of the MA in Festive Arts https://pabalu.wixsite.com/yakku

●  Assisted Eshantha Peiris in 2 fieldwork visits to Sri Lanka, exploring the changes of post-independence Kandyan dance & drumming for his PhD at the Ethnomusicology Department, The University of British Columbia, Canada (2016 & 2017).

●  Founded a Spiritual Counseling Service ‘Damaru’ offering binaural sound therapy, drumming, drum circles and mantra chanting (2015).

●  Co-presented a paper at ARCASIA Forum in Kathmandu, Nepal themed Spirituality in Architecture ‘Spirit of a Building, Entrance Threshold and Image of the City’ (2013).

●  Under the Record Label ‘M Entertainments’ produced the music album ‘Sounds of the Silent Odyssey’ based on therapeutic aspect of music to relax & heal (2011).

●  Continuous personal research on healing rituals and occultism in world cultures.

●  Collaborated with shamans and gained experience in Afro-Cuban, Native

American ritualistic practices and their music (2010).

●  Assisted Eva Ambos for her fieldwork research exploring low country

ethnomusicology rituals originated in Matara, Sri Lanka, for her PhD at the

Department of Anthropology, Heidelberg University, Germany (2009).

●  Assisted Jim Skyk in his visit to Sri Lanka for fieldwork research exploring Analytical Approaches to World Music for his PhD at the University of Chicago,

USA (2008).

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National Recognition

● Recognized by The State Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka as a Choreographer, Director and Performing Artist. Registered as a National Artist (No.01802) in 2015.

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