Gihan Fernando

Gihan Adrian Camil Fernando, also known as Gihan Fernando, was born on August 30, 1967, in Galudipita village, Ragama, Sri Lanka. He is renowned for his versatile talents as an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama, and television, in addition to being a playwright and singer. With his ability to excel in both dramatic and comedic roles, Fernando has become one of the most beloved figures in Sri Lankan theater and television.

Fernando hails from a family where he is the eldest, with one younger brother and two younger sisters. He received his education at De Mazenod College, Kandana, where he stood out as a bright student and displayed his prowess in soccer.

Before venturing into the world of drama, Fernando worked as a non-academic staff member at a university. His passion for theater led him to study the art under the guidance of various foreign theater directors through the British Council while concurrently working in a company.

In 1998, fate smiled upon him when he, along with fellow actor the late Asela Jayakody, attended a workshop conducted by Jayalal Rohana. This opportunity opened the doors for them to participate in Rohana's stage drama, "Bhoothawesha." Subsequently, Fernando went on to perform in stage productions directed by notable figures such as the late Somalatha Subasinghe, K. B. Herath, Rajitha Dissanayake, Ravindra Ariyaratne, and Dharmapriya Dias. His remarkable acting skills earned him the Best Actor Award at the Youth Drama Festival in 1990, thanks to his role in Royston Jude's play, "Rangahala." He also took part in "Macbeth," produced by a theater group based in Wattala known as the Wattala Kattiya.

Fernando made his debut on television in 1998 with the show "Hiru Kumari," directed by Nalan Mendis. He later joined forces with Kumara Thirimadura in a stage play titled "Giha Saha Kuma."

In 2016, Gihan Fernando organized a theater festival called "Ma Dakina Mama" to commemorate the silver jubilee of his theatrical career. The festival took place at the Lionel Wendt Theater in Colombo from March 31 to April 3, 2016, concluding with a festival dinner and a stand-up show.

In addition to his acting pursuits, Fernando lent his voice to radio teledramas such as "Channa Kinnaravi" on Hiru FM and "Paradige" on RanOne FM. Currently, he operates an acting school named "Hit Act" in Bambalapitiya, nurturing the talents of the new generation in the field of acting.