Giriraj Kaushalya

<div class="flex flex-grow flex-col gap-3"><div class="min-h-[20px] flex flex-col items-start gap-3 overflow-x-auto whitespace-pre-wrap break-words"><div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light"><p>Silmesthri Giriraj Kaushalya, widely recognized as Giriraj Kaushalya, is a versatile Sri Lankan actor who has made a significant impact in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama, and television. Born on November 13, 1964, in Kolonnawa, Colombo, he is known for his remarkable skills ranging from drama to comedy. Beyond acting, Kaushalya has also delved into various roles within the entertainment industry, including serving as an assistant director, producer, scriptwriter, and filmmaker.</p><p>In his early years, Kaushalya was the youngest among four siblings, with three elder brothers and one elder sister. He commenced his education at a village school in Kolonnawa and later attended Gurukula Vidyalaya in Kelaniya. His father, an active trade unionist in the Ceylon Electricity Board and a member of the Sri Lanka Communist Party, played a significant role in the Left Movement. Prior to pursuing acting, Kaushalya worked in the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka. Interestingly, his elder brother, Lalith Janakantha, is also a renowned actor in stage, television, and cinema.</p><p>Kaushalya's personal life intertwined with his professional journey when he met his wife, Mangalika Fernando, while both were working at the Mahaweli Authority in Lihinyagama, Mahaweli C zone, in 1986. She served as a draftsman, and Kaushalya was a storekeeper. They became engaged in 1987 and celebrated their wedding in 1988. The couple decided to leave their jobs in 1998. They are blessed with two daughters, Kavindya Nilupuli and Amandya Uthpali, with their eldest daughter born in 1989 and the second in 1994.</p><p>Tragically, Kaushalya faced a critical health challenge in late 2021 when he was diagnosed with leukemia. As a result, he had to take an indefinite break from his acting career. He endured over 40 days of hospitalization in 2022 due to his illness.</p><p>Kaushalya's acting journey began when he collaborated with veteran actor Sathischandra Edirisinghe during their time at the Mahaweli Authority's cultural unit. Edirisinghe extended an invitation to Kaushalya to participate in his teledrama "Namal Golla," which marked his debut in the world of drama. Subsequently, he appeared in "Kokila Ginna," again directed by Edirisinghe.</p><p>Interestingly, Kaushalya's entry into stage drama happened by chance when he accompanied his elder brother, Lalith, to plays. His first appearance on stage occurred when he stood in for an absent actor in the play "Dukgannarala," directed by Prasannajith Abeysuriya. He later joined veteran dramatist Somalatha Subasinghe's drama troupe, where he featured in stage productions like "Mawakage Sangramaya," "Antigany," and children's plays such as "Hima Kumari" and "Thoppi Welenda."</p><p>Kaushalya continued to perform in stage dramas for several years, earning recognition for his roles in productions such as Somaratne Dissanayake's "Mee Pura Wesiyo," Parakrama Niriella's "Sekkuwa," Rodney Warnakula's "Saranga Naven Evith," and Priyantha Seneviratne's "Minisa."</p><p>In 1997, he had the opportunity to work as an assistant director in the popular teledrama "Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni," directed by Jayaprakash Sivagurunathan, where he also played some roles in the drama. Kaushalya also made a name for himself as a scriptwriter, contributing to the success of television comedies like "Kathura" and "Ethuma 1" and "2." He ventured into television drama direction with "Nana Kamare," which aired on Swarnavahini and starred Bandu Samarasinghe, achieving considerable success. He further directed the serial "Mithra Samagama," which was telecasted on TV Derana.</p></div></div></div>