Kaushalya Fernando

Kaushalya Fernando, known by her Sinhala name කෞෂල්‍යා ප්‍රනාන්දු, is a multifaceted figure hailing from Sri Lanka. She excels as an actress, director, producer, and civil activist. With a remarkable prowess that shines in both stage drama and cinema, Fernando has achieved the illustrious distinction of winning the esteemed Best Actress award five times at the State Drama Festival. Her lineage is rooted in the world of theater, as she is the daughter of the renowned theater director, the late Somalatha Subasinghe.

Background and Personal Life

Kaushalya was born to Lionel Fernando and Somalatha Subasinghe. Her father, Lionel, served as a civil servant and ambassador, while her mother, Somalatha, gained prominence as a celebrated dramatist and theater director. Kaushalya has a sister, and her family's roots trace back to Veyangoda, where her teacher grandparents resided. She pursued her education across several institutions, starting with Anula College, followed by Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Sujatha College, and ultimately, St. Paul's Girls School, Milagiriya. Beyond her artistic pursuits, she showcased her athletic prowess by participating and excelling in events like the 100m, 200m, and high jump at the district level.

Her academic journey led her to the University of Colombo, where she earned a degree in the arts. During this time, she was invited by Prof. Siromi Fernando to join the department as a trainee English instructor, a role she embraced. This eventually led her to pursue a postgraduate diploma in English language teaching. She later transitioned into a visiting lecturer position, after leaving her permanent staff role in 1999.

Kaushalya is married to Dr. Chandana Aluthge, and together they are parents to twins named Haimi and Hans. Dr. Aluthge is affiliated with the Department of Economics at the University of Colombo.

Artistic Journey

From a young age, Kaushalya's affinity for theater was evident. Encouraged by her teacher, Sunethra Sarachchandra, she began writing and directing stage plays at just 8 years old. Her acting debut happened unexpectedly in 1979, when she stepped in as a last-minute replacement in the drama "Punchi Apata Dang Therei," directed by her mother. Her breakthrough came with Sugathapala de Silva's play "Marasad," which garnered her special recognition at the State Drama Festival. This pivotal role caught the attention of eminent directors like Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, K.B. Herath, Ranjini Obeysekera, and Premasiri Khemadasa, who recognized and harnessed her remarkable talents.

Kaushalya continued to excel in the theater world, winning the Best Actress award at the State Drama Festival for her performances in plays like "Antigony," produced by her mother in 1994, and "Dona Kathirina" in 1995. Her achievements extended beyond the stage, as she had the privilege of gracing the red carpets of prestigious international film festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival in 2005 and the 66th Venice Film Festival in 2009.

In addition to her stage endeavors, Kaushalya made her mark on the Sri Lankan teledrama landscape. Notably, her role in the series "Dunhinda Addara" earned her the OCIC Best Actress Award. She lent her talents to other notable teledramas like "Diyaketa Pahana," "Wanaspahti," "Isuru Gira," "Sedona," and "Thaththa," contributing to their lasting impact in Sri Lankan teledrama history.