Lanka Bandaranayake

Lanka Bandaranayake is a Sri Lankan filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, actor, and theatre artist who mainly works in Sri Lankan cinema. She is known for the short film Tradition.

Early life

Lanka was born in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. In 2016, she finished her Bachelor of Arts degree in the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. She received a Chevening Scholarship in 2021 for her Master's Degree in Directing Film and Television, which she completed with Distinction at Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom.

In 2008, she was cast in Security, a short theatre play that was directed by Hewage Bandula. It was staged at the Colombo Theatre Fest for Young Audiences, 2008.

Her first short film, Tradition, was selected for more than 40 international film festivals.

In 2019, she directed her second short film, Inheritance (2020), with the partnership of the British Council of Sri Lanka.

In 2020, Lanka directed "The Delivery" chapter on the anthology film Goodnight Colombo.

Her third short film, Mahasona (2021), was selected for various film festivals.

In 2021, her debut feature film, The Hail, was selected by the Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program at Global Media Makers in Los Angeles. During the program, she developed her debut feature film project, The Hail (Working Title).

Filmography Year Title Director Writer Producer