Ruwan Costa

Chalitha Ruwan Costa (born 8 May 1967 as රුවන් කොස්තා) is a Sri Lankan cinematographer and cameraman known for his works in Sinhala-language cinema. Often considered as one of the leading cinematographers in Sinhala cinema, his best known works include: Agnidahaya, Guerilla Marketing (2005), Sankranthi (2007), Sikuru Hathe (2007), Samige Kathawa (2014), and Adaraneeya Kathawak (2017). In a career spanning more than three decades, Costa worked as the director of photography for 26 films and about 5000 AUP television productions, 3000 AUP television and film commercials.

Personal life He was born on 8 May 1967 in Mawanella, Kegalle, Sri Lanka as the youngest of the family with one sibling, one sister. His father Ronal Costa is a fire & safety consultant and his mother Heenmanike Wijeratne is a housewife. He completed education from Kingswood College, Kandy.

He is married to Dhammika Kumari Warshakoon where the wedding was celebrated in 1992 after seven years of affair. The couple has three sons.

Career While studying at Kingswood College, Costa joined the photography society of the school. During this time, he accompanied with his sister for her photography course under the guidance of parents. After completing Advanced level examination, he started to work with still camera to cover many photographic events such as parties and weddings. A group of friends made a new production of Ediriweera Sarachchandra's play Kapuwa Kapothi where Costa played the role of "Manis Mudalali" in it. Then he did a course called Film and Television at the Sathyodaya Foundation in Kandy. Then he joined as the assistant cameraman for the television serial Samuganime Nawathena directed by Kapila Kumara Kalinga. In that year, he won the award for the best Camera Direction at three award ceremonies: the State Television Festival, the Signis (OCIC) festival and Raigam Tele'es. Later in 2005, Costa won the Signis (OCIC) Award for best Camera Direction and Lighting Direction and award for the Best Camera and Lighting Director for the same teleplay at the State Television Festival.

Then in the same year, he handled the camera for the serial Jeevithayata Ida Denna and won the award for the best Camera Direction at the State Television Festival. In that year, Costa collaborated with another two prominent cinematographers: Channa Deshapriya Wickramatantri & N.A Palitha Perera to establish a cinematography company titled "Magic Lantern". In 2007, he received the Award for the best Documentary Camera Director at the State Television Festival. After many works in television, Costa again moved to cinema and worked as the cinematographer for the drama film Sankranthi directed by Anuruddha Jayasinghe. The film received positive reviews from critics where the film was screened at the 34th International Indian Film Festival in December 2006. Later in 2008, he won the Signis (OCIC) Award best Cinematographer. The serial received numerous awards at many drama festivals whereas Costa won the award for the best Camera Director at the State Television Festival. In 2012, he worked with the musical feature film Samanala Sandhawaniya directed by Chandrasiri. Costa won the Signis (OCIC) best Cinematographer for the film in that year. After that, he joined with Priyankara Vittanachchi to handle the camera for the film Samige Kathawa. The film had many positive reviews from local and international critics and won both local and international awards including Signis (OCIC) best Cinematographer which was won the by Costa.

In 2015 he collaborated with Chandrasiri for another film, Maharaja Gemunu where Costa won the award for the best Cinematographer at the Sarasaviya Film Awards. In the next year, he won a Merit Award for camera direction of the film Adaraniya Kathawak at the 19th Presidential Film Festival. In 2018, he worked in the film Kandak Sema with the Japanese crew and international cinematography standards. The film is yet to release in Sri Lanka. In 2020 at the NICE International Film Festival, Costa won the award for the Best Cinematography in a Foreign Language Film for the film Dada Ima.

Apart from cinema and television, Costa also worked extensively in many popular commercials.

Teledramas

Avarjanaa Abi Samaya Ayamawaru Dadaman Soya Dahas Gavu Dura Dandelu Gini Dhawala Kanya Dhawala Rathriya Gamen Awith Grahanaya Hatharadenek Senpathiyo Jeevithayata Ida Denna Linda Mariya Magdelena Manu Kakapura Meeduma Nethra Mangallaya Nisalavila Nonagatheka Nimawak Rejina Saddhi Viharaya Sangili Palama Sathweni Rala Wanas Pathi Yasodaranamwu Aye Yuga Vilakkuwa

Filmography Year Film Ref. 2002 Agnidahaya 2004 Rajjumala 2005 Dhawala Duvili 2005 Guerilla Marketing 2005 Sudu Kalu Saha Alu 2006 Nilambare 2007 Sankranthi 2007 Aganthukaya 2007 Sikuru Hathe 2011 King Hunther 2012 Super Six 2013 Samanala Sandhawaniya 2013 Peeter One 2014 Samige Kathawa 2014 Ko Mark No Mark 2015 Maharaja Gemunu 2016 Adaraneeya Kathawak 2017 Heena Hoyana Samanallu 2017 A Level 2018 Nela 2022 Ashawari 2023 Kandak Sema 2023 Kathuru Mithuru 2023 Dada Ima 2024 My Red Comrade 2024 Mandaraa 2025 Devi Kusumasana