Giriraj Kaushalya renowned actor on stage, teledrama, films, script writer, film director a very honest person dislikes, injustice, a vastly creative individual – By Sunil Thenabadu
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Silmesthri Giriraj Kaushalya popularly known as Giriraj Kaushalya, is a Sri Lankan actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. A versatile actor from stage drama to teledrama and films from variety of depictions to serious comedy. Giriraj is renowned also having worked as an assistant director, producer, script writer and filmmaker of repute. Giriraj was born on 13th November 1964 in Kolonnawa,as the youngest sibling of five children to his parents, three elder brothers and one elder sister. Giriraj had been entered to a village school in Kolonnawa for primary studies thereafter attended to Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya where he was lucky to begin his career in art when he met aesthetic teachers like Edward Jayakody,Mervyn Perera, Amarasena Kankanamge etc. In School from his young days he was recognized in school been elected the class leader from year six had ended been elected as the Head Prefect in Gurukula Vidyalaya having had an illustrious school career.After his school career thinking he could sing had wanted to join the Bakthi Gee group in the Kolonnawa Buddhist temple, unfortunately at the audition though Giriraj thought he sang well, loudly too to attract teacher, the teacher in charge had said not suited to the Bakthi Gee troupe as he had sung compete out to the melody..Then only he had though to commence on a career in acting.As Giriraj needed the focus of young girls on him he had acted in ‘Seriwanija Jathakaya. Before Giriraj commenced hi illustrious career.Giriraj had obtained singing instincts from her mother and grand mother Nanda who had sung in many renowned Sirisena Wimalaweera’s films and theatres’ was Giriraj’s teacher initially having patronised many film halls in and around Kolonnawa.
Giriraj’s father was an active trade unionist in Ceylon Electricity Board and a staunch member of the Sri Lanka Communist party well versed in three languages, had represented the Left Movement. His father was used to travel overseas to attend seminars, workshops and meetings, representing the Left Movement. His commitment to politics was so deep that he had no time to think of even .the home-front Giriraj reminisces. At the age of seventy years father had donned robes to become a Buddhist monk until his demise at eighty five years,
He had worked in Girandurukotte at the Mahaweli Authority before entering to acting profession. His elder brother Lalith Janakantha is also a renowned actor in stage, television and cinema, in the decade of 1970’s. It is firmly attributed that Giriraj was drawn to acting by following his portrayals when young, perhaps has had hereditary affiliations to acting via him also through his grand mother.Giriraj’s eldest sister Neetha Ranjanie when the siblings were very young had organized small dramas with all siblings which are early reminisces about the beginnings of Giriraj ..
Giriraj could be described as very honest down to earth unassuming , who dislikes injustice, very honest, creative, always willing to help anyone is predominantly attached to his family .When in the era his wife Mangalika was employed despite his busy daily schedules had without fail attended to all school functions of the two daughters with age split of five years,Had uttered that he went to school thirteen years plus another five years owing to the age gap of his descendants. Giriraj had never missed to visit school for the parent days, to watch they sing in concerts, Shramadana,other school functions. But he had informed the home folks to tell him in advance of the specific dates of them in order for him to adjust his promised days for shooting. Giriraj had conveyed in a television dialog that his true fans are in wife and daughters.Once he had taken wife and daughters to see the premiere show of Wasantha Obeysekera’s ‘Aganthukayo’ .On returning one daughter had said ‘please refrain from portraying such characters’.Having portrayed characters in over two hundred popular teledramas the public often call him and daughters with names of his characters like ‘Kura’, ‘Kalu Mudalali’,’Konde Gurunnase’,’Boothaya’, ‘Kukula’etc.Once as for home needs he goes to ‘kade’ in his vicinity, while speaking to the Mudalali who does not watch teledramas a woman passing by seen him had called him’Kukula’.Giriraj has had to explain why he was called ‘Kukula’.At a place some had asked where is the ‘Boothaya’ to which he had added is with me but only he could see. It has revealed that even the daughters were often called by such teledrama names which is a usual phenomenon to them
He worked with veteran actor Sathischandra Edirisinghe in Mahaweli Authority Cultural unit. There Sathischandra Edirisinghe knowing about Giriraj’s involvement in art had invited him to portray a role in his new teledrama ’Namal Golla’ directed by Sudath Devapriya, which marked his first appearance in drama career in the era of 1989- 1990 period . Then he had acted in ‘Kokila Ginna’ directed by Sathischandra Edirisinghe.
His entrance to the stage drama was by sheer coincidence. He used to go for plays with elder brother Lalith Janakantha. His maiden performance on stage was to stand in for an absent actor in the play ‘Dukgannarala’ of acclaimed actor Prasannajith Abeysuriya. He simultaneously joined veteran dramatist Somalatha Subasinghe’s drama troupe and acted in a series of her stage plays such as ‘Mawakage Sangramaya’, ‘Antigone’ and some children plays like ‘Hima Kumari’ and ‘Thoppi Welenda’.
He continued performed in stage dramasportraying vivid roles for several years. His popular stage acting came through Somaratne Dissanayake’s ‘Mee Pura Wesiyo’, Parakrama Niriella’s ‘Sekkuwa’, Rodney Warnakula’s ‘Saranga Naven Evith’and Priyantha Seneviratne’s ‘Minisa’.
In 1997, he got the opportunity to work as assistant director in popular teledrama ‘Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni’ directed by Jayaprakash Sivagurunathan. Giriraj also acted in vivid roles in other tele dramas as well. He wrote the scripts for a number of popular television comedies like ‘Kathura’ and ‘Ethuma’ 1, and 2. His maiden television drama direction came through the popular dram ‘Nana Kamare’ involving Bandu Samarasinghe as serial star and Lal Kularatne which was telecast on Swarnavahini television channel was a hit in that year..He also directed the popular serial ‘Mithra Samagama’ telecast in TV Derana.
- Mawakage Sangramaya,Antigany.Mee Pura Wesiyo.,
- Sekkuwa,Saranga Nawen Awith,Minisa
- Saadaya Marai Salli Hamarai.Comedy Buddy
- Sudu Redi Horu
Some of the selected television serials
- Ama,Dhawala Kadulla.Diya Matha Ruwa.Ethuma 1, 2
- Kotipathiyo,Hulan Gedara ,Ira Awara,Isuru Bhavana [
- Jeewithaya Athi Thura,Jeewithaya Dakinna
- Kapa Nasna Samaya,Kinnara Damanaya,Kokila Ginna
- Man Hinda,Namal Golla,Me Suramya Paradisaya
- Nadagamkarayo,Neela Palingu Diya,Nodath Desheka Arumawanthi[,Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni,Pabalu Menike
- Package,Pani Kurullo,Pingala Danawwa,Pinibara Yamaya,Pipi Piyum,Punaragamanaya,Ranga Soba
- Rathi Virathi,Sakala Guru,Sakala Guru 2,sakisanda Suwaris[,Sanda Dev Diyani ,Sihina Genena Kumariye
- Sihinayak Wage,Smarana Samapthi,Sudu Kapuru Pethi,Suravimana,Sihina Puraya,Thaksalava
- Wahinna Muthu Wessa
From year 1999 Giriraj had portrayed vivid roles in cinema .Every year at least one of his films was screened, in some years three or four films were screened until this year 2025 The names of the films from year 1999 to year 2025 are:
Salupata Ahasata.Aswesuma,Punchi Suranganavi,Mage Wam Atha,Sonduru DadayamaSooriya Arana,Samanala Thatu,Udugan Yamaya,Aganthukaya,Sankranthi,
Giriraj Kaushalya has won many awards at Raigam and Sumathi award festivals as a director in year 2007 for the film Sikuru Hathe, in year 2015 for the film Suhada Koka, in year 2023 for the film Kathuru Muwath
He is a recipient of award in 2025 for been the script writer for the film Kaasi Vaasi; Merit award in 2010 Raigam Telees for Isuru Bhavana , On year 2011 merit award for the portrayal in film Thaksalawa at Sumathi Awards
It was revealed by Giriraj and family members that the support rendered by even unknown was in the top drawer.Many even from unknown remote villages had made vows to him by conducting ‘Bodhi Pooja’s”, to invoke blessings on him.Some unknown personnel had even volunteered to render financial help.As a tradition of Giriraj he volunteers to participate in functions at Buddhist temples sans any charges. Giriraj believes the merits accumulated may have helped enormously towards his recovery. One temple in Balangoda he made special mention had visited only once on invitation but when they knew of his illness had organized a series of ‘Bodhi Poojas’ While he was in Girandurukotte there had been many stricken with terminal malaria fever who needed blood, as he was not effected by malaria he had willingly donated blood at regular intervals, which he had continued the practice after he came back to Boralesgamuwa. He also reminisced that he had provided a poor family from the outstation with accommodation and board when a patient of their family was warded at the Apeksha hospital.Giriraj believes strongly that all such merits amassed during the tenure of his life may have assisted for his recovery to tall altitudes.Giriraj had lost a lot of weight during the tenure of his prolonged treatment. His wife Mangalika had found the best food and vegetables to cook and feed him as her priority as such Giriraj is now almost overweight. In a television dialog this was revealed by Giriraj appreciating the unbelievable spectacular looking after she does to tall unbelievable pinnacles.
All Sri Lankans and fans in particular of Giriraj Kaushalya would wish him to come back to his traditional self to even perform to better deals for aesthetic loving audiences.
Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane
email sthenabadu@hotmail.com
WhatsApp 0061444533242 . .
