Wasanthi Nanayakkara Multifaceted Gigantic Personality, General Manager TV Derana News , TV Host. Journalist. News Anchor, Author. – By Sunil Thenabadu
Image Source : talkingwasanthi.com
When describing a multitalented personality in several fields, one considers using terms like multipotentialite,” “polymath,or jack of all trades.” These terms highlight the individual’s ability to excel in multiple areas and their diverse skill set. For example, a multipotentiality might be skilled in various fields, while a polymath possesses a broad range of knowledge across different disciplines. A jack of all trades, on the other hand, is someone who can perform a variety of tasks and is adaptable in different situations. These terms can be used in professional contexts to showcase the individual’s versatility and potential contributions to various fields. Such a person is versatile personality Wasanthi Nanayakkara
Wasanthi Nanayakkara has hailed from Trincomalee district, in the village Kantale,the environment was idolised as it was rich in flora with scenic environment.Her first school among many was Kantale Agrabodhi Maha Vidyalaya.The school was closed when she was in her sixth standard. After which she had attended Polgahawela St.Bernadette Model Maha Vidyalaya in her mother’s native village up to ordinary Level and for her Advanced level had moved to Veyangoda Maha Vidyalaya in the science medium when she had dwelled at her ‘Loku Thaththa’s’ place. From her younger days many had identified her innate talent to arts had participated in many literary, singing, competitions, at school and all Island levels while excelling in sports activities too.
Her father had been a government servant , an agricultural officer , mother a bank manageress has two siblings one elder sister and one younger brother. As an agricultural officer father has had to inspect many agricultural fields despite objections from mother she had accompanied her father on his field visits.The attachment she had to her father was unprecedented. Owing to the ethnic war which was fiercely fought the family had moved to dwell in Polgahawela particularly for schooling. From her younger days had possessed a passion to pen articles, poems stories which she had shown only to her father whom she regards as her ‘Hero”, this had been because she was not confident then whether they were up to acceptable ethics. Her father had on some instances enthusiastically had corrected her articles which was in her early days.
Wasanthi had worked as a writer in year 1992 for the Divaina newspaper initially as a regional reporter in Kantale but was able to pass several millstones in her writing career. She currently pen down columns for ‘Aruna’, one of Sri Lanka’s leading national newspapers and ‘Rejiniya’ a popular women’s newspaper. Wasanthi debut as an author to release her first book “When I Was Little”( Punchi Kale Man”), exclusively devoted to her father. Though she wanted to have the book launch much earlier the repeated Covid -19 epidemics prevented. The book was launched with the assistance of the TV Derana staff but unfortunately her beloved father was not living then.Her other writings as “Yali Upannami”,’Mata Hithena Heti”, “Heenayak Soya’ were greeted by a majority by which she was evaluated as an applauded author.
During Wasanthi’s tenure at the Open University she had mentioned as the Colombo Zone was very unfamiliar her father had accompanied her to the University and returned with her to Polgahawela dwelling until she obtained her diploma degree.in Mass Communication. Wasanthi reminisced that her father had been a strength and shadow to her determined proposed media voyage. Presently Wasanthi is reading for her MASTERS in Mass Communication
Subsequently, she had got the opportunity to show her expertise via the Programme “Kanda Malla” between the Years 93 and 94.
It was during this era an advertisement had appeared inviting presenters to the newly established “Swarnavahini” television channel. During that era Wasanthi had said entering to the media was difficult unlike at present as the opportunity arose through family affiliations or via bonds. Wasanthi has had no person in her generation who had been attached to any media institution. Wasanthi believed the criteria for her qualifying was only as her father being a government agricultural officer and to a lesser extent her family background. When she was summoned for the interview at ‘Swarnavahini.’ there had been five hundred and ten applicants present. She had been. excessively frightened as there had been already known Rasadari.Pieris and Indika Upamali who were familiar personalities in television channels. She had told her father who escorted her that this will not be triumphant, lets go, father too had agreed but had whispered ‘now that we have come better face it. The interview panel comprised of gigantic media personalities as Chandana Suriyarachchi, HD Premaratne, Rosman Senaratne etc had asked her sundry questions for which she had answered adequately As she was a native of Kantale she was asked to relate as a ‘news’ the breakage of the Kantale lake during the LTTE conflict era which had impressively spoken as she knew the story for which the panel had been contented. After two weeks Wasanthi had received a letter saying she had passed the preliminary interview at the Swarnawahini in 1997, as a presenter, news anchor, co-producer and an assistant video editor. Wasanthi was elected as a news anchor via the hourly news bulletins of ‘Swarnawahini’, under guidance and direction of stalwarts like Nalin Karunaratne etc. becoming a main news anchor for the prime time bulletin, ‘Live At 8’ considering her aptitude and infinite skills.
At that point Wasanthi had thought to herself she will not give up on her dream and will triumph over her dream of becoming a media personality of repute. At that era there was no internet, there was no one to teach how to face a camera which she had learnt from Hemapala Thale a pioneer from inception of teledramas as a competent and reputed cameraman, who is now deceased. Knowing this technique Wasanthi also at television dialog had boldly said she could on her own could shoot a scene edit and release as a video as she possesses aptitude in both sounds and journalism. Wasanthi had prior to joining the Swarnavahini channel has had an advantage by working in the print media and also in the voice media at the SLBC in year 1994. Wasanthi has added that to anyone who wanted to succeed in any profession needs to possess enthusiasm, sacrifice and dedication in immense magnitude , none of which is not possessed by in the contemporary peers. After triumphing as a news reader she while continuing her journey as a News Anchor and a Presenter. , she accept greater responsibilities undertaking challenges to conduct programmes that are journalistic, political and sensible, such as “Unusum Wimasum” , “Deshapalana Sathiya”, also with programmes such as ‘Sangeetha Chaarika’ and ‘Swarna Warna’, all widespread programs having served the Swarnawahini Corporation for 8 Consecutive Years,. executing yeoman service to the channel,
Her next employment opportunity was to TV Derana, with her aptitude in media work was an automatic selection having joined the channel in year 2005.She initially worked as a presenter, news anchor and a senior program director and is currently having rose to the prestigious highly responsible position of the General Manager of the News and Current Affairs Division of TV Derana, only a person of the calibre of Wasanthi who could apparently deliver from such an elevated location.. As of today and currently , Wasanthi has come much further far as a Programme Presenter and News Anchor, General Manager for 20 memorable long unforgettable impressive Years with to lift TV Derana to unprecedented tall elevations having spearheaded programs as‘Sathutu Wila’ , ‘Paththara Gedara’ , ‘Walipilla’ , ‘Talking Book’ , ‘Jeewithayata Idak’ , ‘The Challenge’ , ‘Senehasa’ , ‘To the Point ‘, ‘Mission Two’, are TV Programmes of Derana television that Wasanthi currently contribute to alongside in addition to her responsibilities as the General Manager “Ada Derana” News Presenter.
Wasanthi Nanayakkara has received several awards for her exquisitework performed in television, some of which include the Best Television Programme Host of the Year 2020 for the program ‘Ammawarune’. Best Television Educational Programme for‘Ada Derana Kids Academy’.
All would agree that the contributions Wasanthi had made to media institutions like SLBC, Swarnavahini and for her unblemished career spanning two decades to TV Derana will be etched in gold. All her fans would undoubtedly wish her strength and good health for all her future endeavours
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