Versatility par excellence

Thilini Jayawardena

‘ Most of Achala’s massive award collection are off the theatre and he considers it as a remarkable achievement. To be honoured with a National Youth Award is a dream for most talented youths’

When it comes to skill, he doesn’t have only one but several. That explains Achala Priyankara Wasala best. Even in early twenties Achala has been an actor, singer, dancer, musician and is vying to become a director. Newest in the queue is, of course, the recent two awards Achala bagged for his photography both black & white and colour.

Youth talents in photography, wood carving, and arts were awarded and rewarded at the 32nd youth awards festival recently held at the Youth Theatre, Maharagama organized by the National Youth Services Council. This Youth Award Festival started in 1976 as a short drama festival and it was extended and developed as a festival of all aesthetic fields from 1980.

Achala hails from Kurunegala – famously known as the rock city among art lovers. His journey began when he was just an 11-year student at Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala. It was a stage play scheduled at the junior school’s concert, and then he went ahead on a silent yet valiant journey.

His first drama, Singala Purohitha, was the starting point of his bright career as an artiste. The drama was entered for All Island inter-school drama competition organized by the Tower Hall Foundation in 1999. And that won the Best Actor award for Achala. The panel of judges must not have envisaged it was his maiden attempt. Achala, too, proved their judgment worthy.

The same competition chose him as the Best Actor in 2002. It was Sihina Raaj and Achala represented Maliyadeva College and bagged almost all the awards which were on offer.

During his schooldays Achala was chosen to perform in Arumosam Wehi as a result of his stage performance.

The dramatist then turned into a musician and achieved a lot by gaining the Visharadha status for Tabla instrument. Representing his alma mater at the National inter-school Orchestra competition he contributed with percussion to be a part of the three-time champion team.

Following this achievement Achala did experiment his other abilities. This time it was dancing. After achieving the best as a Kandyan dancer he turned out to be an outstanding ballet dancer and once again reached the top in the national level. Winning awards is his passion. Whether it is on or off the stage, he does not care. Maybe that should be the reason why he is equally smart in singing and songwriting as well. As a singer and a lyricist, he cannot remember the amount of awards he has won.

Most of Achala’s massive award collection are off the theatre and he considers it as a remarkable achievement. To be honoured with a National Youth Award is a dream for most talented youths. Achala fulfilled that dream twice with the first attempt itself. Two images captured in his ordinary camera went in a long way and helped him receive the best deserving laurels.

Pushing behind hundreds of professional and upcoming photographers equipped with sophisticated cameras and lenses, Achala went in to win awards for the best colour and black & white photographs at the Youth Awards. Motivated by his dual victory, he aims to go for a better shot in next year’s competition in several streams related to lyrics competition, drama production and acting. Achala is currently an undergraduate at Drama, Theatre and Image Arts Unit of the Kelaniya University and has produced and directed several short films with his limited resources.

he best of his service is still on offer for the Sri Lankan arts.