SHIROMIKA EPITOME OF EXCELLENCE
"I have no big dreams. I hope to mould my children into good citizens"
Shiromika Fernando is an actress who had been winning awards from her early days on stage, but today she has become a household name following her tele drama roles in Yashodara, Wehilihini, Baryawo, Adare Ahasa Tharam, Chathurya and others.
“My role as Lata in Adare Ahasa Tharam and the role in Baryawo became extremely popular in recent times. I also won the first place in the Derana Kalagama event in which I portrayed the role of a Veddah woman who took part in a reality programme. The feedback was excellent and that prompted me to make a stage play based on that plot," Shiromika told Impulse.
HOW DID YOU BECOME AN ACTRESS?
I took part in a short play contest organized in our village and eventually I became the best actress. Sarath Kumara Perera who was one of the panelists offered me a role in his stage play ‘Gini’. Later I acted in Sugathapala de Silva’s ‘Dunna Dunu Gamuwe’ and other plays like Ekadhipathi and Makarakshaya. But I never acted while studying at Panadura Balika Vidyalaya.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST TELE DRAMA?
I first acted in ‘Manamali’ and later played the lead role in ’24 weni Horawa’. Since then I have acted in about 30 tele dramas, some 25 stage plays and a few films.
YOU ALSO ACT IN MEGA TELE DRAMAS?
Honestly I am not concerned about the length of a tele drama as long as I get a role with substance to play.
IN WHICH CREATIONS WILL YOU BE SEEN IN THE FUTURE?
Saranga Mendis’ ‘Gini Awi Saha Gini Keli’, Chandana Dharmapriya’s ‘Diyamatha Liyami’, Shafraz’s ‘Sansara Sakmana’ and Udayakantha Warnasuriya’s ‘Sergeant Punyasoma’
YOUR AWARDS?
I have won the Best Actress award at State Drama Fesitivals and Youth Drama Festivals.
YOUR FAMILY?
My husband Gamini Abeygunawardana is a retired military officer. My son Tharusha stud- ies at Horizon International School while my daughter Tharushi studies at Yashodara Balika Vidyalaya.
YOUR DREAMS…
I have no big dreams. I hope to mould my children into good citizens. I hope I will get more roles with substance to prove my acting prowess. I also hope to produce a tele drama some day.
GRATITUDE…
I am grateful to my mother, my husband, all those helped me become an actress, Sarath Kulanga, Nalan Mendis, Sarath Kumara Perera, Malith Indranath and Timothy Weeraratne.