Born in 1974 at Malabe, a suburb of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, Athula Liyanage attended Christian Missionary School, Jayewardenepura, Kotte for his Primary and secondary education. Then he received his higher education at university of Kelaniya as a external student following Sociology, Mass Communication and fine art where as he says he was deeply inspired in this medium of art. 

 

Before come to the film industry with this debut film Athula Liyanage was well received stage play director and actor in his country. He has been walking for around 15 years through the stage. In year 2000 at state Stage Drama competition, Sri Lanka’s most significant event & competition for stage dramas, he received best script writer award for his most acclaimed drama, ‘MARANA WARNA’. In the same year at National youth stage drama competition of Sri Lanka, He won several title awards for this drama, including best producer, best director, best actor, best stage light arrangements, best stage set and best make-up artist. Before ‘Marana Warna’ at the same competition in 1997, he won best writer, best producer and best supporting actor for his ‘Yuda Weddo’ Stage drama and best producer for ‘2100’ stage drama.

 

‘Bambara walalla’ [a term from traditional Sri Lankan dance] was written and directed by Athula Liyanage based on some true Events. As he says, his parent’s memories of their times have inspired him in making of this film. He says “loincloth to jeans depicts the transition from closed economy to open economy which Sri Lanka has undergone throughout past few decades.This film is what I experienced as an adolescent and now an adult during this period of transition.”

 

Bambara Walalla the directorial debut by Athula Liyanage won the Remi award for the year 2010 at the World fest International Houston Film Festival today. Before his debut film Athula Liyanage was a well received stage play director and actor.