From 'Pematho Jayathi Soko, it's a long journey for Diddeniya

While he concentrated on acting for three decades, veteran Bandula Jayawardana managed to convince him that he should join Bandula to direct 'Swarnamali'. He did and the joint effort is quite praiseworthy.

According to Nissanka, he was so engrossed in acting that he never thought of writing a script or directing a play. "For 25 years I played Sinhabahu in Dr Sarachchandra's classic, replacing Charlie Jayawardena when he left Peradeniya. I was totally committed. Then came Dayananda Gunawardena's dramas. There was hardly any time to write or direct because I concentrated on acting", he says.

His university mate, Jayalath Manoratne was different. Both came under Dr Sarchchandra's influence at Peradeniya. 

Both acted in his plays. Mano continued acting but also started writing his own plays and directing them. Mano and Nissanka are two fine examples of outstation talent. Mano started acting as a student in Poramadulla Madya Maha Vidyalaya, Nissanka when he was studying at Gankanda Maha Vidyalaya, Pelmadulla. 

Nissanka has no regrets. "I have enjoyed acting over the past three decades. I have particularly liked the mix of dance and singing in most of the plays I have taken part", he says. 

Nissanka was very much a part of Dayananda Gunawardena's team, starting with 'Bak Mah Akunu' (1962), a translation of the French play 'Marriage of Figaro'. 

Dayananda depended heavily on him whenever he tried his hand at doing something new. When he presented a modernised version of Charles Dias' nurti, 'Padmavati', he picked on Nissanka for a key role. 

That was in 1974. The following year Dayananda produced 'Gajman Puwantha' and Nissanka was very much there. 

In 'Madhura Javanika' which Dayananda described as "joyous scenes in a dramatised chronicle of 'hingala' people", Nissanka portrayed three characters. 

While acting, Nissanka was continuing his studies too. He collected a post-graduate diploma in writership and communications from the Sri Jayawardenapura University. 

He is presently doing a research study on nadagam music. He finds it quite interesting and revealing. He is also actively involved in teaching drama to the youth as head of the Drama School at the National Youth Service Council where interested young men and women can follow an eight month diploma course. He is on secondment to the NYSC from the Department of Internal Trade.

Yet another Tarzan story.

Dayawansa Jayakody publishers will begin year 2000 with the release of Karunatilleka's latest work 'Tarzan Saha Kuhumbu Minissu', translation of 'Tarzan and Ant People' by the famed US writer Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950), on 1 January. This is the ninth Tarzan story that Karunatilleka has translated.

Godage literary awards.

The names of the publications are given in two coupons (one for novels and the other for short stories) which appear regularly in the Sinhala newspapers and readers have to indicate the books they have read and the ones they choose as the best. The competition closes on 1 March 2000.

Drama workshop

The Indian Cultural Institute is planning lectures by the experts during their stay here.

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