Jayalal Rohana


Maha Egodage Jayalal Rohana, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Highly versatile actor from drama to comedy, Rohana is also a theater director, writer, makeup artist and radio play writer. He has won greater reputation from his bright career as an actor in Television after winning the award for the Best Actor in Sumathi Awards for the role in Isuru Yogaya.
Rohana taught drama and theater to students as a freelance dramatist in Sri Lanka.

Personal life

Jayalal Rohana was born on 1 November 1964 in Colombo. His father was the Treasurer of the Communist Party in Kotte. He studied at Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte in 1976. He graduated in Bachelor of Arts from the University of Peradeniya in 2007 and then Masters of Drama and Theater, University of Kelaniya in 2009.
On 18 December 2018, Rohana was hospitalized due to a sudden heart attack. Many rumors said that he died at the Ragama Hospital, but later denied. Meanwhile, Rohana posted a video stating that he is alive.

Career

In 1976 at the age of 13, Rohana won the award for the best actor in Muhudu Giya directed by Soma Perera in the All Island Inter-school Drama Competition. He studied drama from two renowned director in Sinhala drama, Simon Navagattegama and Sugathapala de Silva. He acted in Navagattegama's plays Gangawak, Sapaththukabalak Saha Maranayak. Then he met Gunasena Galappaththi and Rohana was selected for the play Muhudu Puththu. For his play Loka, 1987, he received awards except for Script and Best Actor. In 1982 he attended an OCIC diploma course conducted by Fr. Ernest Poruthota. Then he experienced Western theatre under Prof. Rudy Corrence from Belgium and A. G. Gunawardena and Trilicia Gunawardena.
He entered to the television drama in 1986 and acted in many single episodes dramas. His major breakthrough in television came through the role "Muthumina" in serial Isuru Yogaya. The serial was telecast on Rupavahini at 8.30 pm every Sunday.
His maiden cinema acting came through 1995 film Ayoma, directed by Parakrama Niriella. Then he acted in few films such as Nimnayaka Hudakalawa, Tikiri Suwanda and Sinhawalokanaya. He also work as a frequent resource personality in the television educational program Doramadalawa telecast by ITN.
In 2019, he created a music video in London, which is based on the ICC Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand.

Selected stage dramas