Nihal Fernando Bids Farewell

 Veteran actor Nihal Fernando, who rendered invaluable service to the country's arts sector, has passed away. He was 71 years old at the time of his demise. A brilliant artist who showcased his talent across all three fields – stage, cinema, and television dramas – for over four decades, he excelled in both acting and directing.

An alumnus of Lumbini College, Colombo, Nihal Fernando entered the world of art around 1973 through Simon Nawagattegama's play "Sthree."

Notably, he captivated audiences and earned immense public affection through his performances in the stage play "Suba Saha Yasa" for over 40 years. In addition, he contributed his acting talents to numerous other renowned stage plays such as "Sudu Saha Kalu," "Ekadhipathi," "Pandukabhaya," "Angara Ganga Gala Basi," and "Makarakshaya."

Not confined to acting, he also rendered significant service to the industry as a teledrama director and scriptwriter. Many teledrama creations such as "Ambarawak," "Uduganbala," "Neranjana," "Anthahswaraya," "Wanshakkarayo," "Kulaththiyo," and "Akwassa" were shaped by his direction and scriptwriting. As an actor, he contributed to a large number of teledramas including "Kadawara," "Ranthaliya Walawwa," "Theth Saha Diyali," "Gauthami," "Pinna Hari Sarai," "Handawak," "Boradiya Kandura," and "Tharu Keta Ahurak." More recently, he also appeared before audiences through the teledrama "Ralla Weralata Adarei," which aired on Hiru TV.

Nihal Fernando, who began his cinematic journey with the film "Viragaya," acted in movies such as "Umayangana" and "Sudu Sewanali," and also successfully directed the film "Aamanthaya," portraying its main character. It is noteworthy that he also showcased his singing talent by performing "Tharuka Niwa," the background song of that film, which was penned by Dr. Ajantha Ranasinghe.

As his artistic career spanned 45 years, he was also a teacher who ran an acting school to impart knowledge to the new generation. Earlier, in 2015, he was severely ill and underwent several surgeries, during which his fellow artists provided immense support. He often gratefully recalled receiving great support for his artistic endeavors from his wife, Mrs. Tamara.