Thisura Jayathilaka

Dolewatte Appuhamillage Thisura Naveen Jayathilaka is a Sri Lankan filmmaker.

Born on December 4, 1997, in Kegalle, Sri Lanka, Thisura is the only child of Nimali Herath, a Samurdhi manager, and Chandrananda Jayathilaka, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Sri Lanka Army, who was killed in action a few days after Thisura was born.

Thisura attended Kegalu Vidyalaya from 2003 to 2016, where he laid the foundation for his academic journey. Initially focused on bio science in his advanced studies, he later shifted to arts subjects. After finishing school, Thisura began studying interior design at NSBM Green University but dropped out after the first semester. In 2017, he joined the Catwalk Model Academy and graduated.

In 2018, Thisura starred in a short film directed by one of his advanced-level classmates, marking his first appearance in a film project. The following year, he joined the Colombo Film School (formerly Sri Lanka Film School). During his time there, he wrote and directed three student short films: ‘The Message’, in which he also starred; ‘Black Rose’; and ‘In Another Life’.