About

Waruni Anuruddhika is an independent Sri Lankan filmmaker/ Researcher / curator   whose work explores the experiences and dynamics of social transformation, migration, human rights, community resilience, peacebuilding , gender and education  in Sri Lanka.  Her work with marginalized communities and community stakeholders has addressed displacement and disappearance, ritualistic worship by marginalized urban communities, gender, Identity and educational access. She earned diploma from Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Television Training Institute completed three-year photography diploma course at National Photographic Art Society of Sri Lanka. She is a student of MA  (MA in Media Research) in  Sri Place Campus – University of Colombo. 

Waruni collaborated with national and international donors, Education Institutions, including UNDP/HRC, US Embassy , International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), Chelvanayakam Memorial Trust Jaffna,  Goethe Institute Colombo, Alliance France De Colombo, International Movies that Matters and the Fulbright program, Cornell University, University of Durham UK, National University of Singapore, Wollongong University Australia , The Eastern University  of Sri Lanka, Sri Palee Campus , University of performing Arts in Colombo. She is native Sinhala speaker, with fluent English. Currently she is working as a  Museum curator / concept curator and trainer to the Peace Museum at  Chelvanayakam Memorial Trust in Jaffna . In addition she is  studding diversity and Identity of an urban Muslim community in Colombo Sri Lanka and Identity and space of Bhikkunis and Nuns in dominant hierarchical order in order to explore through two documentary films. Also, Waruni is curating two of her solo exhibitions ‘Pain and Memory’ focused on displacement and disappearance in Sri Lanka. ‘Fragments’ a series of self reflection ; explore and portray a multiple perpectives of her own Identity and beyond .. In addition, she is collaborating for an academic paper ‘Education and Social Exclusion’ as a collaborative writer with Niyanthini Kadirgamer  which  is based on her documentary film ‘Children of Cemetery dwellers’.

Solo Exhibition

2017         Look at Me – Willad Strat Gallery , University of Cornell USA

2017     Pattini; A Photographic Journey Through the Ritualistic Worship of  Goddess           Pattini .   Mario Einaudi Centre for International Studies , University of Cornell USA

2007      ‘Contested Space’: A Photographic Exhibition of exploring the multiple    histories of ancient Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, exhibited at Lionel Wendt in Colombo , Sri Lanka

Professional Work (Research and Film)

2022      Collaborative Resercher paper Title: Children of Cemetery Dwellers: Documenting Education and Social Exclusion in Sri Lanka

2021       Diversity and Identity of an urban Muslim community in Colombo Sri Lanka (Work in progress)

2020       Identity and Space of  Bhikkunis and Nuns in dominant hierarchical order (Pre- Production/ Production)

2019        ‘Pain and Memory’- a photographic exhibition and a documentary film based on the research of the people who were displaced and lost their relatives during the war in Northern province in Sri Lanka (Work in Progress)

2018         The Moon and The Kannaki – An Ethnography and A documentary film based on the research of Kannaki Amman worship in Vanni and Jaffna in Sri Lanka. (Pre Production)

2018         ‘Space of Pattini Ritual – Research paper presented at the International conference on “Importance of Mainstreaming Local Knowledge Systems and Intangible Cultural Heritages” at Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies (SVIAS) Eastern University, Sri Lanka

2018         Pain and Memory – A photo essay of disappearances in Sri Lanka Published on blog: https://warunic.wordpress.com/2018/01/14/pain-and-memory/

2016-present  Pattini: A photographic journey through the ritualistic worship of Goddess Pattini of marginalized community in urban Sri Lanka (photographic book in progress)

2017    ‘Space of Pattini Ritual as Negotiation and Tension of Identity’ Research paper presented at the spring seminar series – University of Cornell USA

2014   Director/ Script writer/ Director of Photography – documentary film ‘Gifts and Visions’ produced by Professor Bob Simpson at Department of Anthropology, University of Durham, UK

2014    Director/ Script writer/ Director of Photography – Documentary film ‘Children of Cemetery Dwellers’ Produced by Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA)

2012    Director/ Screenplay writer/ Director of Photography/ Producer – Documentary film ‘Victoria Home’

2012   Director of Photography – Short fiction ‘The Concrete Road’ Produced by Lahiru Samarasinghe

2011   Assistant Director – Documentary film ‘Human Rights and United Nations’ –UNDP/HRC joint production, Directed by Wasantha Obeysekeara

2011   Director of Photography – Documentary film ‘University of Kelaniya’ Produced by Media Unit, University of Kelaniya 2011

2010   C/o Director and Director of Photography / Script writer / Producer Documentary   film ‘Sea is our life’

Professional Positions

2022   curator / concept curator and trainer –  Peace Museum Chelvanayakam Memorial Trust –  Jaffna

2019       Facilitator – The session  ‘Photography as a research methodology’ – Summer School program was held in Marndresa Btticaloa with a collaborative partnership of Goldsmiths University UK, Eastern University Batticaloa and Law and Society trust Colombo in August 2019

2019       Director of Photography / Media Coordinator / Social media curator – ‘Caligula’Theatre production Sri Lanka2019(https://www.facebook.com/Caligula2019/)

2017       Visiting Scholar University of Cornell – USA  2017

2013-2014     Program Coordinator / Visiting Lecturer – Film appreciation program; Eastern University of Sri Lanka – organized by Centre for Sri Lankan Studies, funded by US Embassy Sri Lanka

2012       Coordinator / Instructor Film appreciation program conducted by Cultural Centre Madukanda, Vavuniya Northern Province –  Sri Lanka

2011- Present    Blogger  https://warunic.wordpress.com

Professional Honors, Awards and Fellowships

2015        Fulbright Professional Award 2016-2017 – Affiliated to Cornell University NY

2013        Best Film Award for ‘Victoria Home’ 2013, ‘Agenda 14’ Short Film Festival

2013     Nomination for the Sunila Abeysekara Human Rights award for ‘Victoria       Home’  Agend 14Short film festival 2013

2013  Reimagining Development Short Film Grant 2013, awarded by                                                  Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) Colombo, Sri Lanka

2012       Workshop on Cinema without Borders Workshop 2012 – Awarded by Movies                            that Matters, The Hague, Netherlands

Copyright Information:Images and text of this bolg are copyrighted to Waruni Anuruddhika. Using and  reproducing the images or content are strictly prohebited witout having a written permission  form copyright holder.