Waruni Anuruddhika is an independent Sri Lankan filmmaker and art photographer. She began her career as an art photographer in 1996. She followed a three-year diploma course at the National Photographic Art Society of Sri Lanka. Her first solo photography exhibition, ‘Contested Space’ was held in 2007 at the Harold Peiris Gallery, Colombo. Waruni has focused on filmmaking since 2011. She completed a diploma specializing in cinematography in film and television at the Sri Lanka Television Training Institute. In 2012 she was awarded by International Movies that Matters in Netherlands. Her most distinguished films include: ‘Sea is our life’ ‘Victoria Home’ and ‘Children of Cemetery Dwellers’. These works have garnered her international recognition as a documentary filmmaker. ‘Gifts and Visions’ is her first feature length documentary. It has contributed to research about human tissue donation in Sri Lanka, which was studied by Professor Bob Simpson, at Department of Anthropology, University of Durham UK. In 2015 She participated in the photographic exhibition ‘(i)mage ‘ with three other artists, which was held at Theertha Red Dot Gallery in Colombo. At the same year Waruni took part as a guest filmmaker and speaker at the Asian Research Institute in National University Singapore. Currently she is continue a research for a photographic book on ritualistic worship of goddess ‘pattini’ by marginalized community in urban Sri Lanka which is based on her documentary film ’Children of Cemetery Dwellers’. The project granted her Fulbright professional scholarship award 2016-2017. Two of her solo photographic exhibitions related to the same research, ‘Pattini’ and ‘Look at Me’: A photographic journey through the ritualistic worship of Goddess Pattini are currently exhibiting at Mario Einaudi Center for International studies and Willard Straight Gallery in Cornell University.
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
2007 ‘Contested Space’: A Photographic Exhibition of exploring the multiple histories of ancient Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, exhibited at Lionel Wendt in Colombo
Professional Honors, Awards and Fellowships
2015 Fulbright Professional Award 2016-2017
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
Hi Waruni, I have been in Sri Lanka about 35 years ago and I deeply loved your country, I had the most wonderful time there
Please do visit again if possible. we can travel a bit. After 30 years of civil war there are so many changes. yet so many things to do. Many different development projects are going on. beautification of cites are so grand and colorful. But the life of the people do not have that colorfulness.Yet we are waiting with hopes. Things will be better tomorrow.
Thank you dear Waruni, I do hope that the beautiful people of your country will win back the colorfulness in their hearts and lives.
Hi Waruni. Thank you for visiting and following HoB. Much appreciated!
Hello Herman, Thanks for visiting my blog too. I highly appropriate the continuous story of a lovely a cat. which is very personal and very universal. This series of photos, shows how important to take care about pets like a family members, not only that but also it shows how easily we can concern about a tinny little things which we never think of. Pets always gives a sudden glimpse to have positives thoughts .I have a cat too. She is Rose. She makes the day . I published a few photos of her on my bog some times ago. When I go through your photos it gave me an impression to continue documenting the days of Rose and me. Which I couldn’t continue. this is the link of the photos . https://warunic.wordpress.com//?s=Rose&search=Go
https://warunic.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/space-3/
Hello! You are an amazing photographer and I love how you capture life around you. Thank you for liking one of my posts. Regards, Thomas!
Thank you Thomas
You are welcome, Waruni
What a very wonderful C.V. you have, Waruni. Many thanks for the follow. I’m looking forward to exploring your blog too.
hello waruni,
greetings from kuala lumpur!
many thanks for your recent visit and taking an interest in my blog, much appreciated. i note that you are from sri lanka, i visited about 3 years back, such an amazing and beautiful place, took lots of photos, stopped almost anywhere and everywhere, tested my driver’s patience to the limit! hope to revisit soon.
regards,
ken
Hey Waruni,
So happy I stumbled upon your blog! I remember a speech you gave at the American centre in Colombo and I wanted to keep in touch (chatted briefly to you after the event) but couldn’t manage. Happy I can now follow your blog and your documentary work 🙂 all the best!
Annemari
Hi Annemari, It is very pleasure to talking to you even after very long time. Many thanks for following my blog. My new documentary film ‘Children of Cemetery Dwellers’ will be screening at the ICES auditorium on the 12th of February at 4.30 p.m. along with the discussion. Please be there if you have time.
Have a Wonderful Day !
I’m not in Sri Lanka during that time but best of luck for the screening!
Thanks Annemari
Wow — what wonderful qualifications! I wish you all the best in your career — and I appreciate your stopping by my blog about pugs (which, I think, are not very common in Sri Lanka!
Maija
Many thanks Maija.
Wow! Most impressed Waruni! Congratulations. Long may you continue on your chosen path. Hugs!
Might ‘follow’…if you don’t mind. 🙂
How interesting your life has been so far…quite an impressive resume!!.
Thanks
thanks for stopping by our blog and liking our “summer” post
Thank you for stopping by Beauty Along the Road, Waruni. You have a very impressive C.V. I am looking forward to seeing some of your work here…
Many thanks for the appreciation. I will let you know my future projects in New York soon.
Great Feeling to follow you! Nice portfolio!
Very good & important work you’re doing waruni. Your documentaries look amazing. Thanks for taking time to dropping by this morning and like my Rachel Carson post. Peace & hope – Bruce
Many thanks for the comment.
Hi Waruni,
Thank you for visiting my blog and giving me the chance to know more about your work. It looks very interesting! I look forward to following your work. Lakshmi
Thanks Laksmi
I love how your blog is so differently set out. It is one of the stand outs from many that i have come across, Instant follower of you now, cheers! 🙂
Many thanks for dropping on and following the blog. Cheers !
Hello Waruni,
Thank you for liking my blog entry of baby geese. Reading your cv, I am doubly grateful and also very impressed.
Again, thank you.
Hello, Waruni – thank you very much for stopping by my blog and ‘Liking’ one of my photo posts, it gave me the chance to come to your blog and look at your wonderful photography and made my day even better 🙂
Thank you for stopping by storyteller. — Ray
The Sunday Monochrome photo is fantastic!
Thank you for stopping by my blog! Your work is outstanding. I look forward to viewing more over time. Excellent work!