Leadership

Nishantha de Silva

Founder / CEO (Creative Excellence Orchestrator)

Nishantha is a producer, director, and playwright whose work has been lauded at Sri Lanka’s State Drama Festival and been part of the Bharat Rang Mahotsav, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and the Leeds International Film Festival. Nishantha is the founder of the amateur theatre company AnandaDrama and the Debaters’ Council of Sri Lanka, cofounder of the green economy focused Island Climate Initiative, and chair of the Nelung Arts Foundation. He is a former Presidential speechwriter, international policy consultant, and a c-suite executive at a state owned enterprise engaged in post-war development efforts in Sri Lanka. He holds Masters’ degrees from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

Rajitha Hettiarachchi

Vision Master

Rajitha is a storyteller and lawyer, serving as the head of creatives for Kehelmala. His notable works include co-directing the short film "Lifebuoy," which premiered at the 2023 Leeds International Film Festival, and spearheading Kehelmala's vertical cinema stories. On stage, he co-created "Grease Yaka Returns," which won multiple awards at Sri Lanka’s State Drama Festival and is being adapted into an experimental film. Rajitha also founded the experimental theatre company IdeaCouch and is a Fellow of the ArtThinkSouthAsia Fellowship.

Mayanthi de Silva

Quest Maven

Mayanthi is a multi-disciplinary artist with a special focus on Music and Theatre. Alongside a comprehensive portfolio as a Performer and Producer, Mayanthi also has over a decade’s experience in Advertising, Events and Project Management in Sri Lanka and in the United Kingdom. At Kehelmala, Mayanthi handles the Project Management, People Development and Client Relations aspects for the Company’s production portfolio.

Ishtartha Wellaboda

Vision Master

Ishtartha leads production and operations at Kehelmala, bringing over a decade of experience in communication for international development. Previously at the United Nations in Sri Lanka, he spearheaded initiatives like the V-Awards and the #HumansofHope campaign during the pandemic. He produced Kehelmala’s debut short film "Lifebuoy" and the experimental feature "Grease Yaka Returns" and has also worked as a line producer for documentaries for DW Television Germany and UN WebTV in Geneva.