Dr. Parakrama Niriella, active since 1974, is an acclaimed Sri Lankan filmmaker, theatre and television director, and screenwriter whose work is known for its powerful visual language and strong social engagement.
Over five decades, he has played a pioneering role in shaping contemporary Sri Lankan performing arts across stage and screen.
A multiple recipient of State Awards for drama, film, and television, Dr.
Niriella has been widely recognized for his commitment to community-based performance, cultural dialogue, and social reconciliation. In recognition of his lifelong artistic contribution, he was awarded an Honorary PhD by the University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo.
As a television producer, he created Sri Lanka’s first serialized teledrama for national television. His telefilm The Boundary won the Transtel Prize at Prix Futura in Berlin, bringing Sri Lanka its first international award in this category. He also received Japan’s Silver Prize for a research documentary on Kabuki and Noh theatre traditions. His feature films
‘Sirimedura’ and ‘Ayoma’ further established his reputation in cinema.