Asanka Thilakasiri is a renowned Kandyan dancer based in Donnybrook, Victoria, with over 30 years of experience in Sri Lankan traditional dance and drumming. Beginning his journey in 1988, Asanka was a performer with the Sri Lanka Army Eastern Dancing Crew and later trained under the esteemed Guru Rangallepola Somapala.
After migrating to Australia, he founded the Sankalana Cultural Dancing Academy in 2006, sharing the art of Kandyan dance through teaching and performances across Australia and internationally. Asanka also offers services for traditional Sri Lankan Poruwa ceremonies, including dancers, drummers, Nilame costumes, and Jaya Mangala Gatha recitations.
He conducts cultural events and classes for all ages, serving communities in cities such as Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, and beyond, with the mission of preserving and promoting Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage.