Young Naumi OshiniLiyanage – the bundle-of-energy who just turned 17 recently, has already made name for herself as a talented actress, presenter and dancer.

Having bagged several top awards at dance competitions held in several countries Naumi Oshini has already been part of a large number of popular television commercials.

There is indeed something special in this Wycherly International School student.
She is playing a key role in Udayakantha Warnasuriya’s latest movie ‘Challenges’ as Thushika and the feedback she gets has been tremendous.


“Challenges is doing well and the feedback I get these days is so encouraging. I am thankful to Udaya Uncle for having the confidence in me and in return I guess I’ve given my best. I must thank the entire Challenges team for supporting me from the start to the end. We were like one family unit. We found it difficult to say goodbye to each other after the sixty-day shooting schedule ended. It was an unforgettable period in my life. Even the senior artistes like Lucky Dias, Vasanthi Chanthurani and Sangeetha Weeraratne were so cooperative to us. In fact most of the cast comprised youngsters. This is indeed a milestone movie for me. Besides the film team, my mother Manori Liyanage was right behind me giving me all the support to play my role well,” she said.

“My mother organized a musical show titled ‘Angeline rocks with boys’ about three years ago, and Udaya Uncle was among the audience. I took part in some dance sequences. He saw me and asked my mother if I would like to act in a movie.  That paved me the way to accept the challenge of acting in ‘Challenges’. Dance choreographer Shan Perera helped me grab two golden opportunities to partner Channa Perera in his performance in the Mega Star competition on Swarnavahini. There, Swarnavahini’s producer Okshan Wijeratne asked if I would like to present television programmes.  Then came that opportunity. Later I met Buddhika Kulasekara and I started off with MUSIX. Today I present the Super Hits segment of the morning Ayubowan Sri Lanka programme daily on Swarnavahini. I recently got through my London OLs and I hope to pursue higher studies. 
Naumi Oshini had been getting several television offers in recent months, but her educational commitments had distanced her from such offers. However, she says she would always consider good characters coming in good scripts.

“I have got two such good offers to play main roles in tele dramas. I play the role of Punchi Sangili in Lalith Pannipitiya’s upcoming movie ‘Sangili’,” says Naumi Oshini whose hobbies are watching TV and swimming.

“I am so grateful to my mother, my father who is employed in Perth, Udaya Uncle, Shanthi Warnasuriya aunty, Donald Uncle, Jayanath Uncle, Channa Perera, Okshan and Buddhika Kulasekara, Ash Liyanage, Sheshadri and Denushka for the support they continue to give me in my career,” says the promising, multi-talented teenager.

Photos - Pradeep Dilrukshana