P rior to embarking on an illustrious journey in directing popular teledramas, Nalan Mendis’s professional career started as a trained science teacher back in 1973. He then had the opportunity to employ his talents as a stage manager for ‘Sinhabahu’ - a stage drama production by the renowned Prof Ediriweera Sarachchandra in 1978.

It effectively marked the beginning of an alternative career path that steered him to Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation where he commenced work as an assistant director. After a few years of learning the ropes, Nalan Mendis made his first solo directorial debut in 1989 with the teledrama, ‘Passe Gena Manamali’.

His career soon escalated with award winning and immensely popular titles such as ‘Doo Daruwo’ (1990), ‘Nedeyo’ (1996) and ‘SathPura Wasiyo’ (2000) to name a few of a long list that spans over two decades. Fittingly he gained repute as an award winning director, and to date has to his name a portfolio of nearly every award winning and popular teledrama in Sri Lanka. He is indeed the celebrity behind the scenes of popular television culture in Sri Lanka. To date he continues his work as a freelance director introducing fresh entertainment content for local audiences.