Lakni Kumarasiri, b. 1989, in Sri Lanka is a lecturer at the Institute of Technology University of Moratuwa. She is the lecturer in charge of Aesthetic Studies covering Dancing, Drama and Theater, Visual Art and Music. She has a degree in Performing Arts (Special) from the University of Colombo, Shripalee Campus, in 2013. At present she is reading for her MPhil at the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya.

Her “Burning Love” performance at the Theertha Performance Platform’s (TPP) in 2016 was widely acclaimed. She was a selected performance artist in the Colombo Dance Platform-2016, and the Colombo Art biennale 2016, and was an invited performance artist in the Literary Festival 2016, held by the University of Peradeniya. In 2017 Lakni was nominated as a performance artist from Sri Lanka by the Theertha performance Platform, for the Performance Art Intensive Residency at the Tetley, Leeds, UK. Her latest works at the TPP 2019 were influenced by her focus on cultural performatives in Sri Lanka.

Lakni is a Visharadha in Bharatha Natyam and a Sri Lankan traditional dancer of up-country, low country and Sabaragamuwa. She is the author of the book “Hekama” which is based on her continuing research on one of the main rituals of Veddhas, the indigenous people in Sri Lanka.

She became the best dancer in 2007 at the Workshop conducted by the Sri Lankan Airlines. She won the 1st place at the individual Kandian Dance competition held by the National Youth Service Council in 2011. Moreover, the National Youth Award for the all island best stage drama costume designer was awarded to Lakni by the National Youth Service Council in Sri Lanka in 2013.

Lakni is an Associate Member of Theertha Performance Platform.