Mahesh Nanayakkara, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, CDB and Heshma Wignaraja, Director, Chitrasena Vajira Dance Foundation align efforts to ensure the continuity of Sri Lankan tradition, culture, and heritage.  

Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) has partnered with the Chitrasena Vajira Dance Foundation (CVDF), strengthening an 80-year legacy of preserving Sri Lanka’s traditional dance. This collaboration falls under the Preserving Art & Culture vertical of CDB’s Socially Conscious Pillar in its Sustainability Strategy. Together, CVDF and CDB aims to strengthen traditional dance theatre foundations and safeguard the intangible cultural heritage embodied in Sri Lanka’s traditional dances.

Chitrasena, celebrated for transforming Sri Lankan dance into a theatre art form steeped in the country’s age-old culture, traditions, and folklore, together with his wife Vajira, the nation’s foremost prima ballerina of traditional dance, created a formidable legacy of creative work to establish not only a theatre form but a whole new genre called the Ceylonese Ballet. Their groundbreaking artistry brought Sri Lankan dance to the world stage, performing for royalty, heads of state, and global audiences.

Their vision has been carried forward by the second and third generations of the Chitrasena family. Daughters Anjalika and Upeka followed in their parents' footsteps, and Upeka took on the role of Principal Dancer. Today, the Principal Dancer’s mantle is held by their son Anudatta’s daughter, Thaji Dias, while Artistic Director Heshma Wignaraja, Anjalika’s daughter, oversees the CVDF’s vision and creative direction.

“Generations of dancers nurtured by the Chitrasena family have brought immense pride to our cultural heritage,” explained Mahesh Nanayakkara, MD/CEO of CDB. “This collaboration not only preserves the legacy of Sri Lankan dance but ensures its relevance and vibrancy for future generations. The Foundation’s ballets and choreographed works, inspired by village rituals, folklore, and percussion traditions, remain an invaluable part of our cultural inheritance. Supporting their efforts aligns perfectly with our commitment to preserving art and culture.”

The scholarship program, supported by CDB, forms part of the Foundation’s rigorous six-year training course designed for serious dancers, teachers, choreographers, and theatre practitioners. Over the past 12 years, this programme has played a vital role in cultivating talent, with previous support from donors and sponsors. This partnership now ensures its continued success, providing a structured pathway for students to develop their craft and contribute to the broader cultural landscape of Sri Lanka.

Image credit: Alefiya Akbarally