Olivier Award winner returns home to support peaceful protests 

By Sujeewa Thatsara

Lankan actor Hiran Abeysekera, who recently won the Best Actor Award at the 2022 Olivier Awards, returned to the country yesterday to support the ongoing protests at Galle Face, demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Upon his arrival, Abeysekera said he would be attending the peaceful public protest underway at the Galle Face Green. Speaking to the media at the airport, Abeysekera said even though he was happy to win an award, he had arrived in Sri Lanka to support the citizens in their peaceful protests.

Abeysekera recently won the award for Best Actor for the stage adaptation of ‘Life of Pi’.

Life of Pi, based on the Booker Prize-winning novel, was named the Best New Play and scooped several technical prizes. At the award ceremony, Abeysekera paid tribute to Sri Lanka, which he said was going through a “tough time now… I think of you and wish I was there with you”.