Thennakoon Mudiyanselage Bharatha Malinda Prabhashana Thennakoon (born March 3, 1988) popularly known as Bharatha Prabhashana Thennakoon (Sin:භාරත ප්‍රභාෂණ තෙන්නකෝන්) is a Sri Lankan radio anchor, producer, television show host and author. Bharatha, the author of Asamajjathi Adaraya (2014), News Repoters' Handbook (2014) and Eelanga Kaella (2014).

In 2015 Bharatha appointed as the Manager - News and Current Affairs at the SIYAPATHA TV. In the Siyapatha TV Bharatha hosting Welikathara, Wimarshee and anchoring News and Current Affairs programmes. And in March, 2015 Bharatha Thennakoon appointed as the Secretary General at the National Youth Secretariat Sri Lanka.

Early Years

Childhood and family

Bharatha Thennakoon was born in Polgahawela, and grew up in Kandy. His father, a lawyer, Jayathilake Thennakoon resident of Kurunegala and mother Damayanthi Thennakoon. Bharatha is the second child of Thennakoon's two children family.

Education

School Time

Bharatha joined the St. Sylvester's College, Kandy and completed his school education. Before that, Bharatha studied at St. Bernedettes’ Model School, Polgahawela for his first five years.

Other Works

Bharatha, lead the Inter School Media Forum of Sri Lanka for two years from 2005 to 2007. He is a pioneer member and a founder of the forum. At the ISMF he chaired Editor-in-Chief of it's Magazine, Yatheera (2006-07). He has participate most number of competitions and he has represented nearly fifty extra curriculum activities in his college. He hold Presidencies in Broadcasting and Media Unit (both junior and senior) (2003-07), Drug Prevention Unit (2007), Arts Society - Jr (2004), United Nations' Student Forum (2005), Drama Society (2005-07) and Psychology Society's Media Affairs Committee (2005-07). Bharatha holds Sinhala Literary Association's Secretary chair (2006/7). He was the Assistant Secretary of college's English Literary Association (2007), Youth Explorers' Society - SSCK (2006) and Science Society (2007). Alongside them, he was a member in Astronomical Society(2001-07), Road Traffic Warden (2005-07), Commerce Unit (2005/6), Buddhist Pupils Association, IT Unit, Photographic Society, Physical Science Unit, wild life association, Environmental Task Force form 2001-07.

Awards

• 2007: Won All Island's Best Announcer at Swarnabhimanaya 2007
• 2007: Awarded Best Schoolboy in Arts Category at St. Sylvester's College, Kandy
• 2006: Island's Best Announcer All island announcing competition organized by Mahamaya Girls College, Kandy

Speeches

• 2007: Sri Lankeya Abimanaya Champion's speech of the Swarnabhimanaya competition. [1]
• 2007: St. Sylvester's College 57th Founder Day Speech at General Assembly. (90 minutes)
• 2004: St. Sylvester's College 54th Founder Day Speech in junior section. (30 minutes)

University Life

He earned a Diploma in (IT) at Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology. Now Bharatha is following Bachelor’s Degree in Laws ( LL.B.) at Open University of Sri Lanka. He completed his Diploma in Journalism in 2004 (when he is 16) at National Institute of Television Training.

Other Works

Bharatha elected to the post of President of the Students' Union of Open University of Sri Lanka from Department of Legal Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in 2012. He hold the post for 2 years. He appointed to the National Organizer of the All Island University Students' Conversion Forum for 2 years since 2012. At the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Bharatha hold various positions as a student leader. He was the Secretary to the Students' Interactive Society in 2012. Bharatha was the batch representative to his batch in 2010, 2011 and 2013 alongside to the above post.

Author

Bharatha starts his career as novelist by writing 'Asamajjathi Adaraya' in 2013. He published a handbook to newly coming news journalists in 2014 by naming "News Handbook". In soon future he is going to publish his second novel "Eelanga Kaella" too.

Asamajjathi Adaraya

Background The Asamajjathi Adaraya (අසමජ්ජාති ආදරය), sinhala novel written by Bharatha is based on an university love affair and university politics. A loving coumple 'Nalinda' and 'Apeksha' started their affair. The studied together and work together. After few years, 'Apeksha' and 'Nalinda' broke up. This mainline of the story running whole over the story. Political changes of university students, specially in leaders, are talking this novel critically and widely.

Bharatha Says "I started writing and publishing my ideology as a blogger. The a newspaper 'Rivira' invtes me to write a column by targeting youth in 2011. For an year I continued it. Alongside to writing to blog and the newspaper, I posted much more things to my facebook page and personal account's wall. I decided to write a novel some-years ago. But, finally I launched my first novel in December 2013."

Reviews

• Chinthana Dharmadasa, Ideologist [2]
• Ranjan Amararthne, Critics Writer [3]
• Marlon Widanapathirana, interview with [4]

Media Career

Bharatha started his career as a Journalist with country’s leading television network, Swarnavahini in 2007. He worked with the SATH FM for 18 months since 2008. Having worked at NETH FM and YOUTH RADIO. He joined with SINGHA FM as the Senior News Editor in 2012.

Radiomanship

Anchor and Producer

In 2008 Bharatha presented "Ranabimata Sath" radio show in SATH FM. It was the widely covered radio programme what based on security persons who were in the Sri Lankan Civil War actively. Then he anchored "Dahamsabhawa", "Hithawath Dawasak", "Tharu Ahurak" and afternoon request show. After he joined with NETH FM he presented and produced "Neth FM Balumbala" for 18 months. It was and it is the most famous public interest radio show in the island. Bharatha joined with YOUTH Radio and later is renamed as SINGHA FM. He was the first Chief News Editor of the SINGHA FM. In there, he presented "Singha FM Kurumanama" another social interest radio show.

Bharatha was invited to the SHRADHA TV on 2012 to the post of Chief Executive Presenter / Producer. Only a month he was at Shraddha TV. Then joined with Ada Derana News and later with LAK FM. In LAK FM he is presenting and anchoring "LAK FM SANGRAMAYA", "LAK FM SODISIYA" and "LAK FM NEWS" since 2013.

Columns

Bharatha had his columns in "Rivira" News Paper named Redikal Yawuwanaya. He wrote some articles to "Dembara" magazine.

Television

Bharatha is going to host a magazine programme in National Televison of Sri Lanka, SLRC from end of September, named "Akura".