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Harindu Gunawardena
Harindu Gunawardena (born, April 22,1997) is a Sri Lankan-born film producer known for his contributions to the film industry both locally and internationally. In 2023, Gunawardena founded the entertainment company Rogue Element Limited, which subsequently expanded its operations to the United Kingdom. Under Rogue Element Limited, Gunawardena began the development of Crimson Beach, the first major narrative film from Sri Lanka designed for international box office success.

Prior to establishing Rogue Element Limited, Gunawardena launched his career in advertising, collaborating with major brands and achieving notable success in the industry. During this time, he also began producing short films with the Sri Lankan production company High School Junkies.

Gunawardena's work in both advertising and film production has earned him a reputation as a dynamic and innovative force in the entertainment industry, bridging the gap between Sri Lankan cinema and the global market.

Early Life
Harindu Gunawardena was born on 22 April 1997 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka, he spent his formative years in Colombo. Gunawardena is the son of Harith Gunawardena, a distinguished media personality and showrunner celebrated for his incisive political satire column 'King Barnet' and the television program 'Always Break Down.' His mother, Nishani Athukorala, is a seasoned government official with over three decades of service in the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Urban Development.

Harindu Gunawardena comes from a lineage deeply rooted in Sri Lanka's creative landscape. He represents the third generation of distinguished creatives in the Gunawardena family, tracing his heritage back to the esteemed actress Trelicia Gunawardena and Professor A.J. Gunawardena, a revered figure known for his contributions to writing and journalism. Professor A.J. Gunawardena notably collaborated with the pioneering director Lester James Peries, scripting several iconic films that shaped the early foundations of Sri Lankan cinema.

Education
Gunawardena received his early education at Ananda College in Colombo, where he actively participated in the college's Broadcasting Unit and excelled as a basketball player. His pursuit of higher education led him to Staffordshire University, where he initially studied software engineering. However, his passion for the film industry led him to transition to Royal Holloway, University of London, where he obtained a Master of Arts in Producing Film and Television.

Moving to the UK
Upon relocating to the UK, Gunawardena benefited from mentorship by prominent industry figures, including Academy Award-nominated producer and the founding head of BBC Films, David M. Thompson, longstanding BBC drama commissioner Mike Dormer, and Academy Award-nominated producer, Sheryl Crown. These mentorship opportunities proved instrumental in shaping Gunawardena's career trajectory, facilitating his seamless transition to producing.

Early Career
Harindu Gunawardena's career began with a focus on organizing national-scale events and concerts during his school days. He co-founded a digital media company with his college friends, businessman and CEO Lasindu Rajamanthri, and marketing specialist Bimsara Palihakkara. Following this, he launched his own advertising production agency, Sequoia, where he collaborated with multiple leading brands. Simultaneously, Gunawardena began producing short films, starting with his debut film Temporal, with the Sri Lankan production company High School Junkies,directed by Akash Sunethkumara. He also produced Within the Sound of Silence, featuring Camera d'Or-winning director of photography Channa Deshapriya and award-winning actor Shyam Fernando.

2023-Present
In 2023, Gunawardena founded Rogue Element Limited, a film management and production company. The company aims to revitalize Sri Lankan cinema on the world stage, addressing an 80-year absence of Sri Lankan narratives in the global box office. At its inception, Rogue Element Limited was the only commissioning body for Sri Lankan films, setting ambitious goals to elevate the country's cinematic presence internationally. The company marked its entry with the development of Crimson Beach, a major narrative film that garnered significant international attention.