Mayantha Warnakulasooriya
Bilingual Compere & Emcee in Sri Lanka
Corporate events, conferences and award ceremonies, hosted calmly in Sinhala and English.
ඉංග්රීසි සහ සිංහල දෙභාෂාවෙන්ම ආයතනික සහ අධ්යාපනික උත්සව නිවේදක — මයන්ත වර්ණකුලසූරිය
- Award-winning public speaker
- Debater
- LLB (Hons), KDU
- Toastmasters District 82
I’m Mayantha Warnakulasooriya, an award-winning public speaker and bilingual compere in Sri Lanka. Organisations book me as a corporate compere and MC, conference compere, award ceremony compere, panel moderator and university event compere — in Sinhala, English or both, in Colombo and island-wide.
Trusted by brands, institutions and organizations including
What I Do
Three ways organisers book me.
Your programme stays on time. Your chief guest is introduced correctly. Your audience stays with you, in both languages.
Corporate & Conference Compere
A calm, prepared MC who keeps a long programme on time and every speaker introduced accurately.
Typical events: award ceremonies, conferences, product launches, AGMs, dinner dances.
Corporate compere
Bilingual Sinhala & English Compere
One host for a mixed room, moving between Sinhala and English so everyone feels addressed.
Typical events: convocations, government and institutional events, staff events.
Bilingual compere
Panel, Podcast & Webinar Moderator
Briefed panellists, fair speaking time and a question line that stays on thread.
Typical events: panel discussions, fireside chats, podcasts, webinars.
Panel moderatorMedia & Appearances
Heard on stages, panels and podcasts.
On camera
Presenting work for brands, shot for social. Press play — nothing loads from Instagram or Facebook until you do.
Event Archive
Nearly 100 events, from award nights to convocations.
Corporate launches, conferences, panels, university ceremonies and community programmes across Sri Lanka. A few of them:
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SLEGA College Convocation Ceremony
SLEGA College · Compere
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Crime Scene Investigation & Criminal Trial 2025
Law Students' Association of Sri Lanka · Speaker
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Unilever Challenge Grand Finale
Unilever Sri Lanka · Emcee
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Intake 1 Award Ceremony
SLIIT Connect · Colombo · Compere
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Law & AI: The Next Era
ESOFT Metro Campus · Moderator
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IDEATE 360
IEEE Computer Society, KDU · Host
In Their Words
What organisers say after the event.
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Award ceremony
He handled the proceedings smoothly, engaged well with the audience, and maintained a professional yet welcoming atmosphere throughout the ceremony.
Read the full testimonial
Mayantha did an excellent job as the compère at our Intake 1 Award Ceremony. His confidence, professionalism, and strong communication skills added great energy to the event. He handled the proceedings smoothly, engaged well with the audience, and maintained a professional yet welcoming atmosphere throughout the ceremony.
His ability to manage the programme confidently and keep the event flowing seamlessly made a valuable contribution to the success of the ceremony. We truly appreciate his dedication and would highly recommend Mayantha for hosting and event compering.
Arumugam Dhanushila
Management Associate/Academic Affairs, SLIIT Connect
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VIP protocol
Without any detailed briefing on their backgrounds, Mayantha welcomed each one accurately and respectfully, striking the perfect balance throughout the event.
Read the full testimonial
Choosing Mayantha Warnakulasooriya as the English compere for my Arangetram on 7th June 2025 was a decision I made on short notice, and it turned out to be the right one.
Despite having little time to prepare, Mayantha managed the evening with remarkable professionalism and calm composure. Our audience included distinguished guests such as General Shavendra Silva ( Former Chief of Defence Staff: Former Commander of the Army) Rear Admiral Dhammika Kumara (Vice Chancellor of KDU), and celebrated artist Dr. Somarathna Dissanayake ( Sri Lankan Film Director and Script Writer) along with many other military officers and dignitaries. Without any detailed briefing on their backgrounds, Mayantha welcomed each one accurately and respectfully, striking the perfect balance throughout the event.
He also coordinated seamlessly with Lanka Perera and the entire team of vocalists and instrumentalists who accompanied my performance, ensuring every transition was smooth. His calm presence kept the audience engaged without the event ever feeling dull.
My invitees appreciated his compering, describing it as short, crisp, and professionally delivered. Mayantha brought eloquence, cultural sensitivity, and genuine warmth to my Arangetram.
I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone seeking a compere who is poised, articulate, and truly professional.
Nruthya Visharad Thishasthri Sharma.
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Training & coaching
Mayantha’s true superpower lies in his unique ability to engage with clients and read the room effortlessly.
Read the full testimonial
Having worked alongside Mayantha, I can say without hesitation that he is one of the most naturally talented emcees you will ever find. What sets him apart isn’t just his polished professional delivery, but how genuinely down-to-earth he remains off and on the stage. He doesn't just host an event; he instantly connects with people.
Mayantha’s true superpower lies in his unique ability to engage with clients and read the room effortlessly. He listens closely to what you actually need, adapts on the fly, and maintains a brilliant, infectious energy from the opening remarks to the final curtain. He brings a perfect balance of warmth, sharp communication, and vibrant enthusiasm that keeps the audience hooked and the entire event flowing seamlessly. If you want someone who will elevate your event while making the planning process completely stress-free, Mayantha is your guy.
Asitha Wickramarachchi
Founder - TriNova Coaching (Pvt) Ltd
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University event
Even with the pressure and the crowd he managed things calmly and made sure everything went smoothly without any major mistakes.
Read the full testimonial
Working with Mayantha warnakulasuriya as the Event Compere for මතක 2.0 – වායෝ යාමය was honestly a great experience. He did a really good job throughout the event and handled everything assigned to him very well.
What I really appreciated was the way he communicated with the public and everyone involved in the event. He was confident, friendly and professional and his communication skills were really good. Even with the pressure and the crowd he managed things calmly and made sure everything went smoothly without any major mistakes.
He put a lot of effort into the event and was always willing to help whenever needed. His contribution definitely helped us make මතක 2.0 a success. Really grateful to have had him as part of the team. Thank you Mayantha for all the hard work! ❤️
Santhush Perera
Event Head / President, Law students society - General Sir John Kothelawala Defense University
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Brand campaign
He truly became the authentic face of our campaign.
Read the full testimonial
Finding someone to represent Invitation.lk with true authenticity was critical for our target market. Mayantha was the first and best pick. His multi-faceted expertise, flawless articulation, and powerful social media engagement gave our brand a prestigious and unique edge over the competition. He truly became the authentic face of our campaign. If you need an expert communicator who delivers results, Mayantha is the clear choice.
Sadeepa Ichiro
Founder, Invitation.lk
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Brand work
Working with Mayantha has been an absolute pleasure.
Read the full testimonial
Working with Mayantha has been an absolute pleasure. What truly sets him apart is his ability to understand the core of a business, its values, target audience, and brand vision, and then translate that understanding into effective brand communication and marketing strategies.
Mayantha has a unique ability to bridge the gap between consumer insights and brand presentation, ensuring that the brand communicates in a way that is both authentic and relevant to its target market. His understanding of branding, marketing, consumer behaviour, communication, and business strategy has brought genuine value to our work.
We are extremely happy with the professionalism, creativity, strategic thinking, and commitment he brings to every project. His approach goes beyond simply promoting a brand — he takes the time to understand the business and helps create meaningful connections between the brand and its consumers.
We are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Mayantha and highly recommend him to businesses looking for professional branding, marketing, brand communication, and strategic business development support.
Ravindu Dhananjaya Founder & CEO, Br.lk
Awards & Recognition
Competition speaking and debating, behind every introduction.
Debate training means I think on my feet: when the programme changes, the audience never notices. Competition speaking means every word is timed and every pause is deliberate.
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Division-level first runner-up, International Speech Contest
Toastmasters International, District 82 · 2024
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Champion, Humorous Speech Contest
Torrington Toastmasters Club · 2023/24
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Director of Debating & Sinhala Debate Team Captain
KDU Mooting and Debating Society
Glimpses From Previous Work
On stage, on panels, and in front of the room.
How a Booking Works
Four steps from your first message to the closing line.
Share your date & programme
Send the date, the venue and a rough running order, even if it isn’t final.
A 15-minute call
We talk through your audience, the languages and the tone you want in the room.
Run-sheet review
I go through your run-sheet and suggest timing and transition fixes, and confirm every VIP’s name and title.
On the day
Early arrival, a sound check and a briefing with your team before the doors open.
Compere · Emcee · Panel moderator
About Me
Communication Across Different Pathways
Award-winning public speaker, debater and bilingual compere, trained through Toastmasters and university debating. I’m Mayantha Warnakulasooriya (also written Warnakulasuriya; some know me as Uditha Mayantha), a compere, MC and English and Sinhala announcer based in Madampe and working across Sri Lanka.
My work spans compering and emceeing, public speaking, presenting, panel and podcast moderation, and public relations. With a foundation in law, marketing and consumer psychology, I prepare for an event by understanding what the organisation is trying to say, not just the running order — and I have delivered over 20 legal education, communication and awareness sessions for school students along the way.
Two rules shape how I host: I never need to shout, and I never read the script word for word. A calm, prepared voice holds a room better than a loud one, and an audience can tell when a host actually knows the programme.
My Communication Approach
Communication, for me, is both an art and a responsibility.
Stage speaking, event hosting, presenting, moderation and audience engagement each call for a different style, and I change mine to suit the platform and the people in front of me.
It is about choosing the right tone, structure, energy, and presence to ensure that a message is not only heard, but also felt and remembered.
Why Work With Me
A compere who adapts to the occasion without losing authenticity.
Your programme stays on time. I work from a timed running sheet, agree in advance what can be cut if it slips, and keep my own links short.
Your chief guest is introduced correctly. Names, titles and the order of introductions are checked with you beforehand and read exactly. My law degree and years at KDU mean protocol is familiar ground.
Your audience stays with you, in both languages. Debate training means I think on my feet: when the programme changes, the audience never notices. Competition speaking means every word is timed and every pause is deliberate.
Experience in Communication
Built on stages, in studios, and in front of real audiences.
My experience has been built through stage work, leadership roles, public relations, debating, academic engagement and presenting. Across these spaces I have learnt to read audiences, manage energy, shape messages and communicate with confidence in both formal and dynamic environments.
Toastmasters and university leadership roles gave me practical experience in speech delivery, persuasive communication, team coordination and public representation — the same skills a compere uses on every stage.
LLB (Hons), General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University · Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, SLIM (in progress) · Toastmasters award winner · Freelance presenter, Charana TV
View experience & qualificationsHide experience & qualifications
Previous roles & platforms
Public Relations Chair
District 82, Toastmasters International
SPARK Student Ambassador
Unilever Sri Lanka
Marketing Executive
Biz Zone Academy
Freelance Presenter & Speaker
Charana TV
Vice President of Public Relations
KDU Toastmasters Club
Division PR Manager
Toastmasters International, Division J
Director of Debating
KDU Mooting and Debating Society
Team Captain
Sinhala Debate Team
Vice President, Marketing & Digital Experience
AIESEC Sri Lanka Initiative Group, KDU
Education & professional development
- 2024
Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
- 2021 – Present
Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing
Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing
- 2021
Professional Certificate in Marketing
Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing
- 2021
Certificate in Digital Marketing
Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing
- 2025
Certificate in Psychology & Counselling
Native Technology Science and Law Foundation Campus
- Reading
Diploma in Performing Arts & Psychology
Native Technology Science and Law Foundation Campus
- 2020 – 2022
Aquinas Diploma in English Language & Literature
BCI Campus
Proud To Have Partnered With
Brands and organizations that have trusted my communication.
ALSA Sri Lanka
Common Questions
Answers before you ask.
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Who is Mayantha Warnakulasooriya?
Mayantha Warnakulasooriya (also written Warnakulasuriya) is an award-winning public speaker and bilingual Sinhala–English compere and emcee based in Madampe, Sri Lanka. He hosts corporate events, conferences, award ceremonies, panels and university programmes island-wide and online. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, is reading for a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing, and has more than five years of public speaking experience and nearly 100 events behind him.
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What kinds of events does he host?
Corporate events and award nights, conferences, product and brand launches, panel discussions, press briefings, dinner dances and annual staff events, university convocations and academic programmes, podcasts, webinars and online sessions. Past events include the Unilever Challenge grand finale, IDEATE 360 at Kotelawala Defence University, the SLIIT Connect Intake 1 Award Ceremony, a Law & AI panel at ESOFT Metro Campus and the Crime Scene Investigation & Criminal Trial programme for the Law Students’ Association of Sri Lanka.
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Does he host weddings?
No. Mayantha focuses on corporate, academic and institutional events — award nights, conferences, panels, launches, university programmes and virtual events.
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Which languages does he present in?
Sinhala and English — he works as a bilingual compere and can run a single event across both languages. He presents on stage and to camera in both, and adapts register and tone to the audience: formal and legal settings, corporate stages, university programmes and social media content each call for a different delivery.
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Is he a Sinhala නිවේදක (niwedaka)?
Yes. In Sinhala the role is called නිවේදක or උත්සව නිවේදක (also searched as niwedaka or nivedaka). Mayantha works as a ද්විභාෂා නිවේදක — a bilingual announcer who runs the same programme in Sinhala and English for corporate, academic and institutional events.
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Compere, emcee, MC or announcer — what’s the difference?
In Sri Lanka they mostly mean the same job: the person who runs the programme on stage, introduces speakers and keeps the event on time. Compere (often spelled “compare”) is the common word for formal events, MC and emcee for corporate and social ones, and announcer for ceremonies and official programmes. Mayantha works under all four titles.
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Where is he based, and does he travel for events?
He is based in Madampe and works island-wide — regularly in Colombo, and across Negombo, Chilaw, Puttalam, Kurunegala and beyond — so if you are looking for an MC near you in Sri Lanka, travel is rarely a problem. Webinars, online conferences and live-streamed sessions are hosted remotely, so events outside Sri Lanka can be hosted online.
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Can he moderate a conference, panel discussion or keynote session?
Yes. He briefs the panel beforehand, shapes the question line, keeps speakers to time and opens the room to the audience without losing the thread. Examples include the Law & AI: The Next Era panel at ESOFT Metro Campus and the IDEATE 360 panel at Kotelawala Defence University.
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Does he host podcasts and present on television?
Yes. He moderates brand podcasts and studio interview sessions, and has presented as a freelance presenter and speaker for Charana TV. Podcast and panel moderation, presenting to camera and live online sessions are all part of the same work — the format changes, the preparation does not.
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How much does a compere charge in Sri Lanka?
Compere charges depend on the length of the programme, the language (Sinhala, English or bilingual), how much preparation the script needs, and travel. Send the date, venue and running time through the booking form or on WhatsApp and Mayantha will come back with a quote.
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How do I hire Mayantha as a compere?
Use the booking form on this page, or call or WhatsApp his MC contact number, +94 76 193 2759, or email [email protected]. Useful details are the occasion, the audience, the venue, the running time and the tone you want in the room.
Check Availability
Planning an event? Check your date.
Tell me about the occasion, the audience and the tone you want in the room. I will come back with a plan for how the programme should sound and feel.
- No obligation — just check the date.
- Send your run-sheet even if it isn’t final.
- VIP names and titles checked with you before the day.
- Call or WhatsApp+94 76 193 2759+94 71 361 3304
- Email[email protected]
- Based in
Madampe, Sri Lanka — available island-wide & online