By Rihaab Mowlana

The Comedy Classic Returns One Last Time

Back in the early ‘90s, a lovable, wide-eyed village boy named Tommiya first stepped onto the Sri Lankan stage - and he never quite left. First winning over audiences with Madai Tommiya Dubai Giya, Indu Dharmasena’s iconic creation quickly became a household name in local theatre. Now, with Madai Tommiya Colomba Giya, Tommiya is making one final appearance - and it’s a curtain call fans won’t want to miss.

The Tommiya series, which has spanned 13 plays over more than three decades, traces the hilarious misadventures of a village boy adjusting to life in ‘kolambah’. “His naivete is what captures the audience - with his little mannerisms that add to the effect,” Indu says. Originally conceived as a light-hearted character to entertain his cousins, Tommiya soon evolved into a satirical mirror reflecting social quirks and cultural shifts across generations.

Though the idea for Tommiya had been in Indu’s mind for some time, it was a series of conversations with the late Richard de Zoysa that helped shape the character’s direction. “We were discussing how to handle this play” Indu recalls. “Richard spoke about how we only laugh at ‘country bumpkins’” - never the city dwellers. Those reflections, combined with the transformation arc in Georgette Heyer’s novel Powder and Patch, deeply influenced the creation of Tommiya - a naive village boy forced to face the city, change, and return home with a new perspective. The result was a character both hilariously exaggerated and sharply observant, who held up a mirror to society while still making us laugh. The rest, as they say, is comedy history.

Joining Indu Dharmasena on stage for this final run of Madai Tommiya Colomba Giya is a seasoned and versatile cast that brings the production to life with impeccable comic timing and chemistry. Listed in order of appearance: Chitranga Kariyawasan as Lucy, Anuruddha Fernando as Ralahamy, Kamanthi Wickramasinghe as Caroline, Michael Holsinger as Andana, Sanwada Dharmasena as Geetha,  Asanka Aryachandra as Piyal, Dila Weerasinghe as Tania, Priyanka Holsinger as Ducky, and Mrinali Thalgodapitiya as Kusum. Whether reprising familiar characters or stepping into new ones, this cast delivers the kind of energy and humour that have made the Tommiya plays such a lasting hit with audiences across generations.

Whether you’ve followed Tommiya’s journey from the beginning or are meeting him for the first time, this updated version of Madai Tommiya Colomba Giya promises a fresh take on a fan favourite - with updated references, old-school charm, and a whole lot of laughs.

Catch it live:
May 23–25 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre
7:30 PM
Tickets available at the Lionel Wendt box office