Sashi Perera

Australian comedian, writer, and ex-lawyer Sashi Perera is known for her work in these fields. Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, she was raised in Perth, Western Australia, and also spent time in Dubai and Muscat. She is currently based in Melbourne, having moved there in 2018 for grad school. Before pursuing comedy, Perera worked as a lawyer, focusing on refugee law and human rights, including a period working for an NGO in Egypt. This experience working with international refugee organizations continues to inform her perspective.

Perera’s comedic journey began in 2018 when she reached the state finals of the Raw Comedy competition at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. She has since performed extensively, appearing at festivals including the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and New Zealand Comedy Festival. Her shows explore themes of language, life, and cultural absurdities, often focusing on emotional and cultural themes. Following a show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2021, Sashi Perera presented 'Endings' in 2023; this production was funded by a Eurydice Dixon grant and examined themes of mortality and change. She continued this exploration with 'Boundaries' in 2024. Her online videos have amassed over 40 million views, and critics from ArtsHub have praised her personal and social insights.

In 2024, Perera made the significant decision to leave law and become a full-time comedian. She has appeared on television shows such as 'Have You Been Paying Attention?' and 'Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee.' Her performance in April 2026 was described by The Age as unexpectedly moving, highlighting her comic timing and crowd work. Publications like The Sydney Morning Herald have noted her ability to make colonialism funny, while The Morning emphasized her willingness to embrace uncertainty. Indian Link has credited her accurate observations for the virality of her content. She is married to Charlie, and the death of her father in December 2021 influenced her decision to leave law. In 2025, she released her memoir, 'Standstill,' which explores themes of lost identity, relationships, and belonging, and received widespread acclaim; it details events following the cancellation of a wedding in Sri Lanka and her subsequent work with refugee organizations. During 2025, Sashi Perera resided in Sri Lanka for an extended period. Her show 'Pear Tree' was performed at the New Zealand Comedy Festival in 2026, demonstrating the international reach of her performances.