Chanaka Welegedara is a well-built bustling left-arm seamer from Sri Lanka. A late starter to cricket, he began playing the sport only at the age of 17. He was picked by Daryl Foster; the Australian fast bowling coach, for the Sri Lankan Pace Academy and was later sent to the MRF Pace Academy to nurture his skills.

Being a product of the Sri Lankan Cricket Academy, the left-armer has performed excellently at the first-class level. Welegedara has made rapid strides through the domestic level to make his Test debut in 2007 against England, where he was impressive with a strong action and brisk pace. He then drew comparisons with Chaminda Vaas. His ODI debut came much later, in 2009 against India.