Preserving Our History
- EXHIBITION: Sri 30 At The National Art Gallery
By Raisa Wickrematunge
In 1979, he began his career as an amateur photographer, at Isuru, a magazine published by the Mahaweli Ministry. In 1982, he joined the Information Department at the Ministry, becoming the official photographer of popular politician Gamini Dissanayake.
Over time, he grew to be a widely respected photojournalist — Sri Lal Gomes. Last weekend, he held what was his fourth photo exhibition, titled Sri 30 at the National Art Gallery.
Walking into the Gallery you were immediately confronted by snippets of history. All along the walls were lined familiar faces from the past. But these were no stiff armchair portraits. One of the first shots showed Gamini Dissanayake in national dress, familiar willow cricket bat upraised. “King of Cricket” is the title. Another, “Amba Yaluwo” showed Dissanayake and President J.R. Jayewardene sharing some mango with friends. “Mother And Daughter” featured the first female Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike with her daughter, Chandrika. There were more recent shots as well — featuring President Rajapaksa and even General Sarath Fonseka, looking much more comfortable in military uniform.
Sri Lal also captured the devastating effects of the war from every angle. One picture showed the Central Bank ablaze, another the face of a disfigured young victim of a terrorist attack. Even the suicide cadre behind the Central Bank bombing was captured. A bullet-scarred Jaffna Fort. STF motorbikes patrolling the streets. A disfigured Dalada Maligawa. The photos portray the brutality of the war, a culture of violence which many had assumed would continue ad infinitum.
The 2004 tsunami disaster is also featured — the eerie train derailed in Peraliya, a flooded rail track, children who lost parents in the tsunami.
There are also moments of triumph — soldiers marching in formation after the announcement of war victory. Children playing on former bunkers. Gomes’ work does not only focus on current affairs. Also prominently featured were portraits, from a drum maker to people carrying firewood, from a woman filleting fish to children skipping home from school. There were several beautifully shot landscapes (the one of Koneswaran was particularly spectacular). There were even some shots of local models.
The exhibition as a whole was a visual timeline, marking some of the most important events in the country’s history. Whether it was war, peace, a person or a place, Gomes captured the moments and preserved them. The snapshots of the war years were particularly poignant and hard-hitting at the same time. They made the viewer confront the alternate reality a Sri Lankan was forced to accept a short while ago — a reality where bombings were frequent occurrences. Sri 30 was not just an edifying way to spend an afternoon, it showcased our history, and in turn, what makes us so uniquely Sri Lankan.
