Archive for the ‘Photos’

The Sri Lanka Reader: History, Culture and Politics

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Duke University Press( Durham and London) has published this superb anthology edited by that most perceptive and shrewd observer of Sri Lanka and its complex social, economic and political history, John Clifford Holt who is William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Humanities in Religion and Asian Studies at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in the United States.  He has written several books and, of those, the ones I am familiar with and profited from reading are The Buddhist Visnu: Religious Transformation, Politics and Culture(2004), The Religious World of Kirti Sri: Buddhism, Art and Politics in Late Medieval Sri Lanka(1996), Discipline: the Canonical Buddhism of the Vinayapitaka(1981), and Buddha in the Crown: Avalokiteswara in the Buddhist Traditions of Sri Lanka(1991), for which he received an American Academy of Religion Book Award for Excellence.  Prof. Holt is the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Peradeniya and, in 2007, was selected by the University of Chicago Divinity School…

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  • 16 Nov, 2011
  • 10 Comments
  • Colombo,
    Peace and Conflict,
    Photos,
    Post-War

Equilibrhythm: How home-grown music is giving Colombo some much needed harmony

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Our serendipitous isle is blessed with the gift of rhythm and a rare few who understand it so infinitely that they create music that transcends simplistic notions like preference and prejudice. This is an eye-witness report of sorts, of what young, home-grown talent is doing for a nation and its development. Sri Lankan originality has begun to thrive at unexpected levels in recent years and our media is laced with names and faces of many more artistic pioneers than the handful we used to have along the lines of Martin Wickremesinghe or Geoffry Bawa. Home grown talent has become a buzz phrase with talented groups and individuals wanting to push the boundaries of their art or skill. It’s no wonder that this wave of change found its way into, or was possibly manifested by, the local music scene itself. The crux of this story happens in Colombo, where entertainment and night life have spilled over their habits to other parts…

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In the midst of the Adi Vel festival

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All photos by Iromi Perera 9.30am Saturday morning. I was walking on the pavement in Bambalapitiya when I found myself in the midst of the Adi Vel festival. I had passed it earlier near the Kovil in Kirullapone and had found myself feeling slightly unsettled after seeing men being hung on hooks and suspended from trucks in order to ask for help from a higher God. But I was there and seeing the hundreds of people involved in the Vel festival in different ways just made me stop and watch.  I wished I knew more about the festival to have appreciated it fully. I also wished I had my camera with me but at that moment, my mobile had to suffice. The decorated coaches pulled by men and women, people getting their children and themselves blessed by the priests, devotees with their offerings, the breaking of the coconuts, people fulfilling vows by rolling on the ground (the entire distance of the…

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Photographic evidence of war crimes in Sri Lanka, or not? (Updated)

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“The resulting carnage, photographed by Harun, was indescribable, but worse was to come.” The Living Scotsman’s review of The Cage: The Fight for Sri Lanka and the Last Days of the Tamil Tigers by former UN spokesperson Gordon Weiss flags, inter alia, photos taken by Ret. Col. Harun Khan when his UN convoy came under attack in the final days of the war. The so-called Convoy 11 incident is covered in detail in Gordon’s book. As our review notes, “Weiss speaks of photographic evidence of the carnage taken by Col. Khan, but there is none to be found in the book itself. Dismembered babies may have been too gruesome to include in the tome, but are photographic evidence of the deliberate targeting of civilians. Weiss does not say who has these photos, but we can assume, amongst others, the UN does.” Referring to the Living Scotman’s review, we asked Weiss, via Twitter, whether Col. Khan’s photos would be publicly released….

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Watch Moving Images at Kandy International Film Festival (KIFF)

Compelling stories in high-definition

We are very pleased to announce that films from Moving Images will be part of the first Kandy International Film Festival (KIFF). Though the official schedule is still being finalised, we have been informed by the organisers that Moving Images will be screened from 4 – 6pm on Saturday, 25th at the Kandy City Centre. A moderated discussion will follow. The selection of films will be from A Lost White Tribe: The Eurasians of Sri Lanka by Menika van der Poorten and Koothu, kerosene and paper: portraits of resilience by Kannan Arunasalam. Please join us. Ticketing information for KIFF can be accessed here. The Kandy Film Festival will be a four-day celebration of global cinema, with a special focus on Asian film and upcoming talent, in the UNESCO world heritage city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. Against a stunning background of gardens, hilltops and cultural architecture, the Festival will showcase an exciting program of films celebrating diverse techniques, styles and themes…

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Proud of being a ‘half-caste’: Perceptions of Eurasians in Sri Lanka

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Although there were times when to be an Eurasian meant that one was generally looked down upon, considered ‘half caste’, Rosemarie is proud of her mixed heritage. At the time when she was growing up, Eurasians and Burghers saw themselves as being distinct and different from each other. Now, both communities are a rarity in Sri Lanka and frequently perceived as being outsiders, foreign. “Where are you from?” is a familiar refrain. For Rosemarie’s story and video, please click here. For Part 1 of Rosemarie’s story, click here. Produced by Menika van der Poorten for Moving Images. A trailer of A Lost White Tribe: The Eurasians of Sri Lanka can be seen below, and all the videos on the Moving Images website.

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  • 28 Apr, 2011
  • 1 Comment
  • Arts and Theatre,
    Colombo,
    Moving Images,
    Photos

A happy mix of English, Sinhala, French and Tamil: A second generation Eurasian in Sri Lanka

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Rosemarie Le Mottee Joachim is second generation Eurasian. She grew up in Colombo but her roots were in the hill country. A happy mix of English, Sinhala, French and Tamil, Rosemarie tells the story of her grandparents. For Rosemarie’s story and video, please click here. Produced by Menika van der Poorten for Moving Images. A trailer of A Lost White Tribe: The Eurasians of Sri Lanka can be seen below, and all the videos on the Moving Images website.

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Slave Island and Us

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By Sharni Jayawardene and Tarika Wickremeratne Going into Slave Island at first, we were told to expect animosity and suspicion. Two women venturing into the depths of the residential settlements, taking pictures and asking questions to boot – we didn’t expect to be taken to very kindly. We found ourselves a guide from the area to introduce us so that those we talked to had a reference point of trust; but a few weeks in, we realized that this wasn’t really necessary. We discovered something that we should have already known – people were generally happy just to have someone to talk to; someone to listen. We were a novelty, with our backpacks, camera and recording equipment, and while no one was too timid to come up to us and inquire what on earth we were up to, it was always with a kind of easy-going curiosity. A typical conversation-starter was “Indiyavenda?” (Are you from India?). Our explanation – that…

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  • 11 Apr, 2011
  • 1 Comment
  • Colombo,
    Moving Images,
    Photos

Colombo’s iconic Castle Hotel: A photo portrait from Moving Images

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Moving Images is a series of stunning short-form documentary and narrated photographic portraits on facets of life in post-war Sri Lanka. The latest addition looks at the iconic Castle Hotel in Slave Island, Colombo. Click here to access the video. For a trailer to the series this video is part of, click here.

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Launch of Moving Images: Stunning documentaries and photo essays from Sri Lanka

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Moving Images is a series of stunning short-form documentary and narrated photographic portraits on facets of life in post-war Sri Lanka. These high-definition productions, the country’s first, range from portraits of resilience from the war ravaged Jaffna and reflections on the Eurasian community by the last surviving Eurasians themselves to fascinating lives in Colombo invisible even to most who live and work in the city. Produced for and supported by Groundviews, this unique content is will be progressively uploaded to the Moving Images website over April and May. Trailers for the productions follow along with the flyer announcing the launch of the content.

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Celebrating WOMEN: Women’s Photography Exhibition 2011

"It's an excellent effort which encourages women to carry camera, and click. More women are encouraged through this exhibition to experiment their hidden talent" says Deminithurage Amarabandu

“Men ~ their rights, and nothing more; WOMEN~ their rights, and nothing less.” ~ Susan Brownell Anthony (15th February 1820 ~ 13th March  1906, American Women’s Rights Activist, Civil Rights leader and suffragist) Journalism is still a heavily male dominated field in Sri Lanka. Women are slowly but steadily getting into the field of journalism. On the other hand, we are mostly assigned to cover “soft” issues such as to handle the women’s page of a newspaper or cover culture or sub edit stories. We are hardly and rarely assigned to cover conflict or sports, because male journalists and editors think that these are “hard” issues women are unable to cover. Women are equally dedicated, determined, educated, focused and of course talented. We have proven our talents over the years, while standing side by side and shoulder to shoulder on the field with men to cover from disaster to design. 34 women photographers participated in the Women’s Photography Exhibition 2011….

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Focus on Badulla: Landslides

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Editors’ note: Photography and text by P.B. Gowthamam The rains over the last couple of days have had a devastating effect on many parts of Badulla and surroundings.  It is not floods but landslides that are causing most of the damage. The usual stream that runs through the city is brimming with water and has breached its banks in a number of locations. But the widening work that had been done after the previous floods proved to be effective in channeling the deluge without too much damage as feared. So far! But the rain water drainage systems in the city as well as in the surrounding towns and villages are in very poor condition. As a result in most places the roads are flooded. Below are pictures from Hali-Ela where road is still under construction for long stretches. Hundreds of land slips due to rain in the last two days are to be seen throughout the hill country and around…

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Female deities of Theravada Buddhism: Kannagi and Pattini

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[Editors note: Once published, Groundviews does not change the heading of an article. On this post, the author concedes to a point made by Chandula Kumbukage that it would have served her intent better to have titled it 'Female Deities of Sinhala Buddhism'. The author's intent is further clarified here.] Female deities do not occupy major positions in the Theravada Buddhist pantheon. In Sri Lanka the goddess Pattini is an important exception. And, unlike most other deities revered by Sinhala Buddhists, her origins are particularly South Indian. Pattini is considered the goddess of fertility and health, a guardian of Buddhism and, indeed, protector of the island. The goddess descends from the wind and cloud and sky She looks at the sorrows of Sri Lanka with her divine eyes She takes the anklet and carries it on her shoulder Arrive O Pattini of wind and cloud and flower. From Pahan Pujava: Offering of Lights, from the Gammaduwa ritual texts Gananath Obeyesekere,…

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About Groundviews

Located at the Centre for Policy Alternatives in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Groundviews is a citizen journalism website that uses a range of genres and media to highlight critical perspectives on governance, reconciliation, human rights, the arts and literature, democracy and other issues. The site has won two international awards, including the prestigious Manthan Award South Asia in 2009. The grand jury's evaluation of the site noted, "What no media dares to report, Groundviews publicly exposes. It's a new age media for a new Sri Lanka... Free media at it's very best!"

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