DEMATALUWA in an eco friendly and environmentally
beautiful village in Kurunegala. I was born there. Almost
after my infancy. I took sentimental liking in observing
the surrounding and day to day lives of the unanuming
, and innocent people of the village. My father was the
Head Master of the school situated at the adjacent village
named ‘Mahananneriya’. There was a mixed
school managed by the state. The villagers who lived
there led unsophiscated lives. They were innocent and
were satisfied with what they possessed, and these surroundings
and qualities of the simple people attracted my attention
from the young days. The village which is in the dry
zone consisted of large forests, beautiful fauna and
flora, and also the habitat of beautiful birds and animals.
I strongly believe that the Artistic seed was firstly
implanted in my brain owing to their beautiful environment.
When I was a young school boy. I remember doing my first “Art
work”, painting and writing with crayon and charcoal
, the walls of our dwelling much to the annoyance of
my parents !From their village school at Mahananneriya.
I had the fortune to study under great personalities
who were like walking encyclopedias! There knowledge
was so vast. I joined the College of Fine Arts in Colombo
as a week-end student, and improved on my inborn capabilities.
I also had the luck to study fine Arts under renowned
artists as Stanly Abeysinghe, David Paynter, S.P. Charles,
Henry Dharmasena and Gunasiri Kolambage.
|
