Focus On Sri Lanka Photographic Exhibition Held At Ucla Art Galleray In California
From left: ROW ONE: PHOTO 1 Prof Glen MacDonald, Dr Nandi Jasentuliyana & Dr. Lalith Sumanadasa opening the Exhibition. PHOTO 2. Consul General addressing the gathering. PHOTO 3. Dr. McDonald delivers his Keynote Speech. ROW TWO: PHOTO 1.President of ASPAS makes a presentation to Dr. McDonald. Photo 2. Prof McDonald Delivering his message. PHOTO 3. Suriya Perera, Author of ‘Yala National Park’ Presenting the First Copy to his teacher Ven. Thapowane Subhadra, Senior Lecturer University of Kelaniya, ROW THREE: PHOTO 1. Left to Right: Sadeesha Perera, Secretary ASPAS, Medini Rathnayake Presenter, Hiranthi De. Silva, Photographer, Sanjaya Warnansuriya, Director Education, Santha Weerasinghe, Director Exhibition ASPAS, Andy Samarasena, Photographer, Suria Perera, President ASPAS, Prof Glen MacDonald, Keynote Speaker, Dr. Lalith Sumanadasa, Consul General, Chitral Jayatileke, Photographer & Lakshitha Karunarathna, Photographer, Artist, Visitors to the Exhibit. ROW THREE: PHOTO 2 & ROW $ PHOTO 1. & 2. Visitors to the exhibit.
A Review by — Nandi Jasentuliyana, Former Deputy Director-General, United Nations.
A panorama of seventy-five strikingly attractive nature photographs was exhibited at the UCLA Art Gallery on the Earth Day weekend, April 22-23. Visitors enjoyed discovering the tographers who brought their fascinating work all the way from Sri Lanka for this unique exhibition.
With a fierce commitment to pushing boundaries and experimenting and exploring the possibilities of the still image, the America Sri Lanka Photographic Art Society Los Angeles (ASPAS), in association with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles, held ‘The Beauty of Sri Lanka’ photographic Exhibition at the Art Gallery at UCLA commemorating both the Earth Day 2023 and the 75th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Relations between Sri Lanka and the United States for which special exhibit of historic photos was in display.
The exhibition is also designed to promote tourism in Sri Lanka. As such, it depicted the scenic beauty of the Island and its fauna, flora and wildlife, and marine life, as well as the 2500-year-old historical and cultural heritage of Sri Lanka.
The work of award-winning photographers Mr. Chitral Perera, Mr. Lakshitha Karunarathna, Ms. Hiranthi De. Silva, and Mr. K.G. Keerthiratne, visiting from Sri Lanka, were on display, while the award-winning photographers who are U.S. residents Mr. Sanjaya Warnasuriya, Mr. Andy Samarasinghe and Mr. Shantha Weerasinghe joined them to exhibit their work. The exhibition featured outstanding photographs of Sri Lanka’s beauty and heritage as seen through their keen eyes and Suriya Perera, president of the America Sri Lanka Photographic Art Society (ASPAS), who is credited with holding the first-ever Sri Lankan Photographic Exhibition in the United States. This year’s exhibit was the third in the series.
This exhibition was also intended to introduce viewers to a range of issues that currently impact the environment. Commemorating Earth Day 2023, the keynote speaker Prof. Glen MacDonald FRSC, a distinguished Professor of Ecology and Geography at UCLA, made a brilliant presentation addressing such concerns.
He spoke about Sri Lanka during his Earth Day 2023 address and recounted that due to its incredible biodiversity of life, including mammal, bird, reptile, and plant species, Sri Lanka is considered one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. A number of species of animals and plants are found nowhere else in the world. The nation also has a remarkable history, culture, and important monuments. Accordingly, it contains 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Professor MacDonald noted that the population of Sri Lanka had grown significantly over recent decades to over 22 million people, which produces challenges in protecting the environment, the many rare species in Sri Lanka, and supporting its people. Unfortunately, the burden of anthropogenic climate change is weighing heavily on tropical regions such as Sri Lanka. Temperatures have increased in most areas of the Island in recent decades, and this trend is projected to increase into the 21st century. The sea level is also rising and will continue to do so.
Along with high temperatures and rising seas, incidences of drought, destructive cyclones, floods, and landslides have been projected to increase in portions of Sri Lanka. Professor MacDonald commented that a report by the World Bank Group concluded that increased flooding may be one of the most significant challenges. As is the case for many tropical nations, Sri Lanka faces economic challenges in developing the adaptations to meet these climate change vulnerabilities while at the same time being responsible for only a very tiny fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In a message read at the exhibition The American Ambassador in Sri Lanka Amb. Julie Chang said that “This photo exhibition, conveniently timed with Earth Day, showcases the beauty of Sri Lanka, and highlights the island’s flora and fauna. As you revel in the beauty of this island, it is worth considering the looming threat of climate change and its impact on species, habitats, and ecosystems. The United States is active in helping Sri Lanka to advance solutions including support for green technology industry, climate-sma1t agriculture, climate finance, and climate change policy. Working together, we
want to keep Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity thriving for generations to come. That kind of partnership is nothing new. This year we are celebrating Sri Lanka’s 75th anniversary of independence, as well as the 75th year of diplomatic relations between our countries.”
She further stated that “perhaps you will be inspired to come see for yourself: Yala National Park with its shaggy sloth bears and gracefully athletic leopards; miles and miles of glorious coastline, warm cerulean waters inviting you to swim; tea plantations and hill country open for exploring and fun. Sri Lanka also has ancient cities and diverse cultural relics celebrating life and history. I hope you will be tempted to come explore this resplendent island in person soon.”
Suriya Jayalath Perera’s recently published coffee table book titled ‘Kingdom of Ruhuna: Home of the Yala National Park” was also launched at the exhibition, containing unmatched photography and some hither to not photographed historical ruins deep in the jungle.
He is an award-winning photographer who took a painstaking journey of discovery over two and half years through an area rich in archaeological sites, some of which are rarely visited and barely known even to historians. In doing so, he has depended on the countless folklore within which the entire history and the region’s geography emerge. The reader will find a treasure trove of legendary stories in the Author’s scholarly narration of the life and times of the Ruhuna National Park.Also displayed at the exhibition was a collection of historical photographs depicting the 75-year story of Diplomatic Relations between Sri Lanka and the United States. Ms. Medini Rathnayaka conducted the program.
