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| Sunday, 27 November 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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George Keyt : World acclaimed Sri Lankan painter
George keyt was born in Kandy in 1901. His parents were Henry Keyt and Constancy Sproule who were of Indo-Dutch origin. He was educated at Trinity College, one of the leading educational institutions in the city of Kandy. His passion for art began while he was still in school. Keyt won his first art prize at the age of 15 and his first public exhibit was a pen and ink drawing displayed at the annual exhibition of the Ceylon Society of Arts. Since 1947, George Keyt had held more then 25 one-man exhibitions in Sri Lanka. Buddhism played a leading role in the art and work of George Keyt. From an early age, he was drawn towards the teachings of the Buddha, and this influenced him in his works later in life. He became greatly drawn towards Buddhism as soon as he understood the enduring (lasting) appeal of its basic concepts, and while yet a very young man, championed the cause of Buddhist revival. He wrote both prose and verse extensively to Buddhist publications. While contributing decorative drawings on religious subjects, Keyt maintained a degree of individuality in his paintings, from the start. His paintings covered a number of varied themes from Buddhist history and also musical moods. The Jataka tales (stories of the previous lives of the Buddha) also featured extensively in his artwork. He also did murals in temples in which the monastic, court and village life of the old times were depicted. These paintings were of great interest and rare quality. George Keyt was a founder member of one of the most influential art groups in Sri Lanka. In 1943, Keyt got together with eight other artists to form 'the 43 Group' which operated in a number of European countries. Many exhibitions of his work have been held in India, London and other European and American centres. His drawings are to be found in various museums and galleries both local and foreign, as well as in private collections in Sri Lanka and throughout the world. The exceptional artist died in 1993. Several of Keyt's paintings, which were taken to London for exhibitions, have been lying there for over 40 years. The George Keyt Foundation, which was set up in 1988 to honour the artist and promote his work, is now trying to get these paintings returned to Sri Lanka. ######### Gamini Kularatna : Hero of Hasalaka
November is the month of remembrance, when we remember with deep gratitude the men and women who died fighting for our Motherland. So it is not out of place to single out one hero whose one act of bravery saved the lives of nearly 600 soldiers. He is Corporal Gamini Kularatna of Hasalaka, a village near Mahiyangana. Gamini Kularatna was a Lance Corporal in the Singha Regiment. He joined the Army in August 1987, a week before his 21st birthday, to support his family which had been left fatherless after his father, a poor farmer, was gored to death by a bull. Gamini was only 15 years at the time. After four years in the army, fighting the Tigers in malaria mosquito-infested jungles, strewn with Johnny Battas (small clay mines), he was posted to the Elephant Pass Camp. By guarding this strategic point which was on the route from the Jaffna peninsula to the Wanni, the army was crippling the Tigers. July 1991 - the camp was under siege (surrounded by Tigers) and about 500 of them were ready to invade the camp. Major Karunaratna, in charge of the camp, was awaiting reinforcement troops, but knew that they would take another two or three days to arrive. July 13, 1991 was the fateful day. Around 7.00 p.m. LTTE troops began pounding the camp with rocket-propelled grenades. Then, out of the darkness, a huge tank emerged and moved towards the camp, crashing through a line of bunkers outside the gate. Following the rank were hundreds of Tigers. Soldiers began firing, many Tigers were gunned down and others drew back. Then began a face to face fighting. The explosions drowned the screams of the injured and the dying. Corporal Peter Rowel, who was in charge of the radio, saw all this from his post and thought, "This is the end". Then suddenly, he saw a soldier rush towards the tank with two grenades. He recognised the soldier. A bullet hit him, but he ran on, and reached the tank, climbed the metal ladder with difficulty to the hatch (narrow entrance) and flung the two grenades inside. Immediately, there was a loud explosion and a burst of flames. At daybreak the next day, Major Karunaratna went to inspect the tank and find out the magnitude of the destruction. As he walked towards the tank, Corporal Rowel told him all that he had seen from his radio post. "Lance Corporal Gamini Kularatna did it. I saw him," said Rowel. Kularatna's body, riddled with bullets, was lying a few yards away. Thus ended one of the fiercest battles in Sri Lanka's history, and one man's bravery saved the lives of over 600 soldiers. The 20-foot high dark green tank was a converted bulldozer equipped with machine guns and plated with armour (metal covers). Suspended in front was a huge steel battering ram to punch through the camp's concrete reinforced (strengthened) gates. The abandoned bulldozer is still there at Elephant Pass - a reminder to all going North of an act of unusual bravery by a young soldier. When the news spread, the whole country was stunned. Grief gave way to admiration and gratitude. Lance Corporal Kularatna was posthumously (after death) promoted Corporal, and awarded the Parama Weera Vibushana, Sri Lanka Army's highest award for gallantry (bravery). He was the first to receive that award. A month after his death, the then President R. Premadasa visited his mother and brothers in their rickety home with crumbling clay walls, and promised to build a home for them. Five years after his death, the Readers' Digest published an article on Corporal Gamini Kularatna in one of its issues. The Readers' Digest is translated into seven languages, so you can imagine how many thousands would have read of our young hero. In 2001, a stamp in the denomination of Rs. 3.00 was issued in his honour. By the front door of the house that President Premadasa gifted his mother, there is a plaque which reads: "Built by the Government of Sri Lanka as a tribute to Corporal Gamini Kularatna of the Sri Lanka Army who died to preserve and protect the sovereignty and integrity of this nation". Stamps perish, houses decay, awards are forgotten, but the statue erected in Hasalaka, where he was born on September 4, 1966, will remind generations to come of the bravery of Gamini Kularatna, who, as President Premadasa said, is "an inspiration to the nation." - Sumana Saparamadu. |
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All lovers of art and paintings will know who George Keyt was. He was
Sri Lanka's most distinguished and renowned modern painter and his
exceptional talent in the arts made him a world acclaimed painter. 
