Pura Sanda - 2 :

Nonagenarian to hold solo exhibition

L.K. Karunaratne's exhibition of Pura Sanda 2 will be held at the Lionel Wendt Gallery on June 21 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Born in Katugastota, Kandy on June 21, 1920 L.K. Karunaratne is celebrating his 94th birthday this year. Having received his primary education at Sri Rahula College, Katugastota he moved to Ananda College, Colombo for his higher education. At the age of 19, he was appointed an art teacher at Ananda College.

In November 1939 at a Sittara exhibition that opened at the Art Gallery, the Ceylon Daily News carried an article that recorded, "two scenes from the walls of the famous Degaldoruwa Temple, near Kandy copied by L.K. Karunaratne, and representative of the highest water mark of art of the Sinhalese Sittara as practised in the past in Ceylon. The young artist has succeeded in a surprisingly clever manner in capturing the easy flow of lines.

The copies are faithful reproductions of the original, and deserve very high praise for the patient work involved in the copying."

The seriousness and meticulous quality attached to all of L.K.Karunaratne's work that followed was established.That same year he joined the Ceylon Technical College Maradana to study draughtsmenship and building construction and moved onto the profession of the building industry.

Subsequently he started his government service by first joining the Irrigation Department in 1943 where he worked for three years and then later joined the Department of Archaeology and worked as an Architect restorer till his retirement in 1978.

In his work in the Department of Archaeology L.K.Karunaratne worked closely with Dr.Senarath Paranavitana who was the Commissioner at the time and prepared all the drawings for his important book on the Upulwan Shrine at Devundara and for his volumes on the Sigiri Graffiti.

Drawings

He was responsible for many of the copies made of Sigiriya and the temple murals in Polonnaruwa and Kandy, many of which do not exist in their original locations today.

Dr. Paranavitana appreciated the dedication and was full of praise for his young artist. He wrote, "besides being an excellent draftsman, he is also an artist, and has made copies of ancient

frescoes. He is a very willing worker and bears an excellent character."

In the 70s the International Centre for Restoration granted a scholarship to him and he had the opportunity to study international research and restoration methods in Rome. When Sri Lanka became a Republic in 1972, L.K.Karunaratne had the honour of designing the prestigious Emblem of the Sri Lanka Army.

Award

In 1980, based on the wide experience gained as the Chief Restorer in the Department of Archaeology, he was appointed as a Consultant to the Central Cultural Fund and helped the numerous projects of the Cultural Triangle Project. In 1986 the Ministry of Cultural Affairs awarded him the title "Puravidya Chakravarthy".

Among his services in the field of archaeology are the restoration of Kataragama Kiri Vehera in 1961, Mihintale Mahaseya and Somawathiya Dagoba with Architect Roland Silva.

Apart from this in restoration of the Panawita Ambalama and Mangalagama Ambalama, L.K.Karunaratne's ingenuity in researching and understanding historic data played an important role.

His work also involves restoration of the 14-ft-long brass lamp in the church in the Old Dutch Fort in Jaffna and the restoration of the Kuttam Pokuna in Anuradhapura.

Designing of the Polonnaruwa Archaeology Museum, in addition to the museum at Anuradhapura, designing of the early museum at Sigiriya, the exquisite circular wall (Prakaraya) around the Dagoba at Kaluthara Bodhiya are among the many creations and contributions of L.K. Karunaratne.

Architect Roland Silva and L.K. Karunaratne are also responsible for the museum at the BMICH in honour of the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike where his personal items are exhibited including the blood stained attire he had on at his assassination and the weapon used.

Architect

L.K. Karunaratne is a Chartered Architect, and a Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects.

He had been a visiting lecturer to the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya and taught History of Architecture to students at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa and at the City School of Architecture in Colombo.

L.K. Karunaratne has expert knowledge in wood work and has published many articles for the Department of Archaeology and for his teaching.

'The traditional art of wood carving' and a series named 'Kalaapela' are the books written and published by him. He has also presented papers on ancient building construction methods at many international forums.

Above all L.K. Karunaratne is a rare example among men with pristine qualities of humanity and lived a full life serving his country and countrymen. He also shared his vast knowledge and experience without reservation and gained the love and respect of his relations, colleagues and students alike.