Arts

Non-violent shooting

by Ananda Kannangara

Bird lovers in Sri Lanka will get a rare opportunity of watching fascinating Lankan birds at a photographic exhibition, to be opened at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo on July 29, commencing at 10.30 am. Veteran film Director Dr. Lester James Peries will be the chief guest. Former Magistrate and District Judge M.N.S.L de Costa will present the exhibition under the theme `The Feathers'.

The three- day exhibition is open to the public from July 29 to 31 between 9.00 am and 8.00 p.m. In an interview, with the Sunday Observer de Costa said after his long career in the legal field, he wanted to focus attention on quite a different subject.

"I love the environment, the climate, forests, mountain ranges, waterfalls and rivers. I also love the living beings in our environment. So I gradually became a nature photographer."

De Costa has so far conducted four exhibitions. They were on water falls in Sri Lanka, nature, sun rise and sun set. `The Feathers' is my fifth photographic exhibition, and I have selected more than 70 species of Lankan birds. Nearly 150 photographs will be displayed at the exhibition."

According to de Costa, he had spent a lot of time at national parks in Yala, Wilpattu, Kumana and Uda Walawe to capture the natural pictures of birds. In addition to this he had also visited the famous bird sanctuaries at Bundala, the Sinharaja, Kalawewa in Anuradhapura and also Navadankulam off Puttalam.

He said he had carried out many research on birds, and these research had helped him to study the lifestyle and the living conditions of birds. He proudly said that his legal profession also immensely helped him to become a nature lover. "In 1996 when I was the Magistrate at Anuradhapura I got an opportunity to spend my leisure at Kalawewa and at the Nuwarawewa bird sanctuaries. This encouraged me not only to become a nature lover, but also to show others the unseen pictures of birds."

There are 430 identified bird species in Sri Lanka and among them 26 are endemic. Nearly 198 species are recorded as migrants to the country, and the other 206 are resident species.