Nostalgic memories through the lens

Portraits of a nation:

Reviewed by Panchamee HEWAVISSENTI

A poet expresses his feelings through well knit words. An artist portray his imaginations through the strokes of a paint brush. A photographer captures life's fleeing moments through the lens of his camera which is much more realistic than poetry or paintings. It is the photographer who brings us back to our missing moments in life. A uniquely fascinating moment once missed would never come again in our lives. Yet nothing to worry! The past is recorded in the camera. When you enjoy running your eyes through the pages of your photo album, you begin to re-live in the past. That particular moment in life continue to exist even after death.

Photographs have such marvellous benefits which no one can deny. There could hardly be a person who has never posed himself for a photograph in life now-a-days. It has acquired vast popularity and a singular importance too.

Many think that they're photographers once they're able to operate a camera. True! A photo is there. What is not there is a trained eye which should be developed through experience and knowledge, that the author of this book has in no less quantity. A good photographer really speaks through his photographs.

Photographs are in vivid colours and in black and white as well. According to the author of Portraits of a nation, L.H.R. Wijetunga, black and white photography retains great expressive power, particularly in portraiture where the character, mood and the personality of the sitter are so vitally important. He is of the view that all characteristics can be portrayed far more vividly in black and while images by means of light and shadow and form and pattern than in colour. All photographs of the book are in black and white as the author (photographer) believes that black and white images evoke deeper and more enduring emotions in the human mind in portraiture than in colour. This is proved by the vivacious portrayals in the book. The subtle capturing of pictures in black and white is no less fascinating than in colour.

The book is written not with words but with pictures. It is written in a universal langauge which is understood by everyone in the world. It transcends all man-made boundaries. It binds the human kind together as well as with the nature.

The book which is a unique blend of moods, moments, and personalities of the people in Sri Lanka preserve its proud identity. The author seems to have travelled far and wide looking for the right person and the right mood to be captured in his camera.

Wijetunga has captured almost three dimensional portraits of artists, writers, actors, pretty women, gnarled old people, children, youth, mendicants, beggars, farmers, fisher-folks and such likes.

The author invites the reader not to read the book, but to glance through the pages. In fact it is his trained and curious eye which aroused in him a fervent desire to capture the people he comes across in his day-to-day life, which an ordinary passer-by would rather ignore.

This valuable book features portraits which encompass wide spectrum of society ranging from well-known and not-so-well-known, the young, the old in various moods and postures.

As once George Bernardshaw said, Sri Lanka is the cradle of the human race where each human being is different from every other. Sri Lanka is an abode to a variety of people of different nationality, castes, trades and religions. Each person possesses a unique contour of face and a personality. Some people's looks betray an uncomfortable truth about the person within. Although it is hard to draw conclusions that a person's character can be observed in their face. Yet, Wijetunga's black and white portrayals make close judgement on the type of personality and moods of a person. After having closely examined on unfamiliar person's face, the reader can make a judgement about its owner's character - caring, aggressive, extrovert, competent and so on. That is Wijetunga's dexterity of portraying the true nature of a person.

The photographs of the book do not discriminate any particular race or a religion and these images harmonise the oneness of mankind. It supports the ethnic harmony which is of vital importance today. `Portraits of a nation', the photographic essay provides a bucolic view of the country life.

Wijetunga's portraits explicitly illustrate his mystery of the black and white photography which is an exceptional art which requires finesse. But the black ad white photography has not gained much popularity vis-a-vis colour photography. Black and white photography is a sensitive and delicate form of an art which can draw a person's in interest quickly.

All the photos in the book were captured by an analogue camera. Yet the pictures appear clearer and more attractive than a digitalized version of images. Unlike today's luxury camera, with less facilities in his camera, Wijetunga was able to capture many a face with his expertise knowledge of photography. The transformation of animate into inanimate prints demonstrate Wijetunga's expertise in portraying black and white images.

This book has an interesting style of presentation, which is much easier for the reader to refer to and understand its contents. It comprises three parts elaborating moods and personalities of women, children and men of all stages of life . The author is not confined to a particular class of society when capturing images.

Each of the three sectors of the book starts with interesting phrases in the first section he demonstrates a variety of moods and poses of the `only woman in the world; her name is all women'. As you turn the pages after reading the preface written by Reggie Candappa and the note from the author, an alluring black and white portrayal of a beauty queen welcomes you to the rest of the pages. You will be charmed by the pretty damsels in the first few pages of the book. The pictures were taken under several lighting conditions. The opposite pages of the huge photographs carry an introduction as well as the technique the photographer employed in capturing the images.

Wijetunga's passion for photography has rewarded him well. When he observed people without their knowledge, the natural expressions have come out as they were. When you glance though the pages, you will come across wonderful experiences such as middle aged woman's yawn, a mother feeding her child in an open market place, a gossip session of couple of women enjoying chewing of betel, a fisher woman having her breakfast sitting on the sandy floor in front of her cottage with two cats eagerly waiting for their share etc. would really depict the actual senario. It gives tranquil feelings to the reader when the glances at the woman praying in the dark corner of a church. A candid photograph taken in a temple on a Poya Day shows contradictory expressions on faces of a group of women listening to sermon.

The second section of the book is for the `only one child in the world; the child's name being All children'. There can be various portraits of children in different moods. It depicts how, a little girl looks like when she is attentively listening to, a story being told by her grandma, a curious look of a little child when something awkward is happening, boy's mood when he is drawn to an ocean of thoughts, a girl expresses her resentment after she quarrelled with her mother, children's moods and expressions change at gleeful occasions and sorrowful plights, lonely and innocent looks of faces are taken indoors as well as outdoors such as gardens an beaches with available light.

In the last section of the book, Wijetunga discusses the expressions and moods of the `only man in the world: the man's name is `All men'. Men of many trades and ages such as writers, actors, photographers, Buddhist scholar monks, retainers and beggars are portrayed in a skilful manner.

The studio portrait of Martin Wickramasinghe, the doyen of Sinhala literature appears more lively. The portrayals of a beggar, a holy man and a rikshow puller are unique and much closer to reality.

First impressions are highly influential despite the admonition not to judge a book by its cover. It has to be altered according to this book because the entire book can be judged a something fascinating by glancing at the magnificent cover. Surprisingly the black and white snaps in inner pages are strikingly intriguing.

A limited number of copies are available with the author.2588646

An update for road users

Reviewed by Dr. Leel GUNASEKERA

Towards better roads by Dr. Kolitha S. Weerasekera priced at Rs.500 is on proper road practice, to be read by road users, administrators and policymakers. This book is written in simple language and the general road users can read and understand easily, but simultaneously contains important road issues which are discussed in depth.

At a time when books written in simple and easy to understand manner are rare, Dr. Kolitha Weerasekara's book should be appreciated.

This volume of 145 pages cover 6 important chapters, namely road safety, defensive driving, roads for cyclists, three-wheelers and its compatibility, traffic management, and finally transport policies and environment.

Chapter 1 on road safety covers some very important issues such as development of road safety plans, road discipline and safety education programmes for schools, safety at pedestrian crossing, minimization of road accidents, and importance of wearing seat belts.

Chapter 2 is developed for driving techniques and defensive driving. Chapter 3 is regarding planning of a road to facilitate cycling. Chapter 4 reveals some important aspects regarding three wheelers which are a rapidly growing mode of transport in Sri Lanka. The final couple of chapters cover some important traffic management issues which have been neglected in the country and highlighting some important transport policies and environment issues which have to be given consideration.

This book Towards Better Roads could be described as a timely publication specially when in Sri Lanka policymakers are making efforts to do their duty by providing better transport services for the people, improving infrastructural facilities amidst developmental activities.

The author in page 121 under traffic impact assessment points out that during the past few decades, large development projects have been started without visualization of the amount of vehicular traffic that would be generated by these projects. When a new development activity is begun in a certain area it attracts additional traffic from outside.

There will also be other activities that will generate or support it in some way. All these activities will attract traffic and this should be taken into account if the existing roads in and around the development site are not to become congested.

In the past when granting approval for various development activities in the urban areas, not much advance thought has been given to the potential traffic generation due to the proposed development activity.

This has resulted in inappropriate developments at wrong places, congested roads, reduction in amenity in the neighbourhood, excessive accidents both vehicular and pedestrian, and finally a heavy burden on the traffic police.

At a time when so many tragic fatal accidents are repotted victimising specially innocent schoolchildren, elderly and disabled people and members of the public their is a need to improve the competence and skills in driving with attitudinal changes and strict adherence to legal measures, rules and regulations with effective awareness programmes.

Dr. Kolitha Weerasekara deals with these issues very competently drawing much from his professional and academic achievements with experience in Sri Lanka and several foreign countries. Having graduated in Civil Engineering from the University of Moratuwa, he obtained his Master's in Engineering, specialising in transportation Engineering from the University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia to obtain his Doctorate of Philosophy in Civil Engineering from the same university. In Sri Lanka he has served as a project engineer in the Mahaweli Development Board and later at the Road Development Authority as a senior traffic engineer.

A chartered engineer Dr. Kolitha Weerasekara is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers in Sri Lanka, a member of the Institution of Engineers Australia, American Society of Civil Engineers and Institution of Highway and Transport United Kingdom. In his present capacity as a senior lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Kolitha Weerasekara is teaching highway and transportation engineering and civil engineering construction at the Open University of Sri Lanka. There is no doubt he could direct the young academics to address their minds to the current socio cultural and economic problems of the complex transport system and how the public could be made aware of the complexities while soliciting their participation in policy formulation implementation with people's participation.

This book augurs well for future awareness problems in educating all sectors concerned as stated by Bernard Abeysekara former General Manager of the Road Development Authority in his foreward that this is a valuable supplementary reading book for University level, practising highway and transport engineers and all road users.

While discussing transport specially in cities, an important aspect that one cannot afford to neglect is the ubiquitous three wheelers among other vehicles. Threewheelers now are popular in the rural areas as well due to a number of reasons in spite of their being unsafe particularly with rash drivers. There is a need for much discipline in the three wheeler drivers who need training and control by the authorities in administration and the responsible citizens.

It is appropriate to conclude this review with an observation mainly in view of developmental projects such as Maga Neguma where the city and the village are brought closer with better transport and communication to cater to expanding agricultural and other activities.At the present moment many road development plans, road rehabilitation and schemes and construction projects are under review.

Along with these ground development schemes planners should think of what type of vehicles they are planning to introduce to our national roads. Serious thought should be given when granting permission to import these vehicles to the country, what consequences these vehicles have on the roads and the road users.

Dr. Weerasekera in very simple manner explains important matters authoritatively. The author deserves our thanks and appreciation for his contribution which is timely to answer a number of social needs and policy formulation.

Wonderful lesson for children

Apooru Padama

Leslie B. Sirimanne

205/18 Mahawatte, Mahabellana, Alubomulla

Reviewed by R. S. Karunaratne

Writing for children has to be handled with care. On the one hand, the author may which to give imagination and creativity free range. On the other hand, he has to work within a framework of guidelines.

Having read the author's earlier work Katukele Vesiyo and Apooru Padama, I got the impression that he has a passion for writing for children.

This has helped him to write his story using a limited number of words. The main requirement is that the author must feel at ease with children - indeed, he must have a childlike quality in his own nature in order to write for them successfully.

Sirimanne, I am sure, is closely in touch with today's youngsters who watch television cartoon series avidly. These children demand something different and exciting from books.

The story itself is nothing new but the author has twisted it to suit his purpose. The race run by the hare and the tortoise is etched in the mind of almost every child. In the conventional race the tortoise wins the race easily. However, those who read Apooru Padama will be able to realize a different and surprising ending.

The cover page and the colour illustrations by Kalini Harshika Sirimanne will captivate the young readership quite easily.

The story itself is narrated in a simple language that can be easily understood by any child who can read. Therefore, Apooru Padama will be a welcome addition to the children's literature.

Delivering a successful presentation

Practical guide for beginners

We live in a global society where market forces control our lives and information technology becomes sine qua non. In this present scenario, we need a lot of skills including presentation skills not only for development but also for mere survival. In this context, Somapriya Dahanayake deserves our thanks for writing a book on Delivering a Successful Presentation, which is useful to almost everyone in every field of work.

Nearly all of us would like to be able to make presentations with more poise and flair. And we know that a large part of the secret is building confidence and comfort through planning and practice. It is also important to define your audience and to know that your message goes to the audience clearly and persuasively. You need to learn tips for preparing an effective presentation more quickly and work on such specifics as handling questions and awkward situations and selecting visual aids and how best to use them. In addition, you must know to use your voice and body language properly. It is also essential to know that your appearance, first impression influences your audience. All of these and much more on presentation you will be able to learn by using the book written by Dahanayake.

Dahanayake's book on Delivering a Successful Presentation is written in a simple language and he explains everything in lucid manner step by step. It is also a practical guide for beginners and one can master presentation skills by practicing the techniques presented in the book.