A septuagenarian's romance with bonsai

Bonsai is an art based on patience and creativity which has had its roots in ancient China.

To K.M. Thilakaratne, winner of the prestigious Japanese Ambassador Challenge Trophy in 2003, 2008, 2010 and 2012 the creative art form of Bonsai is a religion. He derives immense pleasure from engaging in the art as a past-time and considers it a part of Buddhism and meditation.

K.M. Thilakaratne receives the Japanese Ambassador Challenge Trophy

Thilakaratne, who hails from Ilukketiya, Mahagama, in the backwoods of Kalutara was attached to the Sri Lanka Postal Department when he seriously began to indulge in the art of Bonsai. From his childhood he has been a lover of nature and his romance with the novel art form began with the arrival of Burda from Indonesia in the 1980s.

Reflecting on his achievements, Thilakaratne said, the awards he has won were mainly due to persistence, devotion and commitment to the subject. He gratefully recalls the lessons that Bonsai entrepreneur Manel Gunawardena gave which paved the way for him as a beginner. At one time the art of Bonsai was limited only to the city, but following the inauguration of the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Association in the 1970s, many exchange programs commenced between the two countries which helped popularise Bonsai nationally.

K.M. Thilakaratne who is now in his 70s is a reputed exponent of Bonsai, and has many students from around the country. He donates much of his revenue by selling Bonsai plants to Buddhist institutions, he claims, and is hoping that this form of art will catch on among the youth. Many of his works on Bonsai are being exhibited in England and other western countries and they are being used in Bodhis, he said.

To help those who are keen and educate the people on the subject he will launch a book on Bonsai creation titled The Art of Bonsai in Sinhala. "Since there is hardly any book in Sinhala which gives a thorough insight to this form of art, I particularly wanted to put out a book covering as many aspects as possible in Sinhala", he said. The book will contain attractive colour illustrations and photographs, and will be a blessing to all green thumbs in Sri Lanka.

Some of his bonsai creations