Colossus cartoonist cum wildlife photographer for 46 years

Sweet reminiscences of Wijesoma

by Gamini G. Punchihewa

Like so many associates who knew Wijesoma - the colossus cartoonist cum wildlife photographer, I too knew him for 46 long years. Wije as he was fondly called by his colleagues, friends inside and outside the portals of the newspaper offices had worked at first in the Old Times of Ceylon, later at Lake House and finally at Upali Newspapers where he worked for over 20 years.

There Wije deftly and cheerfully sketched those saucy, amusing and provoking laughter on topical political affairs. Wije's favourite personification portrayed in his enticing cartoons was the well-known Punchi Singho. This character was the eyes, ears and nose of the political scenario of the day or any other subject under the sun!

First contact

My first contact with Wije goes back to those jolly good wild days of the Gal Oya Valley. I worked there with the Gal Oya Development Board/River Valleys Development Board for 15 years from 1955 to 1970, later from there shifted to Uda Walawe Project, still later on to the Mahaweli Authority-Walawe Special Area in Embilipiitya, again from there to Mahaweli Centre, Colombo till 1991, when I retired after serving for 38 years. I was domiciled in Embilipitiya for 35 years.

Flood Gates of memories

Opening those flood gates my memories are still alive in recalling the nostalgic memories of my good friend Wije. I first met him in the early 1960s when I was working in Uhana about seven miles from Ampara. He came there to my residence in the company of the famed wildlife cum heritage photographer, Nihal Fernando of the Studio Times, Colombo.

Both being ardent lovers of wildlife and nature, were keen to go around the Senanayake Samudraya in Inginiyagala to take photos of wildlife and birds.

Lake of Senanayake Samudraya

At the time of the Gal Oya Development Board, the Public Relations Section was manned by the late Hamilton Gnanamuttu (formerly a journalist attached to the Ceylon Daily News and Sunday Observer). Package tours for both home and foreign tourists were arranged to go around the Senanayake Samudraya to observe wildlife, birds in a 35 seater passenger motor launch christened "Nelum".

We sped in their jeep enroute Inginiyagala along the Ampara-Uhana-Padiyatalawa jungle highway. What a wonderful sight met our eyes where about 25 elephants with five baby jumbos were browsing by the road side jungle. Both Wije and Nihal took those lively shots of those "Giants of the forest" at very close quarters into their celluloids.

Birds, wild animals

and elephants

From the Inginiyagala boat yard we went aboard 'Nelum' to cruise around the vast imprisoned waters of the Senanayake Samudraya-set against the awe-inspiring mountain frontiers of Nilgala, Ula Lena and the mountain ranges of the Badulla looming over in all their majesty.

This vast tank is dotted here and there with tiny islets swathed in shrub jungle which were the favourite haunts of the roaming elephant, the wandering deer, sambhur and a motley of aquatic birds like painted storks black and white nocked stroks, spoon bill, open bills, pelicans, teals, herons and a host of other aquatic wading birds.

That enlivened the spot for photographers like Wije and Nihal. Both Wije and Nihal mounted their tripods with their zoom lens cameras to capture those birds, animals assembled there in fair numbers.

Walawe Basin

Wije was very keen in visiting the Walawe basin to go around many tourist attractions there. Then I was on a short stint at the Upali Newspapers ('Island/'Sunday Island' on its Editorial staff as journalist from 1997-2000), when I had closer contacts with Wije.

In late 1997, I was privileged to have Wije and his son Udaya, like father a professional photographer attached to the Studio Times, Colombo. Both were our privileged guests at our home for three days.

Wavulpane caverns

Wije spoke to me of the few selected as tourists who were to go. We set off one fine morning to Wavulpane on Wije;s suggestion. We went along the Embilipitiya-Pelmadulla-Ratnapura highway.

The turn off to Wavulpane was off Pallebedda (about 15 miles away from Embilipitiya) at a junction called Thuntota which mountain road falls to near Bulutota on the road to Rakwana.

On this winding mountain road, after about 10 miles, the deviation to Wavulpane is at Kamburugama. From there lies a rugged but tortuous gravelled road full of pot holes and rockoutcrops on this decrepit pit road on its surface.

Wije did not want to take his four wheel drive vehicle. Instead he preferred to trudge the distance of about one and a half miles on this dilapidated road. Even on foot the walking pace was physically difficult to both Wije and myself.

Wije with all his febbelness on his limbs limped with great strain. Both of us were weary in order to reach the Wavulpane school where lies the Wavulpane Cavern (hirigal). I knew its then principal Michael for many years owing to my past visits there.

Michael served as a veritable guide while being conversant with all its geological aspects. Even trekking down the rocky slopes Wije made it. At the entrance to the cavern both father and son clicked their cameras in a whirl of flashlights zooming over the myriads of satalacites looming over, inside the dark fathoms of the cavern.

From there we came up and took our next difficult trudge to the exit of the cavern. This hazardous rugged footpath with ups and downs both Wije and I did it.

Michael the school master took us all over the area where rivulets were meandering by. He explained to us in detail the perfection like a real geologist !

Our kind host Michael took us to his cozy home where a finely laid meal of boiled manioc, katta sambol, white potato curry and country rice awaited us for our consumption. His wife had prepared the menu all by herself.

We were famished after our arduous trek. So we sat down for a hearty meal which was well savoured. We relished the delicious meal and paid justice to it with gusto.

Punchi Singho "omni present"

Wherever Wije trailed with me be it in the wilderness of Gal Oya Valley or in the Walawe basin, the villagers and farming communities and their families with penetrating eyes were not on Wije.

One villager whispered to me "Sir (pointing to Wije) "Mey Punchi Singho neda? (Is that Punchi Singho)". With a twinkle in Wije's eyes with his broad charming smile, he nodded where accolades for the identity of Punchi Singho of his popular cartoons. He exchanged pleasantries with all of them.

Bundala for flamingoes

We awoke the following morning with a promising start.

Wije asked me with earnest, "Gamini shall we go to the Bundala National Park to see Flamingoes".

I consented with all readiness. We set off in his vehicle with his son Udaya via Nonagama junction along the Ambalantota-Hambantota-Tissamaharama. At the Weligatta junction lies the deviation to the Bundala Park along a metalled road.

We made a beeline to the Bundala lagoon at its furthest end of the village. No sooner we reached the edge of the lagoon abutting the road, what a wonderful sight awaited us and to greet us to fulfil our earnest photographic mission.

We were well rewarded with a magnificent sight of hundreds and hundreds of flamingoes in a vast family gathering all in a serenade style as if to say "please take our photos as you came for it".

Wije and Udaya in high spirits, armed with their cameras, telephoto lens and other photographic paraphernalia got down from the vehicle to proceed there lying at very close quarters.

On seeing this rare sight within easy reach, Wije joyfully burst out saying - "Gamini I have never seen such a close sight of hundreds and hundreds of flamingoes as the naked eye could see.

Just like the wonderful sight of these flamingoes we were feasting on them with our eyes, there was another amiable sight of the son and father laying out their cameras and tripods for all those adjustments in their telephoto lens.

Engrossed with this wonderous sight, we waited till the last embers of a dying sunset faded over the distant horizon. All's well that ends well. We returned home with a happy heart, had our dinner and fell into deep slumber.

Later when I got back to the 'Island' office in Colombo, I wrote an article and illustrated it with the photos taken by father and son.

The feature titled 'Flamingo Serenade' appeared in the 'Sunday Island' reminiscent of that unforgettable scene of flamingoes in a real serenade:

Before Armstrong could land on the moon, Punchi Singho with pot of Ruhune Kiri had already landed on the Moon!

Wije with his deep insight and wide vision on creations of Punchi Singho rose to that occasion of Armstrong landing on the moon far ahead of him.

Armstrong landed on the moon in the early 1960s.

But the colossus cartoonist with his inborn intuition of far sightedness rose in all glory to the grand world event. He drew a lively cartoon personified by Punchi Singho carrying a pot of Ruhune Kiri and putting up a Kiri Kade on the moon before Armstrong could have landed first on the moon.

Its catchy caption if I could remember correctly ran thus: 'Ruhune Kiri Kade' on the top of the moon, with his cartoon character Punchi Singho in all perfection of revelation of the global moon landing event.

Wije was always ready to help anybody irrespective of his position and never bore an iota of egoism.

Once when I asked him for some drawing sketches for some of my published books and for his fine photos on wild life, Yala Park and Kataragama, he most willingly and graciously obliged me.

Those classic but priceless drawings and his lively photos adorn my books will serve as a living legacy of this great man of the cartoon world and no doubt of his excellent productions of his exemplary photos on his very choicest faculties of photography of par excellence in all respects.

May Wije my good friend attain Nibbana and be born to Mother Lanka.