He gives a ‘real look’ to model buses

Text and picture : Nimal Wijayethunga Eheliyagoda Special Correspondent

Somadsasa Lekamage, 64, of Wiyalagoda, Eheliyagoda makes model toy vehicles of different types using Locally available raw materials. The difference between his creations and the other such creations is that he does his best to give his toy vehicles a ‘real look’.

Somadasa says, “I use chemically hardened and tempered box-board for the vehicals. I try to fix seats, hangers, dash-boards, lights, steering wheels, side mirrors and the other accessaries of buses, lorries etc”, somadasa explained. He processes of mini musium of toy vehicles especially buses of many designes including the oldest open body models as well as the latest designs.

“There are many models of buses in my mind. But I have no time to design them. I already designed nearly 6500 different models of toy vehicles. I do not want to sell them. My aim is to preserve them for the future generation”, he said.

Somadasa said that if some modern cutting, moulding and painting equipment as well as a more spacious room is available, he may be able to supply employment opportunities for several youth in this field.