Kandy returns to the past
Ruwini Jayawardana
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Chief Guest
of the Kandy exhibition Central Province Governor Tikiri
Kobbekaduwa views the exhibits. Chief Minister Sarath
Ekanayake, Kandy Mayor Mahendra Ratwatte and other guests
look on. Pictures by Gamini Ranasinghe |
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Central
Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa with British Council
Director Tony Reilly |
‘A Return to Sri Lanka’, an exhibition showcasing 150 images drawn
from the collections of the British Library,the Victoria and Albert
Museums, the Natural History Museum, London and the National Museum,
Colombo, are being showcased at the Kandy City Centre (KCC) till
November 6.
The exhibition comprises manuscripts, maps, prints, drawings,
photographs and other artefacts which had inspired artists and
photographers to document its landscapes and people of the era. From the
struggle with colonialism to its thriving export market and alluring
culture and tradition, the exhibition celebrates the grandeur of the
country’s roots.
Speaking to the Daily News the co-curator of ‘A Return to Sri Lanka’,
Menika van der Poorten said that the exhibition has a strong link with
Kandy.
“A lot of images display the Kandy environs and also three of the
photographers were also established in Kandy. Since this was the last
kingdom to fall into the British ruler ship, those elements are found in
the work as well. Many people have already visited the exhibition.
Schoolchildren are especially enthusiastic about the event as they view
many aspects which enrich facts which have learnt at school,” she said
adding that the KCC team had been very helpful in providing the
necessary backup to showcase the event.
The exhibition is funded by the World Collections Programme and
produced by the British Library and the British Council. It had already
been held in Colombo and Jaffna and will move onto Galle after Kandy. At
the end of its tour the exhibition will be gifted to the Ministry of
Heritage to make it more widely available to a Sri Lankan audience. An
online version of the exhibition is also on the web.
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Some of the
exhibits at ‘A Return to Sri Lanka’ |
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