Dehiattakandiya

Initial Visit

By ci ⋅ February 6, 2008 ⋅ ⋅ Post a comment

On the way to Dehiattakandiya

At the invitation of Lasantha Chandana Kumara, an instructor for art teachers and the head of the newly established Nadee Art Center based in Lihiniyagama in the general area of Dehiattakandiya in the Eastern Province, a team of Colombo Institute members consisting of Jagath Pathirage, Anoli Perera, Chandra Lekamaarachchi and Sasanka Perera undertook a field visit to the area on the 1st and 2nd February 2008 to initiate discussions on the Institute’s documentary film project focused on youth and multiculturalism. This trip was meant to assess the viability of the project in this area and to meet potential partners. The Nadee Center itself was established by a number of art teachers in the area lead by Lasantha Kumara by sparsely refurbishing an abandoned building that belonged to the Mahaweli Authority. It now functions as a center for young people in the area to meet and talk about issues related to visual arts and to learn new practices in painting, sculpture and installation. The center perhaps also houses the only formal art gallery identified as such outside Colombo.

On the evening of February 1st, Colombo Institute members met with teachers and male students from GCE AL classes associated with the Center. Female students could not come during this time due to transport restrictions. Many of the young male students use bikes for transport but women do not use bikes in the evenings and have to rely on public transport, which is of course, unreliable.

On the morning of 2^nd February 2008, the Colombo Institute team met with a larger group of individuals associated with the Center. This group also consisted of female students since transport services functioned better in the mornings. A description of Colombo Institute’s profile and its activities, particularly the documentary film project focused on youth, was given to the young participants by Chandra Lekamarachchi.