Life style

A Sri Lankan story: Oddamavadi: The untold story – one year later

Published

8 months ago

2025/07/27

Filming at Majumar Nagar COVID-19 burial ground, Oddamavadi

In the midst of a global pandemic that disrupted every facet of human life, Sri Lanka enacted a policy that struck at the very heart of one community’s spiritual and cultural identity. The mandatory cremation rule for COVID-19 victims, enforced from March 2020, not only caused profound psychological trauma but also ignited a national conversation on religious freedom, state accountability, and the limits of public health policy.

In 2023, a group of Sri Lankan creatives came together to document this controversial period in Oddamavadi – The Untold Story—a compelling book and documentary that blend personal testimony, visual storytelling, and investigative insight. It aims not just to record a dark chapter, but to urge reflection, justice, and reconciliation.

Aman Ashraff, director and producer of the searing documentary, ‘Oddamavadi: The Untold Story’, under the banner of Black Coffee Films, doesn’t mince his words when he explains why this story needed to be told. “Such an unlawful act against humanity took place in this country,” he says, his voice calm but resolute. “We had to record it for posterity.”

The government’s policy, introduced under public health regulations at the height of the pandemic, was seen by critics as both medically unjustified and religiously insensitive. Islam mandates burial, and for many Muslim families, the idea of cremation was both spiritually devastating and culturally alien.

The decision drew criticism from the international medical community, including statements from the World Health Organization (WHO), which said burial of COVID-19 victims posed no significant public health risk. Nonetheless, the policy remained in place for nearly a year before being revised in early 2021.

During that time, Oddamavadi—a remote village in the Eastern Province—was designated as the only site in Sri Lanka where Muslim COVID-19 victims could be buried, subjecting families to long, emotionally wrenching journeys and often preventing them from participating in funerals.

Ashraff’s determination to capture and immortalise this dark chapter of Sri Lankan history was not born out of vengeance, but a fierce loyalty to truth and humanity. The film and accompanying book were designed not merely to expose, but to educate — to serve as a cautionary record for future generations and governments. “We did not serve any political machinery of any kind,” he insists. “We merely wished to ensure that this dark episode in the history of Sri Lanka was recorded and enshrined in some way so that such atrocities never happen again.”

“Listen. Just listen.”

The road to Oddamavadi – The Untold Story was paved with mistrust, fear, and pain. The Muslim community, still nursing unhealed wounds, was reluctant to speak. “By nature, the norm of the community is to remain very private,” Ashraff explains. “To sort of not speak out on such issues for fear of persecution, or whatever other reason there may exist.”

Building trust became the first monumental task. Ashraff reached out — not with cameras or scripts — but with empathy and patience. “We had to earn their trust,” he says. “To show them that we would do right by their stories, that we would document their suffering with dignity and integrity.”

He did not do it alone. Ashraff rallied a team of extraordinary individuals who understood the gravity of the task at hand. Most of them, he points out with pride, were not from the Muslim community. “We had Buddhists, Christians, Burghers, Tamils — a complete mix. This was a Sri Lankan story put together by Sri Lankans for Sri Lanka.”He speaks with particular reverence and pride of creative collaborators Roshanara De Mel and David Blacker — both veterans in the advertising world and long-time colleagues. “Having worked with them over the years,” Ashraff says, “Their creativity was matched by their compassion.” He continues, “In their words, their acts, their views, I saw their humanity,” he says. “And their concern for justice and fairness — for people of all walks of life.”

Behind the scenes – Filming in Colombo

“There was life in every sentence. And a soul in every frame.”

To Roshanara De Mel, this was a divine charge. “If the writer or photographer is doing it merely for monetary gain, you can always tell. But when they are truly affected by what they have seen, almost every sentence is written with deep reflection, with a deep sense of responsibility.” De Mel continues, “It takes a toll on you. Sitting with the grief and pain of those who suffered deeply because of the cremation-only policy… On one hand, it triggers the fears and anxieties of the horror that was COVID-19. On the other, there is the sense of injustice and outrage at such a discriminatory policy,” she told The Sunday Island.

That responsibility was not taken lightly.

“The story is what is important,” David Blacker says. “Whether you’re a writer, filmmaker or photojournalist—find the core of what makes a story important. And then be unabashed in telling it like it is.” Blacker continues, “As a photographer, it was important that I represented the feelings, emotions, and stories of the victims accurately… and the challenge was to not be exploitative in my attempt to create a striking image,” he said.

While some might expect visual storytelling to lean on neutrality, Blacker made a conscious decision to center the humanity of the subjects over traditional notions of objectivity.

His photographs, included in the book, reflect quiet devastation—elderly parents staring into the distance, children sitting beside symbolic graves, and the bleak, windswept terrain of Oddamavadi itself. These images, paired with testimonies and essays, create a layered narrative that speaks not just to grief, but also to strength and resistance.

What sets Oddamavadi apart is not just the painful truth it reveals — but the love and care with which that truth is handled. Many of the extended team members worked pro bono. “They said, ‘Look, if we do not contribute to this project, we’re failing as Sri Lankans.’”

A Nation Awakens

The responses to the film have been as complex as the country it documents. Some within the Muslim community were suspicious, accusing the filmmakers of having a political agenda.

“Some Muslims said this was unnecessary dredging of an unpleasant episode and that it’s best left alone,” Blacker says. He continues, “But I maintain that the recording of history, and the explaining of context, is invaluable in preventing it being repeated.”

Others — victims’ families and everyday Sri Lankans from all faiths — responded with heartbreaking gratitude.

“One individual was unable to speak because she was overwhelmed with emotion, so she sent her feedback as a text message. Even there though, you could feel the emotions etched in every word” Ashraff recollects. “Another stated, ‘I’m ashamed to be a Buddhist because when I see what has transpired here, I just feel so ashamed,’ That is not an easy thing to say,” Ashraff reflects.

This, he believes, is the true power of storytelling — to awaken empathy, to stir reflection, to demand action. “If the work we have done has made people ask the question — ‘Have I been complicit by being silent?’ — then I think we have accomplished something monumental.”

Blacker adds, “I hope it will contribute to an understanding that the letter of the law must be tempered with empathy,” he said. “That we need a more secular state in our policymaking—even as we recognize the religious and cultural identities of our people.”

On location at Oddamavadi

Final Audio Mix

A Story Larger Than Themselves

Ashraff’s voice (and that of his colleagues) carry both fatigue and fulfillment when he speaks of the toll the project has taken. It was not something he had planned. “Oddamavadi was not part of a larger canvas. It just… fell into my lap.”

Would he do it again? Perhaps. But not simply as “a Muslim communications professional who handles only Muslim affairs.” If there is another story worth telling — one that demands conscience and clarity — he may rise to meet it.

But for now, he has done what many would not dare. And he has done it with integrity.

A Final Word

If he were to offer one piece of advice to others seeking to tell such stories, it would be this: “Don’t be too eager to force your personal opinion into a story. Listen to what the subject/s of the story wish to say. These are not commercial films. These are real stories that have affected real people.”

By Ifham Nizam ✍️

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Life style

Grace, grooming and confidence

Published

7 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

The leadership team behind the academy at the head table

Ramani Fenando’s new Image and Etiquette Academy

In a world where first impressions speak before words, Sri Lanka’s beauty icon Ramani Fernando has taken a bold step beyond the salon chair to shape confidence from within. Her newly launched Etiquette and Image Academy is designed to refine not only appearance, but presence, poise and personal power.

Step into a space where confidence meets sophistication, Ramani Fernando Academy is redefining how Sri Lankans approach personal branding ,offering a unique blend of ettiquette, style and communication mastery.

Her newly launched personal branding and EtiquetteAcademy was unveiled in a simple ceremony at the Galle Face hotel. This marks a bold and timely step into the realm of confidence leadership, presence and modern social grace.

Colombo’s social elite, corporate leaders, fashion insiders and longtime clients gathered in celebration of a vision that seeks to shape not just appearance but cofidence building.

Ramani, in her opening speech, said “our courses are carefully designed to meet with international standards, ensuring participants recieve training that meets both local and global expectations.

Ramani Fernando – shaping confidence

Professional face of etiquette training

Faith Launders who is the Director of Etiquette and Protocol in the Academy pointed out this personal branding and etiquette programmes will help participants cultivate grace, confidence and refined personal style through expert guidance. A former Miss Sri Lanka beauty queen, with experience in aviation, will contribute a creative and professional lens to the Academy’s curriculam.

Invitees from the world of fashion gathered to celebrate the occasion

Carolyn Jurie

Chalana at the helm of beauty

She brings professionalism, poise and a strong commitment to cultivate confidence and promote refined social skills among students. Known for her approachable style and inspiring presence, she strives to create an inclusive learning space where students can transform into confident individuals to navigate life with dignity and elegance.

For decades, Ramani has been a transformative force in Sri Lanka’s beauty industry.

and now this venture signals a natural evolution from external refinement to the art of personal distinction.

The programme blends traditional etiquette with contemporary relevance, offering personal branding and professional image building both in social and corporate etiquette. These are some of the programmes:

= Communication skills and body language, grooming, style and wardrobe alignment.

= Digital image and social media conduct.

= Platforms or in social events the ability to command attention with confidence has to become an important tool.

In today’s hyper connected world, impressions are formed in seconds often long before a handshake, whether in boardrooms, diplomatic circles or in the media.

The teaching staff consists of industry experts trainers amd adminitrators led by othe senior professionals

The Managing Director, Lakmini Lenagala, Training and Administrative Manager, Ramono, Navaratnarajah, Personal Assistant, Merisha Aserappa and Chalana Munasinghe are all industry professionals who have experience, theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

They are experienced instructors with hands on expertise in grooming, etiquette, image building and communication.

While the vision of the Personal Branding and Etiquette Academy belongs to Ramani Fernando, its strength lies in the collective expertise of the professionals who bring the programmes to life.

By bringing together specialists from diverse fields, the Academy offers participants a rare opportunity to refine every dimension of their public and private persona under one roof.

Sessions cover skin care, hair, make up, wardrobe planning and colour coordination.

Communication and public speaking recognising that presence is also conveyed though voice and expression, the Academy offers training in articulation tones, posture and body language.

The training also includes table manners, event conduct, professional courtesy and cross cultural awareness. This Etiquette Academy us designed for both women and men offering guidance on grooming, communication, professional conduct and social confidence.

The Academy acts as a transformative space – one that equips individuals not merely to succeed but to stand out with authencity and grace. The institution reflects Ramani Fernando’s belief that true elegance is a way of being not simply a way of dressing!.

By Zanita Careem

Pix by Thushara Athapatu

Life style

From rescue to rewilding, Kalo’s journey continues

Published

7 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

World Wildlife Day 2026:

He arrived at the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe on March 23, 2024, barely eight months old. Kalo had spent an unknown number of days trapped at the bottom of an abandoned well near Galenbidunuwewa in Sri Lanka’s Anuradhapura District, separated from the herd he had lost. When wildlife officers from the Department of Wildlife Conservation pulled him out, they found a frightened calf, but also something else: resilience.

Today, nearly two years after his rescue, Kalo is no longer the fragile elephant calf who arrived at the Transit Home alone. He is growing steadily, eating well, and has fully integrated into a group of calves preparing for eventual release. His progress is measured not only in size, but in behaviour like social bonding, herd interaction, and independent foraging skills that will determine his readiness for life beyond human protection. Since his arrival, Kalo has grown from 125 kilograms to over 300 kilograms. The wounds he sustained before rescue have fully healed, and he is no longer on any specific medical treatment instead routine management only. He is, by every measure, active, playful, and thriving.

The Elephant Transit Home, also known as Ath Athuru Sevana, has operated within Udawalawe National Park since 1995. It is not an orphanage in the traditional sense. There are no rides, no performances, no human dependency. Human contact is limited strictly to feeding and veterinary care. The rest of the time, the calves are left to bond with one another.

That philosophy is intentional. Elephants are deeply social animals, and calves that grow too attached to humans struggle to survive in the wild. The daily play, the hierarchy, and the formation of peer bonds are all part of a structured rehabilitation process designed to prepare them for rewilding.

Since its establishment, more than 200 orphaned elephants have passed through the Elephant Transit Home. Over 100 have been successfully released back into the wild. In July 2025 alone, six young elephants were returned to Udawalawe National Park during the facility’s 26th release. If all continues as planned, Kalo will follow that path in 2029.

On May 8, 2024, less than two months after Kalo’s rescue, Sun Siyam Pasikudah formalised its long-term commitment to his care through the CarePhant initiative under Sun Siyam Care. The resort pledged ongoing monthly contributions to support Kalo’s nutrition, veterinary care, and daily rehabilitation needs through to his planned release.

Sun Siyam Care is the group’s overarching sustainability programme that integrates environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, community engagement, and long-term socio-economic value creation across all Sun Siyam Resorts in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Through Sun Siyam Care, we invest in initiatives that protect marine and terrestrial ecosystems, reduce waste and single-use plastics, improve resource efficiency, support renewable energy and local sourcing, and promote awareness and participation among guests and communities alike. Kalo’s journey from rescue to rewilding is one example of how Sun Siyam Care extends beyond hospitality, connecting responsible tourism with meaningful environmental and wildlife conservation impact.

“We are delighted to embark on the CarePhant project and become stewards of Kalo’s well-being. Sri Lanka’s elephants are not just a conservation issue; they are part of the living identity of this island, and we feel a genuine responsibility to play our part in protecting them,” said Arshed Refai, General Manager, Sun Siyam Pasikudah.

For Chaminda Upul Kumara, Sustainability Project Manager at Sun Siyam Resorts, the commitment reflects the deeper purpose of Sun Siyam Care. “Conservation is not a single moment. It is a process that requires patience and consistency. With Kalo, we committed to being part of that journey from rescue to release. Every month of support is an investment in his return to the wild,” said Upul.

In the month that marks World Wildlife Day, observed on 03rd March, Kalo’s story serves as a reminder that conservation is not abstract. It is individual. It is long term. And it depends on partnerships between public institutions and responsible private sector actors. In a landscape where habitat loss and human–elephant conflict continue to threaten Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population, sustained commitments like CarePhant demonstrate how responsible tourism can contribute to tangible, measurable conservation outcomes.

Sun Siyam Pasikudah, which holds Travelife Gold Certification and operates under the broader Sun Siyam Care sustainability framework, integrates conservation, local sourcing, and community engagement into its daily operations. The CarePhant project builds on that foundation by linking responsible hospitality directly to wildlife protection.

Three years from now, in 2029, Kalo is expected to walk beyond the protective boundaries of the Elephant Transit Home and into Udawalawe National Park as a young wild elephant. Every veterinary check, every month of nutritional support, and every bond formed within his herd brings him closer to that moment.

“When Kalo walks back into the forest in 2029, it will mark the completion of a journey that began in crisis but was sustained through commitment,” added Arshed Refai. “We are proud that Sun Siyam Care is part of that long-term promise.”

Until then, Kalo continues doing what young elephants at Ath Athuru Sevana are meant to do: growing, learning, and preparing quietly for a life in the wild.

Life style

Pakistan’s 86th National Day celebrated in Sri Lanka

Published

7 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

The High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Pakistani community based in Sri Lanka celebrated the 86th National Day of Pakistan with traditional flavour and resolve to make Pakistan a strong, vibrant and progressive democratic welfare state.

The day commemorates a defining moment that led the foundation for the creation of Pakistan.

The ceremony commenced with the raising of their national flag, fluttering proudly against the morning sky, symbolising faith, unity and discipline, the ideals upon which the nation was built. Dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, community leaders and guests gathered in silence as the national anthem resonated creating an atmosphere charged with emotion and national pride .

Cultural elegance added a distinctive charm to the occasion, with traditional attire and warm exchanges reflecting the rich heritage of Pakistan. Guests were later invited to partake in light refreshments, providing an opportunity for cordial interacton and celebration.

Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan, Zunaira Latif unfurled the Pakistani flag to the tune of Pakistan’s national anthem in a ceremony held at the Pakistan High Commission

The National Day of Pakistan is celebrated on 23rd March every year in remembrance of the historic 1940 resolution passed in Lahore, calling for a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent that ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.

Special messages by the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan were readout, in which both the leaders highlighted the importance of the day and paid tributes to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in her message on the occasion said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka continue to maintain their traditionally close and mutually beneficial relations, based on mutual respect and trust. She said that the strength of the Pakistan – Sri Lanka relationship lies in diversified engagement in many fields such as trade, defence, science, culture, and education. She also extended sincere greetings and best wishes on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to the government and people of Sri Lanka.