Life style

THE ENDURING INSPIRATION THAT IS NIHAL FERNANDO

Published

1 year ago

2025/02/2

Thilina Walpola

Herd of elephants at Handapanagala by Nihal Fernando

Rohan Wijesinha

“One thing can certainly be said of Nihal Fernando. Despite his many years of photographic adventure in the receding past, he fixes his eyes firmly on the future and the task that faces the next generation…

‘All my work has been for the children of Lanka,’ he says. ‘I hope it will help them on their way, as they become the leaders of the next millennium.’

Charith Pelpola, Serendib, Vol. 17 No. 3, May-June 1998

Everyone needs something or someone to inspire them, to reach out from their comfort zone for something or somewhere new. Mine came through my love for wildlife and the wilderness. My inspiration – Nihal Fernando (NF). Unbeknown to me this legend of Sri Lankan photography and conservation had been reading my published scribbles and had decided that he possibly had a more worthy role for me to play. From that moment my approach to wildlife and the wilderness changed from merely being an observer, and sometimes recorder, of its beauty, to that of joining in the fierce fight for its preservation for the future. No more time to wonder but the passion to protect it, for present and future.

I had heard of NF, not just as one of the finest photographers this country has ever had, but who also engaged in many campaigns to conserve areas of environmental importance that were coming under threat from the increasing, unplanned, and often illegal, development.

Eppawela

I soon discovered that there was more to the man than merely a taker of exquisite pictures. After just a single meeting with him, I was plunged into the campaign to protect Eppawela from a proposed mineral investment agreement for exploration and mining of phosphate. The said agreement between the Sri Lankan Government and a foreign company would have had many adverse consequences on the environment, the rich archaeology of the area, and on the people who lived there. Phosphate reserves which are available to Sri Lanka for several centuries would have been taken out in a matter of 30 years, with little overall benefit to the country.

Winnowing paddy, Polonnaruwa by Nihal Fernando

Much has been written about this landmark case and judgment but it was during this time that I realized that NF was not only a fount of knowledge, but also a supreme organizer, and motivator. He brought together people from diverse backgrounds who all had a common interest in preserving the environment; there was a role for each to play, every one, and they were made to feel comfortable in being a part of the process. He engaged with the religious community, academics (from Sri Lanka and elsewhere), lawyers, conservationists, journalists, and even Trade Union leaders. For the first time in the history of the Trade Union movement in Sri Lanka, and possibly the World, a half day General Strike was called in support of an environmental cause – Eppawela. Thousands attended the accompanying rally outside the Fort Railway Station. All of this thanks to the amazing organizational and leadership skills of NF. The judgment of this case, too, made legal history and is worthy of a read by any who has a love for this land and its people, and for Conservation Law.

Vadai Parties

NF hosted weekly strategy meetings at his home at which ginger beer and vadais (a savoury snack made from lentils) were served. Knowledge was shared and the next steps planned, including that of a necessary Court Case. My talents were used in joining those of the team whose task was the dissemination of knowledge to the public on how damaging the rape of Eppawela would be to the country and its people. This was in the form of articles in the newspapers, not just in English, but in all three languages.

NIHAL FERNANDO

Foremost of these writers was Selvam Canagaratna (SC). In fact, SC was at the heart of many of the conservation campaigns organized by NF. With a journalist background and a career in publishing, he had a supreme command of English, and of its pertinent use, to fire the reader with the same fervor he had for the subject. A ferocious champion of the cause, if NF was ever looking for a more loyal deputy and friend, he could have not had any better than SC by his side.

There were many others, too numerous to mention, who were part of this and other campaigns. One other, however, who is deserving of special mention, and who was always up for the fight, was that legend of Sri Lanka, Iranganie Serasinghe. Always there, whatever her other commitments, and ever courageous in expressing her feelings, she is still a spur to all who love nature and environment, and artistic talent, of this blessed isle.

painting by kavindu sathsara

A Man for all

Should history write more of NF, as it has and no doubt will in the future, but only as a supreme photographer whose mastery of light was unsurpassed, then it would just be describing a part of the man; a mere chapter of an epic tale. NF loved Sri Lanka, almost all aspects of it, with the passion of a true patriot, though he would cringe at the term as it has come to be used today. He collaborated with writers to compile works on its history, on its culture and lifestyle, he compiled a travel guide, the earliest of its kind in Sri Lanka, and a Handbook for the Ceylon Farmer, another passion of his, among other things. It was his way of sharing of the beauty of this land.

Above all he admired this Island’s Nature, its culture, its history and its people. For them, he was willing to fight fiercely, and attract others to his cause. This despite being a man of few words, who would rather observe and listen, but with the talent to almost immediately assimilate and analyze all of the information that was being shared. This was why the room would fall silent when he spoke, for his words were always few, to the point, and showed the way forward, for all. For NF was never one who willingly sat at the head of the table but would rather be a part of the team, provided the group achieved its purpose, albeit unconsciously guided by him. For his greatest talent was his ability to converse with anyone, and his extensive travels throughout Sri Lanka meant that he met many.

Apart from the Eppawela Campaign, he was a campaigner for the banning of mechanized logging in the Kanneliya and Sinharaja Rainforests. He served on the Board of Ruk Rakaganno, the Environmental Foundation and the Fauna & Flora Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Environment. He was involved in public interest litigation, seeking court rulings with regard to the Intellectual Property Bill and the Water Reforms Bill, the former ensuring that Sri Lankans would have access to quality drugs at affordable prices and the latter which ruled against the privatization of water.

His inspiration lives on

NF was always generous not only with sharing his knowledge, art and skill, but also in encouraging budding photographers and artists to practice their talents. This is best demonstrated by the wealth of outstanding photographers who learned from him, worked with him, apprenticed under him, and with his blessing, made names for themselves thereafter. With other artists, he organized exhibitions so that they could show off their skills and genius. As such, in a celebration of the photographic art of NF, it is fitting that along with his pictures, those of the other photographers who came under his influence should also have their work shown. Not only photographers, but artists and sculptors too, all who were inspired by him and his work, have a place.

The exhibits will feature the work of NF, Pat Decker, Maxi Decker, Mithra Weerakone, Luxshmanan Nadaraja, Charith Pelpola (all formerly of Studio Times Ltd.) as well as the talents of contemporary artists and sculptors Asela Abeywardene, Channa Ekanayake, Sumudu Ellepola, Chandika Gunasekara, Nimalasiri Jayasena, Hiranya Malwatta, Salome Nanayakkara, Thisaru Prabashwara, Ruwan Prasanga, Dominic Sansoni, Kavindu Sathsara, Kasun de Silva, Charlene Thuring, Sarinda Unamboowe, Shane Walgama and Karunasiri Wijesinghe.

An Exhibition of Photographs by Nihal Fernando, and others, will be held at the Barefoot Gallery, 706 Galle Road, Colombo 3, from 31 January 2025 – 06 February 2025, between 10 am-6.30 pm daily. Entrance is free and all exhibits will be available for purchase.

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Life style

Taste of the Swiss Alps comes to Colombo

Published

5 days ago

2026/07/19

Thilina Walpola

Chef Heinz: Master of Alpine cooking

High in the Swiss Alps, where mountain landscapes shape both life and cuisine, Chef Heinz Rufibach spent more than four decades mastering the art of Alpine cooking. From the grand hotels of St. Moritz and Gstaad to the peaks of Zermatt, his career has been defined by a deep respect for tradition, local flavours and the quiet precision of Swiss craftsmanship.

Now, the chef. affectionately known as Le Cuisinier de Zermatt. brings that remarkable culinary heritage to Colombo for an exclusive Swiss dining experience at Bistro des Marées, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka.

From 23 to 26 July, guests will have the opportunity to experience a specially curated menu by Chef Rufibach, celebrating the authentic flavours of Switzerland’s Alpine regions and the dishes that have shaped his lifelong connection with the mountains.

A former Executive Chef of the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, Chef Rufibach has built a reputation as one of Switzerland’s celebrated culinary figures. Named Swiss Chef of the Year and a holder of a Michelin star for six consecutive years, his cooking reflects the balance between fine dining precision and the warmth of the traditional Alpine table.

For Chef Rufibach, Swiss cuisine is more than a collection of recipes. It is a reflection of place, people and generations of culinary heritage.

“Swiss cuisine is built on tradition, seasonality and a deep connection to the land. Through this menu, I hope to share the flavours and stories of the Alps with guests in Colombo and offer them a true taste of Switzerland,” he said.

The menu at Bistro des Marées takes guests on a journey through Switzerland’s diverse culinary regions, beginning with elegant starters, such as dried meat tartare with green asparagus and Parmesan, marinated salmon with mustard sauce and herbs, and the traditional Gommer Cholera, a Valais speciality of apple, leek and cheese baked in puff pastry.

The experience continues with comforting Swiss classics, including Valais white wine soup with dried apricots and Bündner barley soup, before moving into signature dishes, such as Swiss cheese fondue with bread cubes and potatoes, raclette with traditional accompaniments, and Zürcher Geschnetzeltes with rösti. Other highlights include Basel-style salmon with papet vaudois and fried onions, saffron-infused lamb ragout with mashed potato, and Ghackets mit Hörnli, a beloved Swiss comfort dish of braised beef mince, pasta and apple sauce.

Life style

Goodbye dearest Maria!

Published

5 days ago

2026/07/19

Thilina Walpola

Mariazelle Goonetilleke PHOTOCREDIT: Dayan Witharana

My dearest Maria. I never thought I would have to write this, this soon but then I realised, I owe it to you.

Remember the very first day I met you ? It was way back in 1981. I was 19, working at Lake House and writing to the Sunday Observer’s “Sat Mag” magazine. You were 23.

I made a prior appointment with you on the old rotary dial phone and arrived at Ekanayake Mawatha, Nugegoda, sharp on time. I waited and waited. There were (either) dogs or cats playing around me, with their fur flying all around me. That irritated me. I waited and waited. I wanted to, but could not walk out because the Editor was waiting for the article.

You sailed in one wretched hour late. I was furious. You never apologised either. That’s how we began our friendship. Rather a rocky start wasn’t it ?

What struck me most was NOT the fact that you were the highly celebrated Kandy Lamissi at that time, but rather the sparkle in your eyes and the warmth of your smile. It came from the depths of your heart and radiated outwards to everyone you came into contact with – both those who liked you and those who did not like you.

You radiated that sparkle and smile during the best of times and even the most difficult of times. You had your fair share of both in your 68 years. That smile was your trademark. It stayed on until the end.

We were neighbours, too, in Nugegoda. You were on that side of the junction and I was on this side of the junction. Remember in the mid-1990s when fitness fever hit us and we ambitiously started those 6.00 am early morning walks. They were alas short lived when children in passing school vans began shouting “Aunty Aunty” or “Kandy Lamissiiiiii”. That put an end to our walks and we reverted back to being unfit.

You also had a very, very wicked sense of humour which I loved to bits. Remember that evening when, with dead pan faces, you and I walked into the Metro Cinema Nugegoda and bought two balcony tickets for the 6.30 pm show. The man at the ticket counter couldn’t not believe his eyes. And how we, again with dead pan faces, slowly crept upstairs and sat in the (last row) middle seats much to the shock of all those lovers around us.

You were the Star. I was much lesser known to them than you. They were shocked and looked at you in great disbelief. I remember at one intense moment of the film, we asked the couple next to us, “Meh, excuse me. Aney welaawa keeyada?”. They only didn’t slap us.

And then, during the movie we crunched on and made a helluva din with the prawn crackers, much to the irritation of those around us.

We hadn’t come to watch the film. We just wanted to shock and annoy those lovers. Mission accomplished, we sailed out in the Interval, our sides splitting with laughter. We could not remember the movie either.

Remember those incessantly chats we used to have on a variety of topics? You could hold forth on practically any topic. Those chats sometimes went on till well past midnight and we hadn’t finished talking either.

Teshan your son was the apple of your eye, to use a cliché. How proud you were of him and how very much you used to talk about him. You took pride in his academic success and the fine young man he has turned out to be.

In our 46-year friendship, you and I have had our misgivings, too. Remember Mariazelle how we didn’t speak to each other for about three years?

And then in December 2015 you were a guest artiste and I the emcee at the Break-Away New Year’s Eve Ball organised by (your cousin) Sohan Weerasinghe and Corrine Almeida. We were still not talking to each other, but then, just after the countdown to midnight, you came up to me, hugged me and wished me with tears in your eyes. My respect for you hit the ceiling that night. Our friendship became rock solid from that day onwards.

We last met over dinner at Harpos Commons in Kotte, just before illness dragged you down. You had medical problems but you never complained. Remember the stories we traded and how much we laughed and laughed, at times much to the displeasure of the other diners. Harpo might have got the complaints but he never told me either.

And now you’re gone. Gone just like that. Before I close, I’d like to quote a few lines from your dear friend Aruna Siriwardhana’s tribute :

“I take a moment to mention two special beings in Mariazelle’s life. One is surgeon Prof. Srinath Chandrasekera (a musician himself) who for the past six months or so, together with his team at the Kalubowila Hospital, took indescribably attentive care of her. The other is singer Dinu, who virtually placed her life and work on hold, to care for Mariazelle”.

It was heart-breaking to see you lie in that coffin at Barney Raymonds last Monday (13 July). You were dressed in ivory and gold. You looked peaceful. You were free from suffering and free from pain.

“Kandy Lamissi” will ALWAYS be sung at parties and weddings and home comings and dinner dances and batch get-togethers. “Kandy Lamissi” and You have an unlimited life span. You will both go on forever!

And I will always remember that sparkle in your eyes and the warmth of your smile. That to me was You.

Goodbye my dearest Maria. May your journey in Samsara be speedy.

by Kumar de Silva ✍️

Life style

20-year-old filmmaker Joshua Alailima breaks into Hollywood

Published

5 days ago

2026/07/19

Thilina Walpola

Cast of Missing Threads

Production has officially begun on Missing Threads, marking it the first time a Sri Lankan production has been aimed first and foremost at an American audience. On Tuesday the 7th of July, a dinner was held bringing together the cast, crew, funders, and friends and family to mark the occasion.

The evening opened with guests arriving to chatter and press photography. Talavou Alailima opened proceedings, and a selection of Director Joshua Alailima’s previous films were screened, between speeches from key figures behind the production. The night closed with a large buffet and the signing of contracts.

Missing Threads

is an investigative crime thriller compared to films such as Zodiac and Se7en. The film follows journalist Maya Perera as she unravels a string of lies, all tying back to the mega corporation Verdeon, leading to a far more sinister truth about the internal affairs of the country at large.

This marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka. It is the first time a Sri Lankan film has targeted primarily the USA Hollywood audience. This will further foreign relations, opening the door to industry expansion and significant economic potential.

Missing Threads

brings together a standout cast of actors, including Kaushalya Fernando (The Forsaken Land), Buddika Jayaratne (Sunny’s Mansion), Dharmapriya Dias (Machan), and Shyam Fernando (Paradise). It is led by international Sri Lankan actress Rebecca Munasinghe and leading social media influencer “Neesh.” Missing Threads is produced by Talavou Alailima, founder of Power World Gyms and Edge Nutrition.

Director Joshua Alailima is currently studying at one of the top film universities in America, Biola University, whose alumni network includes Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson and world famous influencer Zach King.

Joshua has been directing since he was a young teenager. He is now 20 and directing his feature debut, a rare feat by Hollywood industry standards.

Missing Threads

brings in an international crew, with people from the USA, Sri Lanka, and Australia flying in to work on the project. Post production will take place in Sri Lanka, India, and the USA. The film is shot on the Arri Alexa LF, the same camera used for the movie Dune. It is the only one currently in Sri Lanka.