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Iromie Wijewardena – Award-winning Visual Artist

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Iromi explaining me the concept of one her favourite paintings in March 2023

PLACES, PEOPLE & PASSIONS (3Ps)

Dr. Chandana (Chandi) Jayawardena DPhil
President – Chandi J. Associates Inc. Consulting, Canada
chandij@sympatico.ca

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Iromie has painted for over five decades. She has represented Sri Lanka at numerous international exhibitions, with her work displayed in prestigious galleries in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. Iromie was the first Sri Lankan artist to have a painting depicted on a foreign postage stamp (“The Royal Procession,” Yugoslavia). Two of her paintings are in the Presidential Collection in Sri Lanka. In 2006, “Iromie Wijewardena Paintings” book was published, and she was elected Chairperson of the jury panel of the prestigious Asian Art Biennale in Bangladesh. In 2021, she was awarded the Kala Vibushana Award by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

After 40 years, first chat in 2023

I saw Iromie at an art exhibition in Colombo in the early 1980s. I knew of her as a young visual artist with great potential for a promising career. I did not get an opportunity to speak with her then, but from a distance I followed her career over the next four decades.

In the middle of the pandemic, my elder son, Marlon, called me on a Sunday, from Vietnam. He was working there as the General Manager of Value Addition of a large fashion garment company. “Thaththi, after six years in Vietnam, I decided to move back to Sri Lanka and look for a new job,” Marlon surprised me. Having visited him in Vietnam a year ago, I was impressed with his work in leading a team of 600 associates. I was also very happy to note his popularity in his latest adopted home, after Sri Lanka, The United Kingdom, Iraq, Guyana, Jamaica, and Canada. Mainly owing to his charming personality and his ability to speak Vietnamese, Marlon was very popular among his superiors, peers, and subordinates.

“Putha, as you clearly know, the whole world is in an uncertain crisis management mode owing to the global pandemic. It is not a good time for you to change countries and jobs,” I advised him. During that chat, I realised that Marlon had fallen in love again, and wished to be close to his new girlfriend, who had recently returned to Sri Lanka from England after completing her studies. Worrying that I might post something prematurely on social media, Marlon was reluctant to provide me with any other information!

Iromie at her studio in Colombo five

During our next telephone chat, Marlon provided me with carefully selected limited information about his girlfriend. She had recently qualified as a barrister, she is the only child of a Wijewardena family from Colombo, and her mother is a well-known visual artist. Soon after that chat, I checked Iromie Wijewardena’s Facebook page and learnt that her daughter had recently returned from England and her name is Natalie. Marlon was shocked when I sent him a text with one word: NATALIE? He called me back immediately, and said, “How did you find out in five-minutes? You are correct, Thaththi. Please keep it to yourself for the time being. Please, no posts about this on social media!”

A few months later, Marlon moved back to Sri Lanka. He then introduced Natalie to me as his fiancé, over a zoom video. “I just proposed to Natalie, and our two mothers are already planning a grand wedding in Colombo, when the pandemic ends and the ‘Aragalaya’ situation improves”, Marlon told me. I was thrilled that a great artist would be Marlon’s mother-in-law.

Soon after I arrived in Colombo a week before Natalie and Marlon’s wedding, in March 2023, I was invited to Natalie’s parents’ house for dinner. I was excited to meet them and Natalie and talk with Iromie for the first time. “My favourite paintings and paintings which won awards are in my private collection. I had many offers, but we decided not to sell these” Iromie told me, while taking me around the house. I felt privileged, to experience a private tour of an amazing private gallery, which they call, home.

I was most impressed. Iromie was also a charming hostess. We then agreed to meet for an interview after the busy period for both families during the wedding, homecoming etc. We met at their house again, just before my return to Canada in late April 2023. I posed 10 questions to Iromie.

Iromie featured in the back cover of an issue of Reader’s Digest Magazine – which has the largest circulation of any periodical in the world.

Q: Out of all the places you have visited in Sri Lanka and overseas, what is your favourite and most interesting place?

A: That is a hard question to answer as almost all the countries I have visited have their own uniqueness about them! However, when not in Sri Lanka, I always find myself gravitating to Paris, especially the area of Montmartre, as it is full of life and art!

Q: Out of all the inspiring people you have met, who inspired you most to paint for five decades?

A: At the start of my career, it was my university professors who really encouraged me to keep painting and persevere. However, it has been my own love and passion of creating art that has kept me painting for such a long time!

The cover of Iromie’s current art brochure

Q: At the present time, what is your key passion in life, other than visual art?

A: While art takes up most of my time, when I am not painting, I gravitate towards the performing arts – music, dance, and theatre. I find the rhythm, movements, and choreography to be very inspiring.

Q: Can you talk more about the foundation you laid for your career when you were a student at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies of the University of Kelaniya and Wilson College in USA?

A: While at university, I made a concerted effort to immerse myself into multiple disciplines of art, including sculpture, textile designing, leather work, graphic art, and art history. All these different areas of art helped and influenced my style of painting to become what it is today.

Q: You had the honour of representing Sri Lanka at numerous international exhibitions in the USA, UK, France, Germany, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Bangladesh, UAE, and Cuba. Which exhibition resulted in your most memorable experience?

A: My most memorable exhibition was at the Joseph Broz Tito Gallery in former Yugoslavia. My painting, “Royal Procession,” which was done in the Sri Lankan temple mural style, was selected by the Sri Lankan Cultural Ministry as Sri Lanka’s choice for the Non-Aligned Countries Gallery in Titograd. This then led to the opportunity for me to be invited to hold a solo exhibition at the same gallery, which was a truly unforgettable experience.

Q: Can you talk more about the opportunity of becoming the first Sri Lankan artist to have a painting depicted on a foreign postage stamp?

A: In 1985, the Yugoslavian government selected five paintings, from 50 galleries, to be made into postage stamps. The ‘Royal Procession’ was one of the five selected, which was an immense honour and a great highlight of my career.

Q: How was the experience as the Chairperson of the jury panel of the prestigious Asian Art Biennale in Dhaka, Bangladesh?

A: Being a part of the Asian Art Biennale has always been a very fulfilling experience and being made the Chairperson and working alongside the others in the panel, all celebrated and talented artists from across Asia, was a great privilege. The Biennale itself comprises artists and paintings from 34 countries, and it is very interesting to see the different styles and methods used, as every artist’s process is unique and often influenced by their own culture. As part of the jury panel, I found it quite a challenging task to pick one artist to win from each category, as the talent at the Biennale is immense.

Iromie with daughter Natalie and husband Lucille

Q: The beauty of the female form is predominant in your recent works. What are the main themes for your work over five decades?

A: The themes of my work have evolved through the years. Initially I concentrated mostly on landscapes and seascapes, and then moved on to figure compositions. Since moving to figure compositions, my paintings have revolved around the female form, mostly depicted in village life. I have chosen to paint art that highlights not only the beauty and elegance of women but also the pivotal role played by women in society.

Q: Can you explain your process and the average duration in creating a commissioned painting?

A: My process varies with each painting and is rarely ever the same. It often depends on the medium used, as working with oils and acrylics can be different. As for duration, it tends to be very unpredictable – once I had a buyer who wanted a painting done in a week!

Q: What is your main advice to young visual artists dreaming of a career like yours?

A: Expose yourself to different forms of art and don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles and media. Develop your own unique and individual style and keep in mind that it is perfectly fine for your style of painting to change and evolve!

Next week, 3Ps will feature an entrepreneur focusing on sustainable development of community tourism to showcase authentic cuisine of Sri Lanka…



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High govt. revenue and low foreign exchange reserves High foreign exchange reserves and low govt. revenue!

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First shipment of vehicles imported to Sir Lank after the lifting the ban on automobile imports

Government has permitted, after several years, the import of motor cars. Imports, including cars, were cut off because the government then wisely prioritised importing other commodities vital to the everyday life of the general public. It is fair to expect that some pent-up demand for motor vehicles has developed. But at what prices? Government seems to have expected that consumers would pay much higher prices than had prevailed earlier.

The rupee price of foreign exchange had risen by about half from Rs.200 per US$ to Rs.300. In those years, the cost of production of cars also had risen. The government dearly wanted more revenue to meet increasing government expenditure. Usually, motor cars are bought by those with higher incomes or larger amounts of wealth. Taxes on the purchase of cars probably promote equity in the distribution of incomes. The collection of tax on motor cars is convenient. What better commodity to tax?

The announced price of a Toyota Camry is about Rs.34 million. Among us, a Camry is usually bought by those with a substantially higher income than the average middle-income earner. It is not a luxury car like a Mercedes Benz 500/ BMW 700i. Yes, there are some Ferrari drivers. When converted into US dollars, the market price of a Camry 2025 in Sri Lankan amounts to about $110,000. The market price of a Camry in US is about $34,000, where it is usually bought by income earners in the middle-middle class: typically assistant professors in state universities or young executives. Who in Lanka will buy a Camry at Rs.34 million or $110,000 a piece?

How did Treasury experts expect high revenue from the import of motor cars? The price of a Toyota Camry in US markets is about $34,000. GDP per person, a rough measure of income per person in US, was about $ 88,000 in 2024. That mythical ‘average person’ in US in 2024, could spend about 2.5 month’s income and buy a Toyota Camry. Income per person, in Lanka in 2024, was about $ 4,000. The market price of a Camry in Lanka is about $ 133,000. A person in Lanka must pay 33 years of annual income to buy a Toyota Camry in 2025.

Whoever imagined that with those incomes and prices, there would be any sales of Camry in Lanka? After making necessary adjustments (mutatis mutandis), Toyota Camry’s example applies to all import dues increases. Higher import duties will yield some additional revenue to government. How much they will yield cannot be answered without much more work. High import duties will deter people from buying imported goods. There will be no large drawdown of foreign exchange; nor will there be additional government revenue: result, high government foreign exchange reserves and low government revenue.

For people to buy cars at such higher prices in 2025, their incomes must rise substantially (unlikely) or they must shift their preferences for motor cars and drop their demand for other goods and services. There is no reason to believe that any of those changes have taken place. In the 2025 budget, government has an ambitious programme of expenditure. For government to implement that programme, they need high government revenue. If the high rates of duties on imports do not yield higher government revenue as hypothesised earlier, government must borrow in the domestic market. The economy is not worthy of raising funds in international capital markets yet.

If government sells large amounts of bonds, the price of all bonds will fall, i.e. interest rates will rise, with two consequences. First, expenditure on interest payments by government will rise for which they would need more revenue. Second, high interest rates may send money to banks rather than to industry. Finding out how these complexities will work out needs careful, methodically satisfactory work. It is probable that if government borrows heavily to pay for budgetary allocations, the fundamental problem arising out of heavy public debt will not be solved.

The congratulatory comments made by the Manager of IMF applied to the recent limited exercise of handling the severity of balance of payments and public debt problems. The fundamental problem of paying back debt can be solved only when the economy grows fast enough (perhaps 7.5 % annually) for several years. Of that growth, perhaps, half (say 4 % points) need to be paid back for many years to reduce the burden of external debt.

Domestic use of additional resources can increase annually by no more than 3.5 percent, even if the economy grows at 7.5 percent per year. Leaders in society, including scholars in the JJB government, university teachers and others must highlight the problems and seek solutions therefor, rather than repeat over and over again accounts of the problem itself.

Growth must not only be fast and sustained but also exports heavy. The reasoning is as follows. This economy is highly import-dependent. One percent growth in the economy required 0.31% percent increase in imports in 2012 and 0. 21 percent increase in 2024. The scarcity of imports cut down the rate of growth of the economy in 2024. Total GDP will not catch up with what it was in (say) 2017, until the ratio of imports to GDP rises above 30 percent.

The availability of imports is a binding constraint on the rate of growth of the economy. An economy that is free to grow will require much more imports (not only cement and structural steel but also intermediate imports of many kinds). I guess that the required ratio will exceed 35 percent. Import capacity is determined by the value of exports reduced by debt repayments to the rest of the world. The most important structural change in the economy is producing exports to provide adequate import capacity. (The constant chatter by IMF and the Treasury officials about another kind of structural change confuses the issue.) An annual 7.5 percent growth in the economy requires import capacity to grow by about 2.6 percent annually.

This economy needs, besides, resources to pay back accumulated foreign debt. If servicing that accumulation requires, takes 4% points of GDP, import capacity needs to grow by (about) 6.6 percent per year, for many years. Import capacity is created when the economy exports to earn foreign exchange and when persons working overseas remit substantial parts of their earnings to persons in Lanka. Both tourism and remittances from overseas have begun to grow robustly. They must continue to flow in persistently.

There are darkening clouds raised by fires in prominent markets for exports from all countries including those poor. This is a form of race to the bottom, which a prominent economist once called ‘a policy to beggar thy neighbour (even across the wide Pacific)’. Unlike the thirty years from 1995, the next 30 years now seem fraught with much danger to processes of growth aided by open international trade. East Asian economies grew phenomenally by selling in booming rich markets, using technology developed in rich countries.

Lanka weighed down with 2,500 years of high culture ignored that reality. The United States of America now is swinging with might and main a wrecking ball to destroy that structure which they had put up, one thought foolishly, with conviction. Among those storms, many container ships would rather be put to port than brave choppy seas. High rates of growth in export earnings seem a bleak prospect. There yet may be some room in the massive economies of China and India.

Consequently, it is fanciful to expect that living conditions will improve rapidly, beginning with the implementation of the 2025 budget. It will be a major achievement if the 2025 budget is fully implemented, as I have argued earlier. Remarkable efforts to cut down on extravagance, waste and the plunder of public funds will help, somewhat; but not enough. IMF or not, there is no way of paying back accumulated debt without running an export surplus sufficient to service debt obligations.

Exports are necessary to permit the economy to pay off accumulated debt and permit some increase in the standard of living. Austerity will be the order of the day for many years to come. It is most unlikely that the next five years will usher in prosperity.

By Usvatte-aratchi

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BLOSSOMS OF HOPE 2025

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An Ikebana exhibition in aid of pediatric cancer patients

This Ikebana exhibition by the members of Ikebana International Sri Lanka Chapter #262, brings this ancient art form to life in support of a deeply meaningful cause: aiding the Pediatric Cancer ward of the Apeksha Cancer Hospital, Maharagama and offering hope to young warriors in their fight against illness.

Graceful, delicate, and filled with meaning—Ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arrangement, is more than just an expression of beauty; it is a reflection of life’s resilience and harmony. “Blossoms of Hope”, is a special Ikebana exhibition, on 29th March from 11a.m. to 7p.m. and 30th March from 10a.m. to 6p.m. at the Ivy Room, Cinnamon Grand Hotel and demonstrations will be from 4p.m. to 5p.m. on both days.

Each floral arrangement in this exhibition is a tribute to strength, renewal, and love. Carefully crafted by skilled Ikebana artists, who are members of the Chapter. These breathtaking displays symbolize the courage of children battling cancer, reminding us that even in adversity, beauty can bloom. The graceful lines, vibrant hues, and thoughtful compositions of Ikebana echo the journey of resilience, inspiring both reflection and compassion.

Visitors will not only experience the tranquility and elegance of Japanese floral art but will also have the opportunity to make a difference. Proceeds from “Blossoms of Hope” will go towards enhancing medical care, providing essential resources, and creating a more comforting environment for young patients and their families.

This exhibition is more than an artistic showcase—it is a gesture of kindness, a symbol of solidarity, and a reminder that hope, like a flower, can grow even in the most unexpected places. By attending and supporting “Blossoms of Hope”, you become a part of this journey, helping to bring light and joy into the lives of children who need it most.

Join in celebrating art, compassion, and the Power of Hope—one flower at a time.

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St. Anthony’s Church feast at Kachchativu island

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Fort Hammenhiel

The famous St. Anthony’s Church feast this year was held on 14 and 15 March. St. Anthony, as per Catholic belief, gives protection and looks after fishermen and seafarers like me. Many Buddhist seafarers are believers in St. Anthony and they usually keep a statue of the saint in their cabins in the ship or craft.

St. Anthony died on 13th June 1231 at age of 35 years, at Padua in Holy Roman Empire and was canonized on 30 May 1232 by Pope Gregory IX.

I was unable to attend last year’s feast as I was away in Pakistan as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner. I was more than happy to learn that Indians were also attending the feast this year and there would be 4,000 devotees.

I decided to travel to Kankesanturai (KKS) Jaffna by train and stay at my usual resting place, Fort Hammenhiel Resort, a Navy-run boutique hotel, which was once a prison, where JVP leaders, including Rohana Wijeweera were held during the 1971 insurrection. I was fortunate to turn this fort on a tiny islet in Kytes lagoon into a four-star boutique hotel and preserve Wijeweera’s handwriting in 2012, when I was the Commander Northern Naval Area.

I invite you to visit Fort Hammenhiel during your next trip to Jaffna and see Wijeweera’s handwriting.

The train left Colombo Fort Railway Station on time (0530 hrs/14th) and reached KKS at 1410 hrs. I was highly impressed with the cleanliness and quality of railway compartments and toilets. When I sent a photograph of my railway compartment to my son, he texted me asking “Dad, are you in an aircraft or in a train compartment? “

Well done Sri Lanka Railways! Please keep up your good work. No wonder foreign tourists love train rides, including the famous Ella Odyssey.

Travelling on board a train is comfortable, relaxed and stress free! As a frequent traveller on A 9 road to Jaffna, which is stressful due to oncoming heavy vehicles on. This was a new experience and I enjoyed the ride, sitting comfortably and reading a book received from my friend in New York- Senaka Senaviratne—’Hillbilly Elegy’ by US Vice President JD Vance. The book is an international best seller.

My buddy, Commodore (E) Dissanayake (Dissa), a brilliant engineer who built Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Plants for North, North Central and North Western provinces to help prevent chronic kidney disease is the Commodore Superintendent Engineering in the Northern Naval Area. He was waiting at the KKS railway station to receive me.

I enjoyed a cup of tea at Dissa’s chalet at our Northern Naval Command Headquarters in KKS and proceeded to Fort Hammenhiel at Karainagar, a 35-minute drive from KKS.

The acting Commanding Officer of Karainagar Naval Base (SLNS ELARA) Commander Jayawardena (Jaye) was there at Fort Hammenhiel Restaurant to have late lunch with me.

Jaye was a cadet at Naval and Maritime Academy, (NMA) Trincomalee, when I was Commandant in 2006, NMA was under artillery fire from LTTE twice, when those officers were cadets and until we destroyed enemy gun positions, and the army occupied Sampoor south of the Trincomalee harbour. I feel very proud of Jaye, who is a Commander now (equal to Army rank Lieutenant Colonel) and Commanding a very important Naval Base in Jaffna.

The present Navy Commander Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda had been in SLNS ELARA a few hours before me and he had left for the Delft Island on an inspection tour.

Commander Jaye was very happy because his Divisional Officer, when he was a cadet, was Vice Admiral Kanchana (then Lieutenant Commander). I had lunch and rested for a few hours before leaving Karainagar in an Inshore Patrol Craft heading to Kachchativu Island by1730 hrs.

The sea was very calm due to inter-monsoon weather and we reached Kachchativu Island by 1845 hrs. Devotees from both Sri Lanka and India had already reached the island. The Catholic Bishop of Sivagangai Diocese, Tamil Nadu India His Eminence Lourdu Anandam and Vicar General of Jaffna Diocese Very Rev Fr. PJ Jabaratnam were already there in Kachchativu together with more than 100 priests and nuns from Sri Lanka and India. It was a solid display of brotherhood of two neighbouring nations united together at this tiny island to worship God. They were joined by 8,000 devotees, with 4,000 from each country).

The church

All logistics—food, fresh water, medical facilities—were provided by the Sri Lanka Navy. Now, this festival has become a major annual amphibious operation for Navy’s Landing Craft fleet, led by SLNS Shakthi (Landing Ship tanks). The Navy establishes a temporary base in a remote island which does not have a drop of drinking water, and provides food and water to 8,000 persons. The event is planned and executed commendably well under Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Thusara Karunathilake. The Sri Lankan government allocates Rs 30 million from the annual national budget for this festival, which is now considered a national religious festival.

The Indian devotees enjoy food provided by SLN. They have the highest regard for our Navy. The local devotees are from the Jaffna Diocese, mainly from the Delft Island and helped SLN. Delft Pradeshiya Sabha and AGA Delft Island. A very efficient lady supervised all administrative functions on the Island. Sri Lanka Police established a temporary police station with both male and female officers.

As usual, the Sinhalese devotees came from Negombo, Chilaw, Kurunegala and other areas, bringing food enough for them and their Catholic brothers and sisters from India! Children brought biscuits, milk toffee, kalu dodol and cakes to share with Indian and Jaffna devotees.

In his sermon on 22nd December 2016, when he declared open the new Church built by SLN from financial contributions from Navy officers and sailors, Jaffna Bishop Rt Rev Dr Justin Bernard Ganapragasam said that day “the new Church would be the Church of Reconciliation”.

The church was magnificent at night. Sitting on the beach and looking at the beautiful moon-lit sea, light breeze coming from the North East direction and listening to beautiful hymns sung by devotees praising Saint Anthony, I thanked God and remembered all my friends who patrolled those seas and were no more with us. Their dedication, and bravery out at sea brought lasting peace to our beloved country. But today WHO REMEMBERS THEM?

The rituals continued until midnight. Navy Commander and the Indian Consul General in Jaffna Sai Murali attended the Main Mass.

The following morning (15) the Main Mass was attended by Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and his family. It was a great gesture by the Navy Commander to attend the feast with his family. I had a long discussion with Indian Consul General Jaffna Sai Mulari about frequent incidents of Indian trawlers engaging in bottom trawling in Sri Lankan waters and what we should do as diplomats to bring a lasting solution to this issue, as I was highly impressed with this young Indian diplomat.

The Vicar General of the Jaffna Diocese, my dear friend, Very Rev Father P J Jabarathnam also made an open appeal to all Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen to protect the environment. I was fortunate to attend yet another St. Anthony’s Church feast in Kachchativu.

By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne WV,

RWP& Bar, RSP, VSV, USP, NI (M) (Pakistan), ndc, psn,
Bsc (Hons) (War Studies) (Karachi) MPhil (Madras)
Former Navy Commander and Former Chief of Defense Staff
Former Chairman, Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd
Former Managing Director Ceylon Petroleum Corporation
Former High Commissioner to Pakistan

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