News
MMCA Sri Lanka showcases work of George Keyt
The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) works with many lenders and private collectors to curate its exhibitions, with the objective of helping the public to learn more about modern and contemporary Sri Lankan art. In 2021, the museum was given access to the George Keyt Foundation Collection (GKF) which is installed in various offices of the John Keells Holdings Group. It was during this research visit that Chief Curator Sharmini Pereira and Curator Sandev Handy found inspiration for the MMCA Sri Lanka’s second exhibition ‘Encounters’, which places four paintings by Keyt at the centre of four displays of art.
Speaking about the partnership Pereira said, “It was a great opportunity to have a guided tour of George Keyt’s works by Chair of the GKF, Mike Antoniasz, and to see physical works by Keyt because there are no paintings by him on public display that are easily accessible seven days a week.” This observation was a key factor that led Pereira and Handy to consider the inclusion of works by Keyt in ‘Encounters’ which opened to the public in February 2022 and is free of charge.
“The GKF was established in 1988 in the lifetime of the artist and was founded on the principles of promoting the works of emerging artists and Sri Lankan art. We are thrilled to work with an organisation such as the MMCA Sri Lanka, that creates knowledge and documents the works of Sri Lankan artists.” said the Chairperson of the George Keyt Foundation Mike Antoniasz.
Speaking about the works displayed Handy commented, “George Keyt is such a well known name in Sri Lanka – yet the public have limited knowledge of his actual works, due to a lack of access to them other than through publications. With the ‘Encounters’ exhibition we want to familiarise audiences with specific paintings by Keyt, choosing to look closely at four of his paintings namely ‘The Friends’ (1982) and ‘Pounding Paddy’ (1952) which were exhibited from 11 February to 22 May as part of ‘Encounters’ Rotation 1, and ‘The Offering (1949) and ‘Kandyan Bride’ (1951), which will be displayed as part of ‘Encounters’ Rotation 3 from 13 November 2022 until 19 March 2023.”
“Each of the four paintings provided Sharmini and I with the starting points for ‘Encounters’. We have created a conversation or ‘encounters’ with other artist’s works,” Sandev further noted. The juxtapositioning of artworks that explore similar subject matter from artists of different generations has been championed by the MMCA Sri Lanka.
One of the ongoing problems faced by the GKF is the costs for looking after their collection, which includes the conservation of the paintings and drawings by Keyt. As part of ‘Encounters’, four paintings by Keyt were successfully conserved. Speaking about the conservation work Udaya Hewawasam from ConsArt, commented “The biggest damage was to the wooden stretchers which were almost totally infected by insects (wood worms) thus providing no mechanical stability. In such cases there is no option other than to replace all the stretchers.”
One of the highlights of the conservation process was the discovery of information at the back of the paintings, including details from past exhibitions, and information on the paintings’ titles. Following standard conservation practises, Udaya confirmed how “After these labels were safely detached, they were de-acidified and then relocated to the back side of the painting in safe acid free sealed transparent cases.”
‘Encounters’ is generously supported by the European Union, Foundation for Arts Initiatives, John Keells Foundation, and the Nations Trust Bank. The MMCA Sri Lanka is an education-led initiative that aims to establish a public museum dedicated to the display, research, collection, and conservation of modern and contemporary art for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public, schools, and tourists.
by Rathindra Kuruwita
The government has received information that an extremist group is operating in Kalmunai, in the Eastern Province, says Cabinet spokesman and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa.Security forces and intelligence agencies are uncovering information on this group, he has said.
“Addressing the Parliament last week President Anura Kumara Dissanayake revealed some information about this group and the security forces are keeping an eye on the activities of this group,” Minister Jayatissa said, adding that the government would not allow any extremism or racism in any part of the country.
Minister Jayatissa said so in response to a question posed by a journalist about a statement made by Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala, who said there was an extremist group operating in Kalmunai, in the Eastern Province.
“At this moment, we have only received information about such a group operating in the Eastern Province. Intelligence and security agencies are in the process of verifying and investigating the matter. The President had also addressed some concerns related to national security during discussions with officials. What we can confirm right now is that the security forces are closely monitoring the situation,” the Minister said.
Addressing the Parliament last week, during the debate on the expenditure for the Defence Ministry, the President said that there were certain groups in the North and East who might stir up trouble and they may be having links to political forces that were afraid of ongoing investigations.
by Saman Indrajith
Opposition MPs, led by SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, yesterday, in Parliament, accused Speaker Jagath Wickremesinghe of preventing the MPs speaking in the House and thereby depriving them of their rights.
The Opposition made that allegation when the Speaker warned that he would be compelled to have MPs Ramanathan Archchuna and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam removed from the House for disrupting the proceedings.
The MPs alleged that extra-judicial killings were taking place in the North and the East just like in other areas of the country.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said the Speaker should not discriminate against the Opposition MPs.
“You give opportunities to other MPs to raise points of order but you don’t give that opportunity to these two MPs,” Premadasa said.
Leader of the House, Transport Minister Bimal Ratnayke, who responded, said there was no discrimination.
“We cannot afford to allow MPs to raise points of order regarding unimportant matters. What will happen if all 224 MPs raise points of order in that manner?
Drug procurement scam:
By A.J.A. Abeynayake
The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by Saman Ratnayake, a former Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Health.
Ratnayake sought a ruling that his fundamental rights had been violated due to his ‘unlawful’ arrest and remanding in custody by the CID in relation to the substandard human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) procurement case.
The order was issued when the petition was heard before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices Gamini Amarasekara, Kumuduni Wickremesinghe, and Sobhitha Rajakaruna.
On March 1, 2024, Saman Ratnayake, the then Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Health, was arrested by the CID in connection with the controversial procurement of substandard IVIG vials.
Before Ratnayake’s arrest, several others had been detained in connection with the drug procurement scam. These included former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandragupta, the Director of the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division (MSD), three other MSD officials, as well as the owner of the company alleged to have imported the batch of substandard immunoglobulin vials using forged documents.
In October 2023, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority revealed that forged documents had been submitted for Customs clearance in order to procure a batch of vials containing human immunoglobulin, an antibody produced by blood plasma cells. These vials later failed quality testing.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Galle, Matara, Kaluthara and Rathnapura districts in the evening or night
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Govt. confirms extremist group operating in East
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