My Star

As the night falls
At the edge of rock
In my favourite spot
I alone in my soul

Moonlit sky with the stars
Same as other days before
Try to find my star 
Among the  thousands of others

Seeked and searched 
Till dark cloud
Cover the moon
Now only hope 
Silver outline

By Senura Dinalankara

Tsunami - Effect to Sri Lanka 2004

Tsunami - How I saw it when I was 14 years old

Boxing day of 2004, 26th of December, Uduvap full moon poya day, was considered as one of the darkest day in Sri Lakan history, since it claimed that as one of the deadliest natural disasters ever recorded in virtue of an earthquake with magnitude of 9.1 struck beneath the Indian Ocean near Indonesian island of Sumatra.

By virtue of the complex slip on the Oceanic portion of the Indian Plate slides under Sumatra, beneath the part of the Eurasian Plate, where the tectonic plates in the area had been pushing and building pressure for thousand years, an enormous amount of overlying sea water pushed up into a tsunami wave that is a series of harbour waves whence the first wave may not be the most dangerous but the "wave-train"  comes as surges due to the repeated retreat and advancement in ocean, in every direction from the epicenter. It said that the energy the earthquake and tsunami dissipated had the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima type atomic bombs.

After a lag of several hours from the earthquake, as it hit Sri Lanka, most of the people were helpless as a kitten up a tree since the unawareness of tsunami and how the reactions ought to be taken. Though the people were unaware about the upcoming disaster at the moment, many people claimed that they saw animals fleeing for high grounds especially in Yala National Park, before the tsunami arrived and it was reported that very few animal bodies were found afterward.

In accordance with  Sri Lankan authorities, it reported 30,196 confirmed deaths, 21,411 injured people and one and half million of people were displaced from their home. Since the South and East coasts were the worst hit, it claimed many of the dead were adults and elderly, but the number of death had been continued to rise as the threat of catastrophically infectious diseases like cholera, chlamydia, diarrhea and measles were dispersed among people. It claimed that in  Ampara District and Galle District, 5000 and 4000 people died respectively. In the other hand holiday train which was named "Queen of the Sea", was disastrously struck near Telwatta as it travelled between Colombo and Galle carrying around 1,700 passengers on board.

Apart from the damages happened to the lives of people, the life style of people were upside down with the unexpected unbelievable disaster. As an instance, 259 km2 of paddy lands were destroyed in the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western coastal belts, by demolishing the agricultural sector of country. Aftermath most of he paddy lands became barrens since the extensive salinization  and depositing rubbish affected to the paddy cultivation. As the canals, drains were blocked, underground sources of water such as  wells were salinated, that led it to have issues in drinking water.

Aftermath of the disaster most of the countries, Non Government Organizations and various volunteer service organizations gave their hand to Sri Lankans to uplift and recover the lifestyle of Sri Lankans.

Since then various steps have been taken in order to minimize the affect of natural disaster like tsunami. At that day, had the people been aware about the tsunami, we would have saved more lives of people and souls. Since the unawareness cost it as deadliest, awareness programmes ought to be conducted to acknowledge the people. It was reported that some people could have saved their lives, if they had known how to swim. Therefore being aware in swimming as a life saviour, would be helpful to elude from the natural disasters. In the other hand, it is necessary to continue and establish warning systems from earthquake experts. The development and funding in the region for the early warning system is a necessary precaution to be taken to mitigate the catastrophes like tsunami. 

Today after 11 years, many of the communities have recovered as Phoenix recovering from its ash, though painful harsh memories remain in hearts and souls. In remembrance of the thousands of victims all over the country memorials are held by remembering the loss of dear and near ones.

Back To My Village

After five years, since the schooling was over, having been to university by dint of having education further, I came bake to my old home village where I used to live for more than twenty years. Having compared the last five years that I wasn't in my home and the two decades that I spent my childhood, I was amused by conceiving the rapid difference in the village with new buildings, factories and vehicles.

Though I wandered through out the area to see my old friends, none of them were met, but only my school master with his vary looking grin, who was arriving after having taught children in the school.

Having bored and tired, for the sake of relaxment, sat on the bank of the paddy field near by, leaning to one of the trunk of shady tree which was glided by evening sun, I leisurely stretched my legs in order to have a rest to my aching body. Having smelt the fresh fragrance of the atmosphere, it drove me back to my past when I used to live as free as bird. Feeling the windy gale, I was in memorizing my childhood and school time, until I was disrupted by a giggling noise of lovely couple who was taking their leave at the end of the strand in front of me.

Being shocked, having seen the girl whom I had a crush in my school time, I understood how rapidly the lives of the people had  been changing. Feeling sorrow in my mind and soul though I didn't feel jealous on them, having wished them a happy and joy life forever, I quietly bid adieu to the memorable panoramic place where I sat whole the afternoon solitary. 

Having last glimpse in tighten throat to the lovely couple who were shading away from my view over the dried brown paddy field, I felt my eyes were wetting, though I was pretty sure that, if the loving memory of the girl didn't blur my eyes with tears, the embracing blowing wind would do it.

By Senura Dinalankara

Fly

When the night fall
And I see you
Standing in the moon light
Like an angel
You lighten my world up 
And it feels so right with you

I see myself falling down
To the land of love
Girl you are so beautiful
Can't believe you are mine
And you are the reason why
I can't sleep at night
Come with me

We are gonna fly so high 
We are gonna reach the sky
We are gonna find a place among the stars
I'm not leaving without you baby

We are gonna fly so high
We are gonna reach the sky
We are gonna find a place among the stars
I'm not leaving without you baby

We are gonna fly so high
Gonna reach up to the stars

Since the first day
That I saw you
Standing in the star light
Like an angel
I'd know you be the one
Everything feels right with you

I would meet you on our favourite spot
In the land of love
Girl you are so wonderful
Just can't believe you are mine
And you are the reason why
I have those sleepless nights
Come with me

We are gonna fly so high
We are gonna find a place
Among the stars
I'm not leaving without you baby
 
We are gonna fly so high
Gonna reach up to the stars

We are gonna fly so high
Gonna reach up to the stars

The way you move your body
The way you make me feel
What you do is magic
The love we have is real
But then I open my eyes
And the fairytale just dies
But the girl I promise when I fall asleep again

We are gonna fly so high 
We are gonna reach the sky
We are gonna find a place among the stars
I'm not leaving without you baby

We are gonna fly so high
Gonna reach up to the stars

We are gonna fly so high
Gonna reach up to the stars

Composed and performed by Zew Viktor (zewviktor@gmail.com)


Having browsed through the internet I found this wonderful song written and composed by a Swedish composer named Zew Viktor.

Though the words are simple, it touches the heart of mine in various ways. The rhythm and melody of the song fly me in to the sky beneath the stars in to the land of love.

Video link for the song:

The Old Coin

After the work done,
Went back to the place
I used to work
Till my fourscore

Shed my sweat and blood
Everything I had,
Gave my best and years of mine
To uplift it from the scratch

But now,
They asked fro me,
"Who are you?"
Then,
Myself questioned it.

Dumped my heart and soul
With no answer.
Only the drops of tear
Wet my face,
"Am I old coin
With no value"

By Senura Dinalankara

My Interpretation About The Actual Task Of The Sigiriya Frescoes

Earlier being an ancient rock-shelter monastery, converted into an entrenched palace and city by King Kasyapa I in the 5th century whence Anuradhapura Kingdom, Sigiriya has become a world heritage for its famous frescoes with the subject matter of glamorous ladies. Though it said in the graffities of the mirror-wall that there were around 500 paintings, nowadays only 19 figures have been survived.

Having considered the female figures which are depicted as portraits floating above the clouds, they were painted in two complexions as golden colour and dusky hues with extremely fine raiments, jackets, strip of cloth across the breasts and from the waist downward dhoti or bifurcated garments. Having covered with numerous jewellery girdles in the necks and arms, rosettes decks for their elegance coiffures, the ladies carry flowers such as lotus, water lily, sun flowers and temple flowers etc. in their hands as well as in trays borne by the dusky hues complexion females.

Caused to much debate, discussion and disagreement, the scholars, archaeologists and art lovers have been tending to express their interpretation about Sigiriya maidens in various methodologies in virtue of debating who were these ladies, what was the secret message that they were bearing.

In accordance with the hypothesis of archaeologist H.C.P Bell,the paintings were of the ladies of Kasyapa's court in the devotional procession to the shrine at Pidurangala. Since, in order to the Buddhist culture and tradition women in Anuradhapura era and even today haven't been wearing colorful clothes, decorative jewellery and ornaments in virtue of parading to worship in a temple, but only as white clad devotees; the conjecture of H.C.P Bell is hardly to be proven.

Providing the evidences in ancient literature, archaeologist Senarath Paranavithana interpreted Sigiriya maidens as lightening princesses (vijju latha) and cloud damsels (megha latha) in Alakamanda, the abode of Kuvera, as the entire palace complex is a symbolic reconstruction of Alakamanda. Since the interpretation has the supportive background of literature, the hypothesis of Senarath Paranavithana cannot be easily eluded.

Having considered the conjecture of scholar Ananda Coomaraswamy, in keeping with well established South Asian traditions he identified the Sigiriya maidens as apsaras who are often represented in art and literature as celestial nymphs, carried flowers and scattered them over kings and heroes as celebration of victory.

Having taken an account the hypothesis and conjectures of archaeologists, scholars and art lovers, my interpretation is a mingle of suppositions of the scholars.

Exceptionally having chosen to use the vast, wealth and energy of his kingdom in creating the palace complex, king Kasyapa I might have the perception of Alakamada to demonstrate in Sigiriya as appearing among the clouds and mist.

The rich raiments, sophisticated clothing, jewellery adornments, lively appearance, glamorous complexion, enigmatic smile, rendition of facial expressions and exceptional hand gestures suggest that these ladies were not common, civil, normal and contemporary women in Anuradhapura era, but the ladies of King Kasyapa's court or his harem with well trained behavior for exquisite life style under the guidance. 

Figure of Old Maiden

Since the figure of old maiden was depicted among the frescoes of maidens, she might be the person who trained and guided the ladies of Kind Kasyapa's harem.

Golden color and dusky hues complexion girls might be respectively the princesses or queens and their maids.

   

In my point of view, these glamorous ladies metaphorized the calm, elegant, ideal and sensuous beauty of the king's harem with the dignity of social standards, who were to be exhibited and admired, but not to be touched. Floating among the clouds, portrayed with flowers to scatter and shower upon the king, they were intended to evoke voluptuous desirable sense by projecting the opulence grandeur of powerful King Kasyapa I.

Therefore my interpretation about the task of the Sigiriya frescoes is a compound mingle of ideas and conjectures to exhibit that the Sigiriya maidens are a celebration of beauty.

E-Nite 2015 Souvenir

E-Nite 2015 Souvenir Cover Page

Since the event of  "E-Night - 2015", the official camaraderie event of the Department of Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering in University of Moratuwa, the event was to enhance the bond and interaction between different batches of students studying in the department.

The souvenir was prepared to cherish memeories of the event as well as to spread the information on activities carried out by the department among various communities connected with the university.

Having considered creating the cover page, I used the slang words in 3 languages such as Sinhala, English and Tamil which are being used in the university and the department, as the leaves of the monumental mighty tree that comprised with 101 batchmates and family of Department of Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering in University of Moratuwa.

In order of designing the cover page, having drawn the tree and the leaves of words by hand, I scanned it by virtue of using Adobe Photoshop to complete the design.

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කහ කුරුලු ජෝඩුවක්
වෙලා අද්දරේ ඉඳන්
පෙම් කවියකුත් කියන්
ඉගිල ගිය ආදරෙන්..

තව කහ කිරිල්ලියක්
ගුරු පාර බදු අරන්
පොත් බෑගයේ දමන්
රැගෙන ගියා සිත සොරෙන්..

දුක හිතෙන කතාවක්
හිත මිතුරු යාලුවෙක්
කහ කිරිල්ලිව අරන්
ඉගිල ගිහින් මට හොරෙන්..

සැබෑ නොවන සිහිනයක්
සිත තැවෙමි මම තවත්
කහ කිරිල්ලිය නැතත්
තව අය ඉඳීවී මටත්...

Lyrics by Nimesh Madhushanka Batapola
Drawing by Senura Dinalankara

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Drawing by Senura Dinalankara