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i am is a narratives project exploring Sri Lanka's regional identity in sound and image

Dr Lester James Peries

The filmmaker talks about his love for cinema and his groundbreaking early films.

12,681 views

2
Mustaffa Mohamed Atham Bawa

The shopkeeper reflects on the terrible incidents of violence he has witnessed in Batticaloa and how communities have tried to move on together.

11,025 views

4
Bala Tampoe

Bala Tampoe talks about his career as a union leader and the psychology behind a successful strike.

12,414 views

5
J. Jegatheeswaran

The taxi driver remembers the times of scarcity and the need to adapt to survive the war years.

9,394 views

3
Jayaseelan

The bathhouse owner talks about the changes in his life, to the baths that he inherited, as well as to Kochikade.

3,245 views

0
Mrs. Subramanium

”Simplicity is the mark of genius”: the 82 year old explains why she refuses to leave Jaffna.

34,604 views

18
Judge Christopher Gregory Weeramantry

The senior-most retired judge in Sri Lanka talks about his campaign against nuclear weapons.

10,122 views

6
Inayet Akbarally

The trader tells the story of his great grandfather and how he became the first member of the Dawoodi Bohra community to set foot in Ceylon.

5,778 views

2
Sister Pushpam Gnanapragasam

The senior nun reflects on why Jaffna people describe themselves as "our people".

10,071 views

3
Jaye Mudalali

The fisherman from Galle remembers his friends from Batticoloa and his father who raised him to be fearless at sea.

8,927 views

3
Justinus Lawrence

Justinus took over the garage in Negombo from his grandfather. He talks about the challenges he faces in running it today.

2,074 views

0
Seenithamby

The fisherman talks about the changes to his way of life and his father who taught him to fish.

12,358 views

5
Lawrence Saravanamuttu

Lawrence Saravanamuttu's shop is over 150 years old and famous for selling cigars. He talks about the Jaffna cigar popular among Negombo fishermen.

6,538 views

1
Father Harry Miller S.J.

The Jesuit priest from Louisiana explains why Batticaloa is the only home he knows.

22,553 views

12
Annaviyar Arasaratnam

The koothu master talks about his connection to this ancient art form and his struggle to keep this traditional Tamil theatre alive today.

5,978 views

3
Helga de Silva Blow Perera

Helga talks about her home and "anti-hotel", the sumptuous "Helga's Folly".

29,788 views

11
M.H.A Gaffar

The museum owner reflects on his role as head trustee of the mosque at Kataragama.

16,497 views

10
Christy Mihindukulasooriya

The first man to play the role of Jesus Christ in the Duwa Passion Plays shares his anecdotes of playing Jesus for forty years.

4,266 views

1
Chandra T. A. Schaffter

The former cricketer talks about the evolution of club cricket and the potential of the game to reconcile communities.

10,866 views

4
Upasena Thenuwara

The VW Beetle mechanic talks about how he succeeded in setting up a garage of his own and his longstanding customers.

11,827 views

6
Dominic Jeeva

The activist talks about growing up with caste, and why, despite its flaws, he's still proud to be a Jaffna man.

31,848 views

22
Shastriya Kanapathypillai Nallathamby

This shastriya or astrologer is famous in Batticaloa for his skill in accurately foretelling the future.

7,594 views

5
Mrs Sui-King Chang

Mrs Sui-King Chang left Hong Kong in the 1950s and today is one of the last surviving first generation Chinese migrants.

9,129 views

0
Harendranath Dunuwille

The Kandyan lawyer recalls how the southern insurrection affected his chances of political office and why he belongs in Kandy.

10,925 views

5
Gerald Fonseka

The father's ethical treatment of his workers on the coconut plantations and mills in the 1950s inspired the son to do the same.

2,261 views

0
S. Thoradeniya

The retired principal talks about meeting his lifetime goal of translating his favorite book.

19,892 views

11
Sithy Muhsin

The retired teacher and dresser of brides reflects on the changing styles of Muslim women.

7,702 views

3
Venerable Walatara Nayaka Thero

The chief monk shows off his collection of vintage vinyl records and explains why appreciating music and being a monk are not mutually exclusive.

11,491 views

4
C.K. Sankarakumaran

The guarantee shroff reflects on his connections to his two homes of Kandy and Jaffna.

12,453 views

7
B. Rajapakse

The dance instructor reflects on the tradition of dance in his hometown of Amunugama.

8,119 views

3
Panchanaada

The Kandyan drummer explains how he got his name.

12,581 views

4
Edwin Ariyadasa

The veteran journalist looks back on 64 years with Lake House as a reporter and editor.

4,895 views

0
Veerakathy

The 105 year old tobacco farmer talks about a way of life that has helped him live a very long life.

55,607 views

31
Selvam Croos Moraes

A Bharatha man reminisces on his discovery of a photograph of the Donoughmore Commission, in which his father was a staff member.

5,889 views

1
V.S. Alagan

The cemetery keeper talks about digging graves of different faiths and how he overcame his initial occupational fears and hazards.

12,827 views

5
Joseph Chooge

The prayer leader recalls his days of singing hymns in Latin and how the lives of people going to church in Negombo were affected by language changes.

2,149 views

0
Mohammed Hussein Ismail

The retired jewellery shop worker talks about his ten years in Trincomalee where he mingled with military men at the end of the second world war.

20,461 views

5

Portraits of Sri Lanka's elders in sound and image

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About

i am is a narratives project exploring Sri Lanka's regional identity in sound and image

Dr Lester James Peries

Mustaffa Mohamed Atham Bawa

Bala Tampoe

J. Jegatheeswaran

Jayaseelan

Mrs. Subramanium

Judge Christopher Gregory Weeramantry

Inayet Akbarally

Sister Pushpam Gnanapragasam

Jaye Mudalali

Justinus Lawrence

Seenithamby

Lawrence Saravanamuttu

Father Harry Miller S.J.

Annaviyar Arasaratnam

Helga de Silva Blow Perera

M.H.A Gaffar

Christy Mihindukulasooriya

Chandra T. A. Schaffter

Upasena Thenuwara

Dominic Jeeva

Shastriya Kanapathypillai Nallathamby

Mrs Sui-King Chang

Harendranath Dunuwille

Gerald Fonseka

S. Thoradeniya

Sithy Muhsin

Venerable Walatara Nayaka Thero

C.K. Sankarakumaran

B. Rajapakse

Panchanaada

Edwin Ariyadasa

Veerakathy

Selvam Croos Moraes

V.S. Alagan

Joseph Chooge

Mohammed Hussein Ismail