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

Shastriya Kanapathypillai Nallathamby

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

7,140 views

5
Upasena Thenuwara

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

11,076 views

6
Veerakathy

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

53,591 views

31
Bala Tampoe

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

11,866 views

5
J. Jegatheeswaran

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

9,047 views

3
B. Rajapakse

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

7,781 views

3
Dominic Jeeva

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

29,947 views

22
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.

2,115 views

0
Helga de Silva Blow Perera

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

28,579 views

11
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.

5,373 views

2
V.S. Alagan

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

12,385 views

5
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.

11,009 views

4
Justinus Lawrence

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

1,913 views

0
Father Harry Miller S.J.

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

21,390 views

11
S. Thoradeniya

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

19,128 views

11
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.

5,607 views

3
Seenithamby

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

11,981 views

5
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.

5,704 views

1
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.

5,808 views

1
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.

8,348 views

0
Jayaseelan

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

3,013 views

0
Harendranath Dunuwille

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

10,486 views

5
Mrs. Subramanium

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

33,099 views

18
Judge Christopher Gregory Weeramantry

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

8,815 views

6
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.

2,008 views

0
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.

3,650 views

1
Sister Pushpam Gnanapragasam

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

9,684 views

3
M.H.A Gaffar

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

15,890 views

10
Panchanaada

The Kandyan drummer explains how he got his name.

11,917 views

4
Sithy Muhsin

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

7,269 views

3
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.

19,941 views

5
C.K. Sankarakumaran

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

11,892 views

7
Edwin Ariyadasa

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

4,537 views

0
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.

10,692 views

4
Jaye Mudalali

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

8,572 views

3
Dr Lester James Peries

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

11,046 views

2
Chandra T. A. Schaffter

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

10,339 views

4

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

Shastriya Kanapathypillai Nallathamby

Upasena Thenuwara

Veerakathy

Bala Tampoe

J. Jegatheeswaran

B. Rajapakse

Dominic Jeeva

Gerald Fonseka

Helga de Silva Blow Perera

Inayet Akbarally

V.S. Alagan

Venerable Walatara Nayaka Thero

Justinus Lawrence

Father Harry Miller S.J.

S. Thoradeniya

Annaviyar Arasaratnam

Seenithamby

Selvam Croos Moraes

Lawrence Saravanamuttu

Mrs Sui-King Chang

Jayaseelan

Harendranath Dunuwille

Mrs. Subramanium

Judge Christopher Gregory Weeramantry

Joseph Chooge

Christy Mihindukulasooriya

Sister Pushpam Gnanapragasam

M.H.A Gaffar

Panchanaada

Sithy Muhsin

Mohammed Hussein Ismail

C.K. Sankarakumaran

Edwin Ariyadasa

Mustaffa Mohamed Atham Bawa

Jaye Mudalali

Dr Lester James Peries

Chandra T. A. Schaffter