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

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.

6,891 views

1
Haniah Sultanbawa

The history teacher talks about the challenges she faced in becoming the first Muslim woman from Galle to graduate from university.

21,655 views

12
Lejmal Hussein

The migrant worker reflects on the highs and lows of working in Saudi Arabia for nineteen years away from his family and hometown of Negombo.

5,052 views

3
T. Arasanayagam

The English teacher talks about his childhood memories of Jaffna and his discovery of "the other".

8,582 views

2
Jean Arasanayagam

The writer reflects on her Burger identity and her marriage to an atypical Jaffna man.

29,608 views

18
Harendranath Dunuwille

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

11,101 views

5
V.S. Alagan

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

13,023 views

5
Sister Pushpam Gnanapragasam

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

10,409 views

3
Dr. Sivarajah

The community doctor reflects on his years of living in Jaffna and how these challenges keep him on the peninsula.

10,993 views

4
Father Harry Miller S.J.

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

22,934 views

15
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.

9,284 views

0
Seenithamby

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

12,646 views

5
Dominic Jeeva

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

32,296 views

23
Mrs. Subramanium

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

35,565 views

18
Samarakone Bandara

The ritualist talks about his connection to the spirit world and why he came to Kandy.

5,395 views

1
Mrs. Rasheed

The homemaker remembers how she coped after the death of her husband to raise five children alone.

10,054 views

7
Father Vito Perniola

The one hundred year old priest came to Ceylon in 1936. As a linguist, he learnt Pali and even taught the ancient language to monks and nuns.

5,633 views

2
K. C. Kodituwakku

The retired bank manager remembers Jaffna past and present.

10,123 views

6
Dushyanthi Nugawela Wijeyawardena

The Kandyan remembers how, with her father's Buddhist roots and mother's Christian faith, her parents raised the family to observe both.

16,239 views

10
Helga de Silva Blow Perera

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

30,106 views

11
Mohammed Yassin

The businessman talks about his expulsion from his hometown of Jaffna.

18,667 views

10
Dr Lester James Peries

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

12,037 views

2
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.

6,024 views

2
Justinus Lawrence

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

2,498 views

0
Mrs Kandiah

The English teacher had never even been to England but through poems she could travel to the English countryside.

9,357 views

14
Margaret Outschoorn

The Portuguese Burgher matriarch from Batticaloa talks about displacement and loss, and how she still misses her old life in the Dutch Bar.

20,646 views

17
C.K. Sankarakumaran

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

12,845 views

8
Edwin Ariyadasa

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

5,290 views

0

Portraits of Sri Lanka's elders in sound and image

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

Lawrence Saravanamuttu

Haniah Sultanbawa

Lejmal Hussein

T. Arasanayagam

Jean Arasanayagam

Harendranath Dunuwille

V.S. Alagan

Sister Pushpam Gnanapragasam

Dr. Sivarajah

Father Harry Miller S.J.

Mrs Sui-King Chang

Seenithamby

Dominic Jeeva

Mrs. Subramanium

Samarakone Bandara

Mrs. Rasheed

Father Vito Perniola

K. C. Kodituwakku

Dushyanthi Nugawela Wijeyawardena

Helga de Silva Blow Perera

Mohammed Yassin

Dr Lester James Peries

Inayet Akbarally

Justinus Lawrence

Mrs Kandiah

Margaret Outschoorn

C.K. Sankarakumaran

Edwin Ariyadasa