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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.

7,038 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.

9,404 views

0
J. Jegatheeswaran

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

10,006 views

3
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.

6,174 views

2
Bala Tampoe

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

58,952 views

6
Justinus Lawrence

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

2,829 views

0
Harendranath Dunuwille

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

11,318 views

5
Dr Lester James Peries

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

12,249 views

2
Upasena Thenuwara

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

12,155 views

7
Shastriya Kanapathypillai Nallathamby

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

8,065 views

5
M.H.A Gaffar

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

16,900 views

10
Seenithamby

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

12,890 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.

32,970 views

23
B. Rajapakse

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

8,656 views

4
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.

11,942 views

4
Sithy Muhsin

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

9,802 views

4
Edwin Ariyadasa

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

5,415 views

0
Jaye Mudalali

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

9,344 views

3
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.

6,229 views

1
C.K. Sankarakumaran

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

13,107 views

8
Helga de Silva Blow Perera

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

30,328 views

11
Judge Christopher Gregory Weeramantry

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

10,215 views

6
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.

5,007 views

1
Panchanaada

The Kandyan drummer explains how he got his name.

14,413 views

4
Veerakathy

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

56,716 views

32
Chandra T. A. Schaffter

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

11,327 views

4
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.

21,205 views

5
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.

6,506 views

3
V.S. Alagan

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

13,248 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.

2,555 views

0
Sister Pushpam Gnanapragasam

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

10,588 views

3
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.

2,508 views

0
Jayaseelan

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

3,750 views

0
Mrs. Subramanium

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

36,463 views

18
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.

11,435 views

4
S. Thoradeniya

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

20,446 views

11
Father Harry Miller S.J.

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

23,308 views

15

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

Lawrence Saravanamuttu

Mrs Sui-King Chang

J. Jegatheeswaran

Inayet Akbarally

Bala Tampoe

Justinus Lawrence

Harendranath Dunuwille

Dr Lester James Peries

Upasena Thenuwara

Shastriya Kanapathypillai Nallathamby

M.H.A Gaffar

Seenithamby

Dominic Jeeva

B. Rajapakse

Venerable Walatara Nayaka Thero

Sithy Muhsin

Edwin Ariyadasa

Jaye Mudalali

Selvam Croos Moraes

C.K. Sankarakumaran

Helga de Silva Blow Perera

Judge Christopher Gregory Weeramantry

Christy Mihindukulasooriya

Panchanaada

Veerakathy

Chandra T. A. Schaffter

Mohammed Hussein Ismail

Annaviyar Arasaratnam

V.S. Alagan

Gerald Fonseka

Sister Pushpam Gnanapragasam

Joseph Chooge

Jayaseelan

Mrs. Subramanium

Mustaffa Mohamed Atham Bawa

S. Thoradeniya

Father Harry Miller S.J.