Sunday Times 2
Buddhi Keerthisena receives Life Time Award
View(s):Buddhi Keerthisena, well known for his pioneering work in the batik industry received the prestigious HSBC Colombo Fashion Week Life Time Award for his contribution to the fashion industry through his batik creations.
The award was presented to Buddhi by designer Yoland Aluvihare on the final day of the HSBC CFW at the Colombo Hilton last month.
Buddhi with Darshi Keerthisena
Starting out with batik as a hobby, Buddhi’s batik creations soon became popular not only in Sri Lanka but in other countries and he found that his hobby was gradually transformed into a full time career. He held his first overseas exhibition in 1974 and since then has held over a hundred fashion shows and exhibitions in countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Italy, Austria, the UK, USA, Seychelles, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and France, earning valuable foreign exchange for the country in the process.
When interest in batik declined in the 70′s it was Buddhi who made it fashionable to wear batik and got the many tourists visiting the country interested in visiting batik workshops and buying batiks.
Buddhi, Yoland and Arya at HSBC CFW
Buddhi’s creations have been worn by the highest in the land from leaders like the world’s first women Premier Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, former Presidents Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga, R. Premadasa, D.B. Wijetunga and also President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.
Many celebrities have been seen in Buddhi’s creations and popular filmstars from Vijaya Kumaratunga, Anoja Weerasinghe, Lucky Dias, Sabeetha Perera, Sanath Gunathilake. Sriyani Amarasena and Jeevan Kumaratinga have all modelled his creations free, helping popularise his work.
Buddhi is currently Chairman of the National Crafts Council and is still passionate about working to improve the batik industry and helping empower rural women throughout the country.
Buddhi’s legacy is now successfully spearheaded by his talented daughter Darshi Keerthisena, who has successfully given batik a very Sri Lankan fashion identity