News
The sculptor returns to the House adorned with his majestic creations
Picture from the past: Mr. Surendra at work in Parliament. Pic by Indika Handuwala
Parliamentarians across the board feted Kalakeerthi Wimal Wickrama Surendra, the man whose creations adorn the interior of the Parliament Chamber and who is also credited with sculpting the design on the impressive silver plated door at the main entrance leading to the Parliament Chamber.
Speaker Karu Jayasuirya invited Mr. Surendra as a special guest earlier this month and introduced him to the Parliamentarians with an announcement from the Chair, bringing to their attention his presence in the gallery of the House.
Mr. Surendra’s selection to be the leading sculptor of the new Parliament building being constructed at Sri Jayawardanapura-Kotte in the early 1980s, came by chance, when he was introduced to the chief architect of the new building, the late Geoffrey Bawa. By then, Mr. Surendra had made his mark as a sculptor, having undertaken work in temples, churches etc.“When I met Geoffrey Bawa, he was impressed with some of the work I had done previously and told me he wanted a design for the Chamber door to resemble some of the designs found in ancient stone inscriptions. The following day itself I drew a design and showed it to him. He liked it a great deal,” Mr. Surendra told the Sunday Times.
“The next was a meeting with the then President J.R. Jayewardene. Mr Bawa showed him the diagram and told him, ‘This is like what I had in mind’. President Jayewardene replied,’ OK Gefffory,” Mr. Surendra recalled.
Thus began a working partnership with Mr. Bawa which lasted around three years, during which, Mr. Surendra, along with two to three of his assistants, undertook the arduous task of building the 12 foot by 12 foot door made of copper and plated with silver. “It took us many months to do the engravings on the door. My hands would have struck the hammer thousands of times to get the design to perfection,” he said.
Wimal Wickrama Surendra
But Mr. Surendra‘s work did not end with putting the final touches on the door. Much of the interior designs in the Chamber too have been his creations. The 18 silver flags- banners and standards of Lankan Kings, Temples and Korales which are mounted on ornamental stainless steel posts are also his creations. “A special advisory committee was set up to choose which flags would be used for display in the Chamber, and it was they who decided on these 18 flags,” he said. The two clocks on either side of the Chamber are also mounted on creations by him. The new Parliament was declared open in April 1982.
“For me this was not a “rajakariya” but a “devakariya”. I went to Kataragama and made a vow before I began my work at the new Parliament building. After the work was completed successfully, I fulfilled my vow by sculpting a statue of God Kataragama and donating it. This is now worshipped by millions of people,” said Mr. Surendra, who, at the age of 80, still busies himself doing small sculptures.
He, however, lamented that artists in the country do not get enough support, especially in the twilight of their lives, when they are no longer able to sustain themselves financially by their work. Mr. Surendra who has undergone an operation on one knee, now awaits for some assistance to get the other knee operated.
Though a little disappointed with the maintenance of the art works inside the Chamber, he is thankful for the invitation from Speaker Jayasuriya and the arrangements made for him to visit the Parliament Chamber recently to see his creations displayed in all their glory.