It was at the foot of the mighty Lakegala, in remote Na-ela off Meemure that Moragahapeliye Udaya Kumarasinghe, 28, drew his inspiration for the two exhibitions that he was able to hold in Kandy.
Sketching and dabbling in oil paintings while sitting in his humble home which faces Lakegala, currently he has put his artistic aspirations on hold. For, he has to feed and clothe his wife, Dilahara Chathurangani, and tiny daughter, Gowravie Visakha.
So he walks 15km interior, kitul medala, hakuru hadanna (to tap the kitul tree and then make jaggery). This is what he sells to keep the home fires burning.
This young man who has passed his Advanced Level from Poramadulla Central College has not taken brush to palette for nearly two years, for he just cannot sacrifice any time from his livelihood now as he has a family to look after.
His family is just one of 12 in remote Na-ela. One has to go 28km from Hunnasgiriya through Karambeketiya (which is 6km before Meemure) to Kumbukgolla and then onto Na-ela. The village is accessed by a jungle track and no vans ply in this area.
Udaya is content but sad and disillusioned for he feels that though the massive Lakegala has not changed over the centuries, the people of Meemure have.
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| It’s a hard life for Udaya and family (seen below) |
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| The majestic Lakegala that inspired Udaya |
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