Category: Daily Financial Times

Following the death of former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena, startling revelations are coming to light on how he and the then Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe took detrimental decisions that continuously incurred heavy losses to the airline.

These unfavourable decisions were taken by the top management with the alleged blessings of then President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as revealed at the Board of Inquiry (BoI) that conducted investigations into the irregularities that occurred at SriLankan Airlines (SLA) prior to 2015.

Among the damaging decisions taken were the award of the onboard duty-free services contract in violation of airline tender procedures, a questionable transfer granted to a Senior Country Manageress, handing over SLA and SriLankan Cargo security operations to a security firm that did not have any aviation security experience, and the dubious release of a cabin crew member to work for Namal Rajapaksa.

Rigged tenders

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BoI) has unearthed how former Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe and CEO Kapila Chandrasena were involved in awarding the supply and delivery contract for wines and champagne for Business and Economy Classes to M/S Phoenix, in violation of the airline’s tender procedure.

Chapter 4, Section 3 (Pages 48 to 59) of the BoI report on SLA extensively details how the onboard duty-free services contract was awarded to M/S Phoenix in complete violation of SLA’s tender procedure, for a contract value of USD 8,209,418 (approximately Rs. 1.06 billion).

SLA called for tenders (Tender No: 201130129) on 29 May 2011 for the supply and delivery of wines and champagne for Business and Economy Classes, requesting a minimum credit period of 30 to 60 days. Forty-six local and international bidders submitted bids, of which 17 were shortlisted. Of the shortlisted suppliers, three agreed to a 90-day credit period, one agreed to 75 days, and the rest agreed to 60-day credit periods. By 16 August 2011, they had supplied wines and champagne for tasting.

However, in September or October 2011, M/S Phoenix approached Wickremasinghe and Chandrasena seeking the tender contract as the exclusive supplier of wines and champagne onboard.

Following discussions with M/S Phoenix, Chandrasena gave verbal instructions to the Commercial Procurement Division to actively explore the proposal submitted by the company, overlooking the 17 shortlisted bidders. On 27 January 2012, only the wines and champagne supplied by Phoenix were tasted and assessed. More startling was the fact that the wine and champagne tasting panel was selected not by the airline but by Phoenix, and its CEO/MD, Raju Chandiram, was a member of the tasting panel.

It is alleged that, due to the intervention of Wickremasinghe and Chandrasena, SLA made a conscious decision to overlook the 17 shortlisted bidders without even tasting the wines and champagne they had provided, and instead arranged to taste only the samples provided by Phoenix. Without informing the 17 shortlisted suppliers, SLA selected Phoenix as the supplier of wines and champagne.

Following this, Kapila Chandrasena and Head of Finance Dissanayake submitted two separate board papers – No: FIN/2012/03/18 offering the contract for the supply of wines and champagne for onboard use, and No: FIN/2012/03/19 cancelling the tender called on 29 May 2011.

Thereafter, the Board approved the request and entered into a contract with Phoenix on 27 June 2012, even though the company had not bid for the original tender and was selected in blatant disregard of SLA tender procedures.

Vehicle spare parts

Meanwhile, Chapter 5, Section 4 of the BoI report (Pages 82 to 83) details how the London-based Senior Country Manager was suddenly transferred in 2012 because she objected to sending unaccompanied cabin baggage on flight UL 504 carrying vehicle spare parts for Rohitha Rajapaksa, the youngest son of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Desiree Premachandra was the Country Manageress for Ireland and the UK, based in London. Premachandra was appointed to the post in September 2011 and was suddenly transferred in May 2012 to Hong Kong to complete the balance period of her contract because she objected to sending unaccompanied cabin baggage to Colombo.

As per the investigation carried out, in April 2012, the British authorities were to conduct a random check on baggage at Heathrow Airport. The Country Manageress was informed by station staff that there had been regular unaccompanied baggage from the Sri Lankan High Commission in London, addressed to the Presidential Secretariat, containing vehicle spare parts for the President’s son, Rohitha Rajapaksa, and that this may be detected by UK security authorities. Flight UL 504 was scheduled to leave London at 21:35 hrs on 24 May 2012.

Soon after the Country Manageress was informed about the unaccompanied baggage and the possible conduct of a random check by the British authorities, she inquired whether this practice had existed for a long time. It had come to her notice that bags brought by the Protocol Officer, weighing approximately 25 to 35 kg, had been sent to Sri Lanka in the past as well.

Premachandra then found out that the unaccompanied cabin bags had been sent not as diplomatic bags but with a ‘Rush Tag’, even though there were no airway bills or claimants on board. A Rush Tag is an identification tag used for re-dispatched baggage, including baggage that is lost, unclaimed, or mishandled.

It had been a practice for UL flights from London to carry these bags in the cabin and hand them over to the ‘authorities’ in Colombo, namely the Presidential Secretariat. Although this method had been carried out on several occasions, it was known only to a few identified officials.

Before the UK authorities checked these bags, the Country Manageress informed the Protocol Officer of the Sri Lankan High Commission of the inability to send the particular parcel on board, as it was illegal to send such unaccompanied baggage because it was not a diplomatic bag. She pointed out that if the parcel was detected, it would constitute a serious security violation and might even be widely publicised, adversely affecting the goodwill of SLA.

Despite the objections raised, the Protocol Officer insisted that the parcel be sent to Colombo, which led the Country Manageress to inform Chairman Wickremasinghe and stop the parcel from being sent. During the investigation, when questioned about this incident, Wickremasinghe told the BoI that he could remember having such a telephone conversation with the Country Manageress but could not recall the subject of the discussion.

According to the BoI report, following this incident on 24 May 2012, the Country Manageress was summoned to Colombo together with the Sales Manager. They met Jayaseelan, the then Head of Marketing, where she was informed that she had been recalled from London on the orders of the President and had been transferred to Hong Kong to complete the remaining period of her contract.

Dubious contracts

The BoI has also observed in Chapter 5, Section 1 (Pages 72 to 75) that the release of cabin crew member Nithya Samaranayake to the Presidential Secretariat was a misuse of power by the top management and government officials.

By a letter dated 2 June 2010 to the then CEO, Lalith Weeratunga, the then Secretary to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, stated that Nithya Samaranayake, a Senior Cabin Crew member, had been identified for an assignment at the Presidential Secretariat as a Special Projects Coordinator for a salary of Rs. 35,000 per month and other appropriate facilities, and requested that she be released immediately to assume her new duties.

On 23 June 2010, Samaranayake was appointed as the Special Projects Coordinator to the office of the Private Secretary to the President. The Private Secretary was none other than Namal Rajapaksa. Although Samaranayake was released from SLA, the airline continued to pay her basic salary, special premium, and tea allowance, apart from what she was paid by the Presidential Secretariat.

Hence, she received her full basic salary and half of her productivity payment from the airline, amounting to approximately Rs. 70,500 per month, in addition to a monthly remuneration of approximately Rs. 87,500 from the Presidential Secretariat. She received a total monthly remuneration of Rs. 158,000.

At the BoI, former Chairman Wickremasinghe stated that Samaranayake was released to work for Namal Rajapaksa, but that her release and the promotions granted to her were irregular.

It was revealed that Samaranayake was paid a fuel allowance of Rs. 22,680 per month and a separate transport allowance of Rs. 30,000 per month from Namal Rajapaksa’s office.

At the inquiry, Samaranayake stated that although she was paid Rs. 52,680 per month as transport costs, she used that money for personal purposes, as Namal Rajapaksa’s office provided common transport for her and the other staff.

Although she was appointed as a Special Projects Coordinator, she told the BoI that there was no identifiable special project to which she was attached and that she was released from SLA at the request of Namal Rajapaksa. According to her, she did not sign any attendance register during her tenure at Rajapaksa’s office and, although Lalith Weeratunga’s letter stated that she would be based at the Presidential Secretariat, her office was located at Temple Trees.

Samaranayake said she carried out political work for Namal Rajapaksa’s Tharunyata Hetak with the knowledge of Lalith Weeratunga and Nishantha Wickremasinghe.

Hence, the loss to the Government arising from this questionable remuneration for the ‘fake’ post, under Financial Regulation 102, amounts to Rs. 4.284 million.

As per the recommendations of the BoI, the payments made to her during this period should be recovered jointly from Samaranayake, Lalith Weeratunga, and all those who approved the unlawful payments, and a criminal investigation should be considered into the fraudulent payments and offences against public property.

Chapter 5, Section 3 (Page 81) of the BoI report states that Rakna Arakshaka Lanka (RAL) Ltd., owned by Nissanka Senadhipathi, was offered the contract to provide security to SLA and SriLankan Cargo without any evaluation of its capabilities or experience in handling aviation security.

The BoI report dated 30 March 2015 states that there was no material to establish that there was a necessity to hand over the security of SLA and the Cargo Division to RAL. The report further states: ‘It appears clearly that it is an unsolicited proposal and there was no transparent selection process in selecting RAL. Within a very short period, on 20 August 2012, SLA signed an agreement with RAL for a two-year period and thereafter extended it until 19 August 2016, though there were no documents to suggest that RAL had any aviation security experience.’

The report further states that when different levels of security staff were questioned to ascertain their views and actual experience regarding the quality of RAL’s security personnel, there was no clear evidence that RAL security guards possessed any experience in aviation security. According to SLA staff, senior management did not consider the difference between aviation security and guard duty when deciding the suitability of RAL to provide security to SLA and the Cargo Division. It is alleged that RAL was offered the security contract on the instructions of a very senior Government official at the time.

Xiaomi Sri Lanka, in partnership with Abans, has opened the country’s first official Xiaomi Exclusive Store at One Galle Face Mall, Lower Ground, giving Sri Lankan consumers a dedicated destination to experience the full Xiaomi ecosystem in one place. The opening was also marked by the launch of the Xiaomi 17T, the first smartphone to be officially launched at this new store.

For Xiaomi fans in Sri Lanka, this is a long-awaited moment. Over the years, Xiaomi has built a strong following among users who value smart technology, useful features and accessible pricing. Until now, that fan base did not have an official space to experience the brand properly. The new Xiaomi Exclusive Store changes that by giving customers a place to explore, compare and understand Xiaomi products before making a purchase.

The store brings together a wide range of Xiaomi products, including smartphones, smart TVs, wearables, audio products, air purifiers, power banks, smart blenders, robot vacuum cleaners and other smart home devices. Instead of seeing these products separately, customers can now experience how they fit together as part of one connected Xiaomi lifestyle.

This is especially important for Sri Lankan consumers who are becoming more careful and practical with their spending. Xiaomi’s ecosystem shows that smart living does not have to feel expensive, complicated or out of reach. Whether it is a smart blender for the kitchen, a robot vacuum cleaner for easier home cleaning, a wearable for everyday wellness, or a smart TV for family entertainment, the store allows customers to see how Xiaomi products can support real daily needs at accessible value.

The store is more than a retail outlet. It is an experience space where customers can see, touch and test products firsthand. This makes the Xiaomi ecosystem easier to understand, especially for customers who may have only known Xiaomi through smartphones before. For new users, it becomes a simple way to discover how Xiaomi can fit into their homes, routines and lifestyles.

The partnership with Abans adds trust and reliability to this experience. As a well-known retail name in Sri Lanka, Abans brings local service support, product guidance and customer confidence to every Xiaomi purchase made through the official store.

The Xiaomi Exclusive Store at One Galle Face Mall, Lower Ground is now open, giving customers a permanent destination to explore Xiaomi’s smart ecosystem and experience smarter living in one place.

Can the light of wisdom be boxed into a cardboard decoration?

Can enlightenment or wisdom be vandalised?

Can foolishness and delusion also be boxed in a cardboard decoration and hung with much fanfare for all to see?

How many flags does it take for a nation or person/s to be ‘Buddhist’?

How many sermons or chants does it take for a human to transit from listening to practicing wisdom?

The purpose of this article is to get us all to think upon the gap between the actuality, the hypocrisy and the ensuing suffering (dukkha).

On 1 May around 2,000 Sri Lankans, mostly from the upper and middle class of Colombo flocked to the BMICH in Colombo. They were there as early as 6am demurely well dressed in white and wearing also their calmest visage. What brought them there was a full day of Dhamma interaction with Ajahn Brahmali Thero, the Norwegian born, former Engineering and Finance graduate; a Buddhist monk of international stature. He had taken to monastic life around four decades ago leaving aside a family legacy of significant wealth and ‘lucrative’ professional choices.

This article captures and introspects the depth of segments of his teachings in Colombo that we have not featured before.

We have already covered the broad aspects of his sermons and exclusive interviews in this page and the Daily FT main pages. We today delve into certain statements not yet reported. We extracted these to save them from being lost in the throes of mere ‘sermon listening.’

Spiritual success

As we write, the colourful Vesak lanterns and bulbs have flickered out. The thousands of Buddhist flags flying from every rooftop are hoisted down. And the white clothing taken out on Poya days (and the nicer ones for Vesak) folded and placed in wardrobes.

Now let us in this month of June begin with Ajahn Brahmali Thero answering a question relating to exam stress of youth. When this issue was brought up he nonchalantly asked parents and youth to treat any possible failure in academic life as a boon to cultivate success in another dimension; the spiritual one.

He queried as to why instead of craving for the intense pressure that ‘prestigious’ jobs bring after high anxiety driven ‘education,’ catering to the job ‘market,’ why not treat ‘weakness’ in exam taking, as an opportunity to tread a differing path. One that brings freedom, happiness and time for pursuing knowledge that is not for the job ‘market’; but knowledge associated with the highest levels of insight such as knowing one’s own mind, as taught by the Buddha.

Having said this as cited above and also in differing ways, it was clear that this highly erudite former scholar, engineer and finance degree holder (who never speaks of his academic credentials) thought nothing of these ‘qualifications.’ He had chosen a more challenging path; the one of absolute knowing, going into battle and conquering the self, rather than narrow cocoons of modern ‘education.’

This writer seated amidst the white coloured sea of humans could not help glancing at many a middle aged face of possible parents of school going youth as Brahmali Thero shrugged off their dilemma.

The focus on youth suicides and stress arose as a result of a question posed to Brahmali Thero by some youth following his sermon online. His explanation, at times in mild humor and at times in seriousness, showed that there was an option. That these youth could be directed to a different reality as followed by the Buddha. That they need not necessarily become monks but be humans who create time for the honing of their spirituality. And with this expansive relief given to the mind, provide themselves the opportunity to maximise their own creative intelligence to design paths of earning income in ways where they can exercise their unique abilities, creativity and wisdom. This would mean the creation of a human psyche that is not dictated to by institutions that measure intelligence through rigid exam taking.

But profound advice like this and many other teachings by Brahmali Thero, including the call to think of each moment as one which hides death, could easily slip our mental grasp. We could descend quite fast from sermon listening to wisdom ignoring as we return to our homes.

How many of us would have ruminated further when we got back home? How many of us listening to the sermon and views by Ajahn Brahmali Thero would have honestly considered the path less travelled: the path of deep insight?

If we did, would it matter that our son or daughter ‘fail’ to fill the vacuum of our own desire; to have offspring (that we could boast to the world) as a ‘doctor,’ ‘engineer’ or ‘academic’ graduate? Do we question whether we want these desires fulfilled through our children for the greater selfless good it could bring to the world or for the fickle social position we crave for? Would we then become aware that we are using our children as pawns of our own un-awakened hankering? Would we recognise that this is the opposite of genuine love? Could we then comprehend that coercing, influencing, forcing children towards life paths they have no interest in (or instilling in them an exam based inferiority complex) is just a hybrid form of delusion soaked attachment? Would we become aware that this attachment is diluted in fear? That what motivates us to treat our children as robots of exam victory or failure is the fear of ourselves being seen by society as failures – where we become parasites, gnawing at our children’s equanimity. If we pondered in this manner after returning home from listening to Ajahn Brahmali Thero we could see that exam stress is something we project onto children with the values and world view we have brainwashed them with. We could also become aware that this unrefined mental state of ours has nothing at all to do with a pragmatic, wholesome, holistic and happy approach to life which is the Buddhist path.

Culture and wisdom

Let us now look at ‘culture’ and the juxtaposition with ‘wisdom’ that is a prerequisite of the science of Buddhism. Asked about the relevance of rituals as part of culture and tradition in connection to Buddhism Brahmali Thero was somewhat non- committal stating that some rituals to ‘some extent’ could help and too much may not help. It could be seen in many individuals in the Western world who take up the Buddhist life, do so without the distraction and burden of rituals which are hand me downs of cultural practices of the land.

So, could we say that rituals as part of culture and tradition harm or benefit wisdom and insight? The answer could lie as to how we use these practices and to what end; whether or not we engage in these rituals to support and enhance the state of harmony, loving kindness and equanimity within ourselves and others.

Now let us consider the aspect of gender in a backdrop of various statements being made on the Karmic ‘misfortune’ of being born a woman. It was very interesting that Brahmali Thero, although of course using his unique humour, quipped that he loves Sri Lanka so much that it is possible that he was a monk in previous lifetimes in this nation. He then corrected himself and said that it is more likely that he was a Buddhist nun in past lives in Sri Lanka. The ease with which he said this showed that he did not consider a particular gender as superior or inferior. He took the flow of samsara where humans emerge in differing bodies, across the boundaries of gender, caste and creed, lifetime after lifetime as per the Buddhist and Hindu view, as an unavoidable truth.

There may have been other monks in this world who have stated that they may have been nuns in past lives but this is the first time this writer heard it on a public platform.

What exactly can we learn from this wisdom? We can learn that gender is just a fraction of the whole – if there were only men in this world – say as a result of their great ‘virtue,’ then there would be no women, which of course would eventually result in there being no men! Therefore, what we gathered at the sermon of Ajahn Brahmali Thero is the space to think out wisdom and root out abject stupidity that could parade as truth. The Ajahn Brahm Society of Sri Lanka spends an enormous amount of effort facilitating such visits of dedicated monks. It is up to us Sri Lankans to prevent these initiatives from going to waste. These are not social events. These are moments that define whether we transform from machine-like consumers of ‘preachings’ to actually living out the wisdom.

Global oil prices have fluctuated slightly on Friday, briefly reaching back above the $ 80 per barrel mark for Brent crude, as the United States and Iran called off further talks in Switzerland.

A stall in talks between the United States and Iran have cast doubt over the preliminary peace agreement reached earlier this week. The oil market has begun reflecting that uncertainty early Friday.

Vice President JD Vance was set to travel to Switzerland to continue into the next phase of negotiations with Iran. Vance’s trip has been postponed while Israel has opened up more strikes on Lebanon.

Part of the agreement between the United States and Iran included an end to military operations in Lebanon.

Overall oil prices are heading toward a second consecutive week of falling prices. August Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, traded at about $ 80.23 per barrel on Friday morning. July West Texas Intermediate futures, the U.S. benchmark, traded for about $ 75.96 per barrel.

The Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup 2026 Amateur Series will return to Sri Lanka today at the Royal Colombo Golf Club.

There will be two tee-off sessions, at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., with a total of 230 golfers registered for the event. The prize-giving ceremony will take place from 7.30 p.m. onwards at the RCGC clubhouse.

Trophies will be awarded to the overall winner, runner-up, third-place finisher, Best Gross winner, and Nearest-to-the-Pin winners in both the men’s and women’s categories.

The Overall Net Stableford Champion will earn a coveted place at the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup World Finals in Trkiye, flying Business Class with Turkish Airlines and enjoying a six-night stay at the luxurious Gloria Serenity Resort.

The event is sponsored by Gloria Hotels and Resorts. (SJ)

In a probing interview on her YouTube channel ‘Conversations with Alanki’, Alanki Kishani Perera recently asked Senior Presidential Adviser on Economic Affairs Duminda Hulangamuwa a series of pertinent and timely questions. To which the answers, while polite and politic, were not always as perspicacious as one would have hoped for at that level.

Yet, the most revealing aspect of the conversation lies not in any single answer. Rather, it is the cumulative impression left behind by the interview as a whole.

For all the ideological battles that preceded the elections of 2024, and despite years of rhetoric positioning itself against the economic orthodoxy of successive administrations, the National People’s Power (NPP) today seems to be governing from a place that is remarkably close to the economic centre.

That may be the most important political story in Sri Lanka’s socioeconomic life today.

The movement that rose to prominence as a vehicle of protest increasingly sounds like a Government of pragmatists. And the revolution, it would seem, has become managerial. Good thing too.

Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) to provide a comprehensive suite of concessionary financial facilities to SLAF personnel, reaffirming the bank’s commitment to supporting those who serve the nation.

The MoU, incorporating the financial facilities proposed by HNB, was officially signed on 9 June 2026 at the Air Force Headquarters. The agreement was signed by HNB Chief Operating Officer Sanjay Wijemanne and SLAF Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena.

The signing ceremony was attended by several distinguished representatives from both institutions. Representing the SLAF were Air Commodore Erandika Gunawardena, Group Captain Harshani Katugampola (Director Legal), and Group Captain Malinga Silva. HNB was represented by Kanchana Karunagama, Head of Retail Banking, and Susith Perera, Head of Personal Financial Services along with other senior officials.

This strategic partnership, unveiled during the 75th anniversary year of the Sri Lanka Air Force-established in March 1951 as the Royal Ceylon Air Force-reflects a shared recognition of the SLAF’s vital role as the ‘Guardians of the Skies,’ entrusted with safeguarding the nation’s security and sovereignty.

Under the terms of the agreement, HNB will offer a range of specially tailored financial products to SLAF personnel, including personal loans, vehicle loans, loans against property (LAP), and credit cards. These facilities will be extended at concessionary interest rates, enabling SLAF personnel to access financial support on preferential and affordable terms.

The initiative is part of HNB’s ongoing efforts to deliver accessible, customer-centric lending solutions that cater to diverse financial needs. The scheme is designed with flexible and attractive repayment structures, allowing Air Force personnel to manage their financial commitments with greater ease.

A key feature of the program is the flexibility afforded to borrowers to align repayment plans with their income patterns, ensuring long-term sustainability. Additionally, upon retirement, eligible facilities may be converted to the HNB Sathkara Loan Scheme at applicable rates, further enhancing financial continuity and support.

This collaboration underscores HNB’s continued dedication to developing meaningful financial solutions for key segments of society, while honouring the commitment and service of Sri Lanka Air Force personnel and supporting their long-term financial wellbeing.

International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat, amid ongoing discussions on the administration and governance of cricket in Sri Lanka.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. No further details of the discussions were immediately disclosed.

The Government of Japan has donated six refrigerated trucks worth Rs. 200 million to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Fisheries to strengthen fish distribution and reduce post-harvest losses.

Saskia Fernando Gallery hosts Thisath Thoradeniya’s latest exhibition, ‘The Way You Like It’, marking the artist’s first solo presentation in a decade. ‘The Way You Like It’ is an examination of the human condition. Thisath Thoradeniya imagines life as an absurd theatre, inviting viewers to make sense of it while remaining aware of the impossibility of ever escaping it. The exhibition opens into a dialogue on human agency and experience that constantly goes off script amidst uncontrollable social, political, and emotional variables.

Led by an inanimate wooden marionette that plays the secondary role of Victorian jester, Thoradeniya’s series of drawings and kinetic sculptures reveal a careful study in body language and psychology. Imbued with nonchalance, joy and fear they come alive with a range of human emotions.

Existing in a fool’s paradise, the marionette wades through a discomforting reality with mirth. Dancing on the edge draws on the familiar metaphors of the circus, trapeze performances, and precarious balancing acts to imagine life as a spectacle of uncertainty. Here, the jester is never fully in control, pulled in different directions by forces beyond its grasp, embodying the tensions and absurdities of human existence. With each series, the scene shifts between warmth, suspense, humour, and fear.

Aspirations take centre stage in the series ‘Dreams, Dreams, Dreams’. Filled with whimsy, the works construct worlds of make-believe that mirror our deepest desires and imagined futures. Yet beneath their playful surfaces lie the blind spots of dreaming itself. Thoradeniya reflects on the ease with which we abandon these aspirations as they collide with the demands and realities of contemporary life.

The Great Fall gradually moves towards a more sombre register, where playful theatrics give way to the weight of lived experience. The toy-like marionette slowly transforms into a figure marked by resilience and determination, coming to terms with the contradictions of its own human existence.

Within this theatre of life, the protagonist is both subject and observer, predestined to be shaped by its environment while simultaneously questioning the roles we inhabit.

The exhibition, ‘The Way You Like It’ will be open to the public from 11 June to 11 July 2026, at SFG, 138 Galle Road, Colombo 03.