Rubert Soysa’s Exhibition At Paradise Road Galleries

November 21, 2013

This will be Rubert Soysa’s sixth exhibition at Paradise Road Galleries. Soysa is one of Sri Lanka’s more established artists, best known for his abstract paintings depicting both figurative and abstract form. Born in Sri Lanka, Soysa studied art at the Government College of Fine Arts in 1973.

Rubert Soysa

He held his first solo show at the Vansbro Public Library in Sweden and thereafter continued to exhibit his work in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Syria, Cuba, Bulgaria, India, South Korea, and throughout Europe.

In this, his latest exhibition, Soysa focuses more on the figurative with portraits and the female nude as his main subject. The artist has introduced new media into his work, incorporating layers and texture using cardboard and other materials. The composition of the canvas in some pieces play with proportion and geometrical shapes.

This exhibition will remain open until 13 December 2013. Paradise Road Galleries is located within The Gallery Café, 2 Alfred House Road, Colombo 3. Open 10am to midnight daily. Tel +94 112582162

India Is Our Largest Neighbour And The Most Important Country In The Region

By Gotabaya Rajapaksa -November 29, 2013

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

I am honoured to deliver this keynote address at the opening session of the fourth annual “Galle Dialogue”. On behalf of the Government, I take this opportunity to welcome to Sri Lanka the many distinguished foreign speakers and delegates at this conference. I also extend my best wishes to the many illustrious Sri Lankan participants at this event. The Galle Dialogue is fast becoming an important fixture in the calendar of international maritime conferences, as shown by the fact that speakers and delegates from 35 countries are taking part in this event. As with the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, this is a very positive indication of Sri Lanka’s increasing stature in international affairs since the dawn of peace four years ago. This is something about which all Sri Lankans are justly proud.

The very appropriate theme chosen for this year’s Galle Dialogue is “Emerging Maritime Trends in the Indian Ocean”. Throughout history, the Indian Ocean has been a major conduit of international exploration, migration and commerce. Many of the world’s first civilisations evolved around or in proximity to its shores. Trade along or through the Indian Ocean was an important feature from early in human history. Aided by the seasonal monsoons, merchant vessels travelled east and west across the Indian Ocean for many centuries dating back to antiquity. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Persians and Chinese all traversed the Indian Ocean, often stopping in this country, before the first modern Europeans led by Vasco de Gama in 1497 came to these seas. During the era of European colonialism, the Indian Ocean and its littoral nations became sought after possessions of many empires. The British emerged as the major power in the region in the early 19th century. With the rapid development over the last two centuries of Europe, the United States, and later Japan, the Indian Ocean receded temporarily from global prominence. During this period, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans were the world’s most important oceans. In recent years, however, there has been a pronounced shift in focus back to the Indian Ocean. A few simple facts demonstrate why this is.                  Read More