Gurunagar – One of the Most Polluted costal belt in Jaffna

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#Climatechange, #climatechangetoday, #fishingcommunity, #garunagar, #jaffna, #northernprovince, artphotography, biodiversity, Documentary Photography, ecology, environment, merine pollution, Nature, Photography, plastic waste, pollution, SriLanka, water pollution

One sunny evening in April I walked up to Gurunagar fishing Jetty along the beach road from Jaffna Dutch fort. (Guruanagar is a fishing village located in the East from the Dutch fort) The sunset was amazingly beautiful no doubt anyone will be mesmerize with such delightful scenic view. But What I saw along the sea shore from the beginning of the Reclamation road up to the Gurunagar fishing Jetty was horrible. The whole costal belt is covered with large amount of garbage and plastic waste. Not only that but also the surroundings of the whole fishing village was polluted with carelessly dumped garbage and plastic wastes.

There’s no proper systems to collect or recycle garbage and plastics here in Gurunagar. As I got to know the people who live there (fishing community) use to dump all the garbage and plastic waste to the see and the see shore. Not only the fishing community but also the other people who lives elsewhere dump plastics here and there carelessly. All these plastics wastes come through the canals and drainage and deposit at the costal belt. I spoke to a few men and women of the Gurunagar fishing community, they are not conscious of garbage and plastic waste right in front of their living premises. They are totally unaware of the disaster that they have done.
However, I didn’t notice any significant plastic recycle or collecting process or the garbage collecting method here in Jaffna. It is much needed to have continues awareness campaign in order to reduce the usage of plastics and introduce sustainable alternatives.  At the same time much needed to introduce   proper garbage and plastic collecting and recycling system. This is not just a responsibility of the community, it is a responsibility of the authoritative government institutions too. Because this is not just a simple issue anymore. it is does extremely harmful effect to marine ecosystem and biodiversity.  This makes greater impact on climate change. The Ocean Conservancy estimates that plastic impact nearly 700 species in the ocean. at least 600 different wildlife species are threatened by plastics waste in the ocean.

News report says EU countries are using its natural resources twice more than ecosystem can renew. SriLanka is dumping 1.59 metric tons of plastics annually into the Indian Ocean.Whole world is dumping 8 million metric tons of plastics to the ocean every year.Sri Lanka is in 5^thamong the top 20 countries of marine pollution.

Image copyrights Waruni Anuruddhika 

cannon 5D Mark 111 / 24-70 / Samsung galaxy S5

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World press Freedom Day and media freedom in Sri Lanka

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Democracy, Documentary Photography, Freedom, Freedom of Expression, Goddess Kali, Human Rights, Justice, Photography, Sri Lanka, Waruni Anuruddhika, World Press Freedom Day

An appeal to goddess Kali

Journalist and political cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda was abducted and possibly disappeared on 24th January in 2010. His disappearances marked 9 years to on the 24th January. Sandya Ekneligoda, his wife still searches for answers to know what happened to him. She is still seeking justice even after 9 years of his disappearance.  But the mechanisms and legal investigations are inapt and slow and, moreover the process is hampered by the political interference. In the absence of secular mechanisms to establish justice, On 24^thJanuary Sandya Ekneligoda appealed to Goddess Kali for truth and Justice. The ritualistic event took place right in front of the President secretariat building at Galle face Colombo.  Names of the people whom were suspected for the crime were accused by writing their names on eggs. The numbers of coconuts were placed with red flowers along with oil lamps. Joysticks were lit. The bottle of turmeric water was placed by the side. Prayers were written on papers and were clipped at the bottom of the image …  desired punishments were written on set of banana leaves in red and white and were hanging them at the bottom of the line of the image.  Kali was holding a photo of Prageeth . Sandya started the chanting …. by the end, the pandam, kspuru and katakumanjal  were lit . Sandya said. “this flame is not just what you see it’s the flame that burning inside my heart” …  coconuts were splashed. Ashes mixed to the blowing wind … The eggs were broken … no one knows how … only Kali knows!

The prayer event was started when I reached to Gall face green. The temporary shrine was set up at the see side of the pavement right in front of the president secretariat building.  the image of Kali and a banner were hang on the fence. Sun was setting, the sea breeze was dry.

Sandya moved to the other side of the road. The participants followed her. She wanted to continue the rest of here prayers from this end.

All of a sudden, a man with a camouflage bottom and white sleeveless top and boots came on green color trial motorbike . He interrupted to Sandya’s peaceful event by insulting, scolding with filth words and imitating vulgar actions. not only that, he threats to Sandya and   the rest of the participants, journalist and myself too. Then he raced the motor bike twice and ride towards the Galle while the Police officers were watching from a few meters of a distance at the roadside.  but didn’t take any action against him. instead the police interrupted Sandya and asked her to leave the premises saying it’s a high security zone therefor no permission will be granted for any such prayer activities. They asked her to move to the idols along with the ritual items. They told her that If she didn’t leave the place they will ask the Women Police Constable to move here away.

The discussion about media freedom in Sri Lanka take place in such context. Journalist and political cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligda was disappeared in 2010. Lasantha Wickremathunge; senior journalist and editor of Sunday Leader was shot in dead in the middle of a road in January 2009.  The two court cases are still going on but the process is becoming extremely slow due to the political interferences. Senior Tamil journalist and political analysist Darmarathnam Sivaram was abducted and murdered in April in 2005. His body was found at the high security zone of Sri Lanka nearby parliament which is very problematic and the case was unveiled.  Not only that but also and many other journalists were abducted and disappeared during last 10, 15 years. justice was not reached. instead all these victims became a most popular topic during the election campaigns including the previous presidential election which current president was appointed. instead all these victims became a most popular topic during the election campaigns including the previous presidential election which current president was appointed. They were double victimized became a victim in this system of hypocrisy.  They were double victimized became a victim in this system of hypocrisy. Therefor media freedom or freedom of expression is a difficult task which has to be achieved through hard works. Then what about the democracy in Sri Lanka !!!

the temporary Kali shrine , Sandya Ekneligoda and two other participant

Prageeth Eknaligod’s photo was placed in the center of Kalis Image 
desired punishments were written on set of  papers and banana leaves in red and white 
Ninoile lamps ,  Nine Coconets , Nine pots were placed  along with  red flowers at the bottom of the Kalis image. 

Nine eggs were placed in a tray  at the center  Names of the people whom were suspected for the crime were accused by writing their names on eggs.banana leaves  with the disired punishments at the bottom of the Kali’s Image  katakumanjal were burnet in  the nine pots , while Sandyas prayers continue …  Sandya moved to the other side of the road.  The participants followed her.Sandya keep continue her prayes  An stranger on a back  who intrepted to Sandys peaceful  eventNot only Sandya he insulted to the other participant as well 

Mean time the police were watching from a few meters away 

The police interrupted  to Sandya and asked her to leave the premisesThe police officers ask her to remove the banner and image of Kali  paerticipants were  trying  to explain while a policeman is removing the banner

A policeman removing the banner

paerticipant were  trying to expain yet the police want Sandya  to leave the venue Sandya keep continue her prayers while police interuption . After a sevaral explanations   ….  Yet they want to stop the event but participant  demand to keep continue the peaceful ritualistic event
Maen time Kali ; the Goddess   and Sandyas offering  Sandya keep continue the ritual  prticipants are still explaining to the police  Sandya lited the  Pandam and Kapuru  .  kapuru were placeed on nine coconuts  

Sandya and participant  chant the appeal 

Eges were broken  ….Nine  coconuts were splashed 

“this flame is not just what you see it’s the flame that burning inside my heart”

Waruni Anuruddhika  / 24th January 2019 / Image captured with Canon 5D Mark III  24-70

Nothing, but your greetings !

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Art Photography, Central high lands, Central Province, Ceylon Tea, Colour Photography, Nature, Poetry and Image, Sri Lanka, Stories, Tea estate workers, Tea estates in Sri Lanka, Tea Industry, Waruni Anuruddhika

 

Nothing, but your greetings !
No such surprise gift , for the New Year ~
May this New Year fill up your world with full of love

glamor of a misty morning !!! nothing , but a gift of a god !  One can say …

One misty morning in December 2017 I was walking down on a footpath  at Theresia Estate. It is not just a footpath as I guess. A motorbike appears from the bend , I just captured him from the other end when he passes me. its a road goes to a line houses where tea estate workers use to live…   While my field visit in search of Pattini worship in central hills I was staying at a tea estate in Bogawanthalawa  with one of my friends family. In my short stay  rather researching on Pattini worship I explore  bit more about the  life and lifestyle  of Pattini worshipers. Bogawanthalawa is known as the golden valley for Ceylon tea. Nevertheless  one can mesmerise  with amazingly beautiful surroundings. yet  the life of tea estate workers are not beautiful at all. Living condition of tea estate workers are still very poor even after 150 years of establishing of teas plantation and Industry in Sri Lanka. Still the basic daily wage of a tea plantation worker is Rs 500 (les than 5$) .

Canon 5D Mark 111 | 24-70 | camera Raw| ©Waruni Anuruddhika 2019

The Kannaki and The Moon

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18th May, Art Pgotography, Black ad White Photography, Civil War, Disappearances, Disappeared, Documentary Photography, Fine Art Photography, Fine Arts, Goddess Kannaki, Goddess Pattini, High Contrast, Kannaki Amman, Memory, Monochrome, Mullathivu, Mullativu, Pain and Memory, Pattini, Photography, Politics, Post War, Reconsiliation, Religion, Social Justice, Sri Lanka, Vattappalai, Vattappalai Kannaki Amman, Waruni Anuruddhika, Worship

 

Kannahi Amman Kovil , Vattappalai – Mulathivu (Northern Province – Sri Lanka)

Kannaki !!! My Evening prayers for peace …

Canon 5 D Mark III 24 | Copyright Note : Images and text  are copyrighted to Waruni Anuruddhika. using or reprodusing  images and the content for any income generation,  fundraising or funded projects (personal or institutional) are strictly prohibited.

The Moon and The Kannaki

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18th May, Civil War, Disappearances, Disappeared, Documentary Photography, Goddess Kannaki, Goddess Pattini, High Contrast, Kannaki Amman, Memory, Mullativu, Pain and Memory, Pattini, Photography, Politics, Post War, Reconsiliation, Religion, Social Justice, Sri Lanka, Vattappalai Kannaki Amman, Waruni Anuruddhika, Worship

Kannahi Amman Kovil , Vattappalai – Mulathivu (Northern Province – Sri Lanka)

The shrine is dedicated to the goddess Kannaki Amman.  According to the legends, Kannaki   came from Madurei , visited ten  different places in Sri Lanka. It is being believed that Vattappalai is the tenth place that she rested.  The legends says goddess Kannaki makes miracles, stand for justice .

In my journey to the north, I stayed along with the mothers of disappeared. On 18th of May, family members of the gathered to Mullivaikkal to commemorate their loved ones who died, disappeared and went missing during the war.  They laid flowers, lighted candles and burned camphor on the ground. Unbearable pain mirrored as tears and weeps. It flown on the ground of Mullivaikkal , where thousands of people closed their eyes  forever   … hid in the  lagoon water … or  buried without last respect …

Thirty years of war between Sri Lankan army and LTTE in Sri Lanka ended up in 18^th  of May in 2009.  In such a gloomy day we ended up in loosing lives of loved once … It caused people to disappeared, displaced and disabled both mentally and physically … The war created a miserable life for the people in both Tamil and Sinhala community .

In this gloomy evening, I ended up visiting Kannaki Amman at Vattapaalai ….  The gold and orange colored shrine shines in golden light under the blue sky looks so majestic …. It is considered that the tree on the left  as the place and the tree where Kannaki sat and stayed for a while, Also, people believe that  this Kovile is  one of the most sacred Kannaki Amman shrine in the country  which makes miracles!!!!

Kannaki!!!!  My evening prayers for Peace ….

(From the field notes of Pattini worship)

Copyright Note : Images and text  are copyrighted to Waruni Anuruddhika. using or reprodusing  images and the content for any income generation,  fundraising or funded projects (personal or institutional) are strictly prohibited.

Pain and Memory

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Civil War, Disappearances, Disappeared, Documentary Photography, High Contrast, Justice, Justice in Transition, Memory, Monochrome, Pain and Memory, Photography, Politics, Post War, Protest in Trincomalee, Reconsiliation, Religion, Social Justice, Sri Lanka, Waruni Anuruddhika

Holding pain …. A mother who is searching  her disappeard son ….

Image captured at the ongoing protest in Tincomalee, carrying out by the family members of disappeared, the protest  completed one year this month similarly the other four ongoing protest in Northern province in Sri Lanka . What they want to know is all about their children . What happened to them ? How long will it take the search the truth ?

Copyright Note : Images and text  are copyrighted to Waruni Anuruddhika. using or reprodusing  images and the content for any income generation,  fundraising or funded projects (personal or institutional) are strictly prohibited.

Pain and Memory

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Civil War, Disappearances, Disappeared, Documentary Photography, High Contrast, Justice, Justice in Transition, Memory, Monochrome, Pain and Memory, Photography, Politics, Post War, Protest in Trincomalee, Reconsiliation, Religion, Social Justice, Sri Lanka, Waruni Anuruddhika

A grandfather – searching his disappeared grand daughter ….

This grandfather came all the way form Vauniya to support for the solidarity movement of disappeared family members in Trincomalee, followed the  march back and forth till the end  with the  help of a walking stick . He reminds me my grandfather also my father … What will happend if my father lost his granddaughter !!! he will be searching her till his last breath …

Image captured at the ongoing protest in Tincomalee, carrying out by the family members of disappeared, the protest  completed one year in this month similarly the other four ongoing protest in Northern province in Sri Lanka . What they want to know is all about their children . What happened to them ? How long will it take the search the truth ?

Copyright Note : Images and text  are copyrighted to Waruni Anuruddhika. using or reprodusing  images and the content for any income genaration,  fundraising or funded projects (personal or institutional) are strictly prohibited.

Pain and Memory

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Civil War, Disappeared, Documentary Photography, High Contrast, Justice, Justice in Transition, Memory, Monochrome, Pain and Memory, Photography, Politics, Protest in Trincomalee, Reconsiliation, Religion, Social Justice, Sri Lanka, Waruni Anuruddhika

A grandfather – searching his disappeared grand daughter ….

This grandfather came all the way form Vauniya to support for the solidarity movement of disappeared family members in Trincomalee. He reminds me my grandfather also my father … What will happend if my father lost his granddaughter !!! he will be searching her till his last breath ….

Image captured at the ongoing protest in Tincomalee, carrying out by the family members of disappeared, the protest  completed one year in this month similarly the other four ongoing protest in Northern province in Sri Lanka . What they want to know is all about their children . What happened to them ? How long will it take the search the truth ?

Copyright Note : Images and text  are copyrighted to Waruni Anuruddhika. using or reprodusing  images and the content for any income genaration,  fundraising or funded projects (personal or institutional) are strictly prohibited.

Pain and Memory

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Civil War, Disappeared, Documentary Photography, High Contrast, Justice, Justice in Transition, Memory, Monochrome, Pain and Memory, Photography, Politics, Protest in Trincomalee, Reconsiliation, Religion, Social Justice, Sri Lanka, Waruni Anuruddhika

Can anyone bear Such agony ?
A mother who is begging for her disappeared family member

Image captured at the ongoing protest in Tincomalee, carrying out by the family members of disappeared, the protest  completed one year this month similarly the other four ongoing protest in Northern province in Sri Lanka . What they want to know is all about their children . What happened to them ? How long will it take the search the truth ?

Copyright Note : Images and text  are copyrighted to Waruni Anuruddhika. using or reprodusing  images and the content for any income generation,  fundraising or funded projects (personal or institutional) are strictly prohibited.

Pain and Memory

Tags

Civil War, Disappeared, Documentary Photography, High Contrast, Justice, Justice in Transition, Memory, Monochrome, Pain and Memory, Photography, Politics, Protest in Trincomalee, Reconsiliation, Religion, Social Justice, Sri Lanka, Waruni Anuruddhika

She could be my mother …She could be your mother too …  two mothers – waiting for their disappeared family members

Image captured at the ongoing protest in Tincomalee, carrying out by the family members of disappeared, the protest  completed one year this month similarly the other four ongoing protest in Northern province in Sri Lanka . What they want to know is all about their children . What happened to them ? How long will it take the search the truth ?

Copyright Note : Images and text  are copyrighted to Waruni Anuruddhika. using or reprodusing  images and the content for any income generation,  fundraising or funded projects (personal or institutional) are strictly prohibited.