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Waruni Anuruddhika

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Tag Archives: High Contrast

Pain and Memory

05 Monday Oct 2020

Posted by waruni Anuruddhika in Art Photography

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Architect, Architectural design, Art Photogaphy, Black and White, Black and White Photography, cast, Civil War, collage Art, creative photography, Customary wedding, Disappearances, Disappeared, displacement, Documentary Photography, dowry, Fine Art Photography, FRAMES-2020, GAyroo Art Foundation, Global photography Exhibition 2020, High Contrast, I wouldn’t mind ~ to walk alone with you ~ along with the evening shadows .., Justice, Justice in Transition, Memory, Monochrome, Northern Province, Pain and Memory, peace and reconciliation, Photography, Politics, Post War, Protest in Trincomalee, Reconsiliation, Religion, social class, Social Justice, South Asia, South Asian art, SouthAsiaArchitiect, Sri Lanka, Wedding gift

Long shadows in the evening sun and the sounds of the palm tree leaves touching each others in the dry wind ….except me and my shadow no one was there ….

Self and ruined house in Northern province – Jaffna. How we became strangers to each other? 30 years of war disrupted the lives of the people in North and South. There are many untold stories that I am still searching through.  When the North transformed into a battleground, people left everything they possessed including land and houses to save their life. They lost their dwellings, their kids and relatives. They were living in refugee camps with numerous issues. …

‘Pain and Memory’  solo exhibition focused on displacement and disappearance in Sri Lanka. Currently photographs of  ‘Pain and Memory “ are exhibiting under  the   invited category on World photography day celebration exhibition: “FRAMES-2020”- on-line global photography exhibition; Organized by Gayoor Art Foundation in India.Exhibition curated by  Naushad H Gayoor and Jeetin Rangher .Here is the link to see the online exhibition

http://www.gayoorartfoundation.com

Genre : Creative photography | Art Photography  | year 2019  | Canon 5 D Mark 111

Copyrights Waruni Anuruddhika

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The Kannaki and The Moon

01 Friday Jun 2018

Posted by waruni Anuruddhika in Art Photography

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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.

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The Moon and The Kannaki

25 Friday May 2018

Posted by waruni Anuruddhika in Art Photography

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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 18th  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.

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Pain and Memory

16 Monday Apr 2018

Posted by waruni Anuruddhika in Documentary Photography

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Tags

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.

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Pain and Memory

16 Monday Apr 2018

Posted by waruni Anuruddhika in Documentary Photography

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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.

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Pain and Memory

31 Saturday Mar 2018

Posted by waruni Anuruddhika in Documentary Photography

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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.

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Pain and Memory

31 Saturday Mar 2018

Posted by waruni Anuruddhika in Documentary Photography

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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.

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Pain and Memory

31 Saturday Mar 2018

Posted by waruni Anuruddhika in Documentary Photography

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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.

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Pain and Memory

30 Friday Mar 2018

Posted by waruni Anuruddhika in Documentary Photography

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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 mother who is waiting for her disappeard son …. for how long can she Wait …

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.

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Pain and Memory

14 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by waruni Anuruddhika in Documentary Photography

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Tags

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

The monument for disappeared at Radolugama, Sri Lanka.

It was the 27th National commemoration day for the disappeared. The event was organized by the families of the disappeared together with the organization call Right to Life and many others groups and individuals.  They gathered at the monument of disappeared at Raddolugama on the 27th of October 2017. The monument stands on the ground where two young men, Ranjtih Herath & Lional were killed and burned on the same day of October in 1989.

Family members of disappeared gathered at the monument to commemorate their loved once. Their faces were sad. most of them were elderly mothers and fathers from North and East of the country. They laid a writhe of flowers at the monument without knowing about what exactly happened to their beloved once. Even if they knew that their beloved ones have disappeared, the commemoration is being considered as a part of seeking justice. Perhaps they may know that they are dead or they might be still alive, but family members need to know what happened them and how and why they disappeared. Such awareness is important as it is  entangled with many other social, cultural, economic as well as religious expectations and fulfillment.

In the 2015 commemoration, there were many activists, photographers and journalists gathered to support the event. But most of them could not to be seen in this year.  Compared to last year, there was a significant drop of the Participation of family members as well. Some of the older parents of the disappeared might have died after a long struggle of seeking justice for more than 20 years.

After the usual rituals, the event of 2017 finished in the mid-day. Crowd began to leave the place with pain and memories of unhealed wounds. The faded flowers of the garlands, blown away with dry breeze, touching the photographs of the unknown disappears.

Hundred thousand of people were abducted and killed or disappeared during the last four decades in Sri Lanka. Disappearances became a part of political violence in Sri Lankan history at least since 1970s. During the insurrection of 1989 thousands of Sinhales youth abducted, killed, disappeared or went missing forever. It came to peak during the civil war.

Even though there were number of commissions and committees were appointed to investigate the people of missing, abducted or disappeared, none of these agencies could not fulfill the task. Still we do not have accurate statistical reports of people those who were abducted or disappeared. Even though there were some agencies such as ICRC, United Nations, LLRC,  UNHRC, and Asian Human Right Commission compiled a reports report data is varied one to the other. According to the report which was summited to the LLRC by Bishop of Mannar, the number of missing person during the last stage of the civil war in the period of 2008-2009 is 146,679 . According to Amnesty International, number of disappeared, abducted or missing persons since 1980 is close to 60,000. As they argued, true figures can be even 100,000. They were both Tamil and Sinhalese.

Consequences of disappearances are enormous. Those, are social, economic and cultural. Economically, there is no proper mechanism to support and develop the livelihood of those families. The 76 years old Sinhalese mother from South who came 27 time for the last commemorative events told her story with painful heart and tearful eyes . She is suffering from heart dieses. Her elder son is suffering from mental disorder. Her husbanded died when her younger son was 4 months old. She raised 7 children without support from anyone. She also became the victim of Tsunami hit in 2004. She did not receive any support from any of the government or non-government agencies.  Amidst of all these tragic events in her life, she is still searching two of her missing sons.

In 2016, new government promised to establish an Office for Missing person, with an objective to provide appropriate mechanisms for searching and tracing of missing persons, and to clarify the circumstances in which such persons went missing, and their fate; the bill was approved and signed but to be materialized. Present government started to issue the certificates for 65,000 missing people who disappeared during the civil war. Some of the parents question that whether would that be acceptable without knowing the truth or without having a fair hearing and justice?

They have been the victims of each election campaigns that used by the political parties. The previous and present government hesitates to execute the investigation on security forces those who are considered as war heroes. Government is afraid that it will agitate the general public and will destroy the fame of the government. The tension of power and fame always led the country to go backward instead of going forward. In such context, justice cannot be restored easily. Yet we are demanding justice to go forward with progress …

These are the images that were captured during the 25th and 27th National Commemorative day of Disappeared in Raddolugama junction in 2015 and 2017.

Brito Fernando, A human Rights Activist addressing the gathering on the day of commemoration.

Muslim priest delivering prayers.

Family members , during the religious rituals

Faith and Justice – When the institutional system fails to establish the justice…

Pain has no ethnic boundaries –   Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils, women stand together with grief

Fate of a son , pain of a mother

Son, search for his father …

Mother and son in a shattered life …

 Can anyone find her Son ? 

Family members are holding the photos of the disappeared with a hope – mourning is not over yet…

The government is planning to issue certificates for missing people at the civil war. Would that be acceptable without knowing the truth and having fair hearing and justice?

Holding on to pain

Holding  on to pain … with tears and fears …  years and years …

Can that piece of paper (certificate for missing or disappeared person) tell  what happened for their loved ones ?

The truth would be bitter, but they  need to know

… Holding on to pain …

… Unhealed wounds …

Memories of a father …   who can fulfill the gap of father?

Tears of a mother … 

unending suffering … unending search ….
Some family members still reserving food for loved ones, thinking that they will turn up at any moment with hunger…

Search is never ending experience…The government should fulfill the promises …
Family members  and friends at the Moniument of disappeared  

Name is not important. Memories are there …

Pain and memory, one cannot easily forget
Absence of Justice, Truth and existence of sculpture…

Copyright Information: Images and text of this essay are copyrighted to Waruni Anuruddhika. Using or reproducing the images or content are strictly prohebited witout having a writer permission of copyright holder.  Also note that  using or reprodusing  images and the content for any income generation,  fundraising or funded projects (personal or institutional) are strictly prohibited.

Data sources

https://www.cpalanka.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/office-on-missing-persons-establishment-administration-and-discharge-of-functions-a-bill-1.pdf

https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/maxwell-paranagama-commission-report-full-text/

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/04/sri-lanka-victims-of-disappearance-cannot-wait-any-longer-for-justice/

http://groundviews.org/2015/11/11/disappearances-in-sri-lanka-and-the-visit-of-the-un-working-group-on-disappearances/

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=20499&LangID=E

https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/mannar-bishop-questioned-by-sri-lankan-cid-on-disappearances/

http://groundviews.org/2014/01/09/enforced-disappearances-in-sri-lanka-2006-2013/

http://www.mfa.gov.lk/index.php/news-from-other-media/4538-certificate-of-absence-for-missing-persons-relatives-

https://www.cpalanka.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Certificates-of-Absence-FINAL.pdf

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