DOCUMENTARY FILM:

Buddhist Paintings of Sri Lanka

Designed and Produced by: Dr. Daya Hewapathirane
English Version: Narrations: Apsara & Daya Hewapathirane
This film provides a chronological overview of the rich and fascinating heritage of Buddhist
paintings of Sri Lanka. It takes you on a visual pilgrimage of a diversity of sites across the
country, including Buddhist shrines, monasteries, ancient royal palaces and rock caves
adorned with enchanting paintings. They reveal the richness of imagination, aesthetic sense
and spiritual disposition of our artists for whom Buddhism was the primary source of inspiration.
Buddhist painting are found on a diversity of surfaces - rock surfaces, walls including relic
chamber walls inside stupas or pagodas, ceilings, statues and related structures, on doors and
wooden surfaces including wooden covers of ola palm-leaf manuscripts, textiles, pottery,
earthenware and in recent years on canvas. Buddhist Paintings have always been a
conspicuous element of Sri Lankas Buddhist culture which extends to a period that exceeds
2200 years starting in the 3rd century BCE. These exquisite works of art are marked by a
diversity of fascinating styles, approaches and traditions that are unique to Sri Lanka. These
paintings reflect a fascinating blending of aesthetics and spirituality. They are entirely indigenous
and particularly meant to inspire, to instruct and to inform Buddhist devotees. Outside India, the
oldest tradition of Buddhist art, sculpture and architecture is to be found in Sri Lanka. Although
local artist of ancient times drew inspiration from Indian creations, they did not accept Indian
traditions and concepts in their entirety. Deeply inspired by Buddhism, ancient artists invented
and incorporated their own artistic and iconographical elements into their work. Influenced by
their inner discipline and spiritual emotions they developed their own expressions, approaches
and styles that resulted in a unique artistic tradition and a range of artistic creations.
In this film the enchanting visual cultural heritage of Buddhist paintings is presented
chronologically, starting with those of the Classical period of the islands history. This period
extends from the 3rd century BCE to the 13 century CE and includes 1500 years. Paintings
associated with this period are among the oldest surviving Buddhist art of South Asia.
Fragments of these earliest Buddhist paintings are evident today in a number of cave temples
and archaeological sites. Although fragmentary and incomplete, they are of intense aesthetic
appeal, and are indicative of vivid and complex images of a glorious distant historical epoch.
The later paintings, particularly those of the 18th and 19th centuries, and some done within
living memory, are better preserved. They constitute one of the richest and most substantial
expressions of Sri Lankan pictorial art in its final period of efflorescence. They give us access to
an imaginative world of the recent past in a way that is not easily paralleled by any other form of
documentation. Buddhist paintings clearly reflect an intriguing blend of aesthetics and
spirituality. They are among the most gentle and sublime art of humankind and are known to
evoke serene joy and inner calm in people, irrespective of their religious or cultural inclinations.
Those which are of intense aesthetic and spiritual charm, transcend artistic and aesthetic
appreciation and appeal to something higher and deeper, transforming ones mind to a state of
innocence, serene joy and peacefulness.
This film was shown internationally in several countries and at the United Nations, Canada
National Archives, Toronto City Hall, Universities of Toronto, McGill, Winnipeg and several cities
across Canada. The Sinhala version of this film was shown extensively in Sri Lanka including
the Colombo National Museum, the National Art Gallery, the BMICH, Kelani Viharaya, all
universities, most of the leading national schools across the country, most Military Camps during
the period of conflict, and many Daham paasalas in several districts. All National TV channels of

Sri Lanka have presented the film. All English and Sinhala national newspapers have carried
reviews and articles on the film, referring to Buddhist paintings presented in the film as Marvels
of a Cultural Heritage. The film won the Best Documentary film Award at the International
Buddhist Film Festival held in Sri Lanka in 2012, in commemoration of the Sambuddhathwa
Jayanthi Celebrations.
This event is planned as an opportunity for all to see and appreciate, and as an occasion to
stimulate a sense of pleasure, pride and discovery, and as an experience providing an aesthetic
challenge resulting in a greater cultural awareness and discernment.
Daya and Apsara Hewapathirane Tel: 604-241-0515
Email: daya.hewapathirane@gmail.com