Sumana Dissanayaka

Born in a village in Southern Sri Lanka , Sumana Dissanayake derived his interest on art from the inspiration he received from the scenic rural village life .His selection of Art as the subject of his higher studies naturally helped to develop his artistic talents. A UNESCO Fellowship awarded to him  to study Book Illustrations and Modern art in Europe had also helped him to blend an abstract perspective in to his own expression of Art whether it was book illustrations or oil paintings .The experience he gained as an Art Teacher and as an Art Inspector got culminated , when he became Secretary of Art at the Education and Publication Department of Sri Lanka. With the first book called “Sama and Amara” illustrated by Sumana Dissanayake and published by the Education Department of Sri Lanka for grade one kids to learn Sinhala language in 1965, he continued to illustrate many text books published by the Ministry of Education until his retirement from the Government service in 1975 . His works of art had won praise from critics at International exhibitions held in India , Japan , Canada, USSR, Germany and Italy .As an appreciation for his immense contribution to book illustrations ,Art education and to Modern Art in Sri Lanka, he was honoured with the title of “Kala Shoori”by the President of Sri Lanka in 1995. After his death in 1995 his bust was unveiled at the National Public Library in the Capital of Sri Lanka Colombo.

Sumana Dissanayaka's Paintings