Statues Beyond Gods and Politicians

Many countries have an oversupply of statues. It is not surprising Sri Lanka is one of them. Given its history of over two millennia, various influences from the region, along with three European cultures, they all add to the array of statues. There are many religious statues , predominantly Bhuddist reflecting the main faith on the island. Many new statues have sprung up along the side of the motorways. I would prefer to see more schools being built however. The other proliferation of statues is of politicians, many of whom failed the country and the people of Sri Lanka. This short article therefore focuses on some non religious and non political statues I have found around the island. For many readers, I hope this extends interest and fun.

Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha made the supreme sacrifice in Kayts in 1992. His statue is in Dambulla.

In what was once known as Victoria Park, Colombo, you can find the Boy Scout statue and the Queen Viharamahadevi statue. The Queen Victoria statue, which once stood here is likely the most relocated statue on the island and now sits above the Victoria Dam.

The mermaid statue in Negombo,  sits in the sea  in front of a restaurant car park three kilometers off the motorway turnoff. It is a copy of The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, which first appeared in 1913. It has been vandalized  many times, yet viewing it is one of the favourite location for visitors to the city. 

The gory gargoyle sitting at the pool on Helga’s Folly in Kandy is extremely weird. This is a reflection of the whole house. I  published a story on the place last year.

There are many random type statues, like the Sri Lankan chap who swam to the Palk Strait, about 33 miles in 26 hours back in 1954. Pandit Nehru  and Sir John Kotalawela inaugurated a statue of him years later. 

There are “lest we forget” statues, including military heroes and leaders, in many towns and cities in Sri Lanka. In some cases, people made the supreme sacrifice on behalf of the motherland. One such person who gave his life for others was Corporal Gamini Kularatne. He single handedly prevented the LTTE from taking a bulldozer full of explosives into the Elephant Pass garrison in Jaffna, where there were 600 soldiers on site. His statue stands tall.

Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha made the supreme sacrifice in Kayts in 1992. His statue is in Dambulla..

There are many random type statues, like the Sri Lankan chap who swam to the Palk Strait , about 33 miles in 26 hours back in 1954 . Pandit Nehru  and Sir John Kotalawela inaugurated a statue of him years later. 

Most of the statues around the Beira Lake walk are now vandalized, they were works of art.

Maybe we will see a statue of the helicopter pilot in the recent Ditwah cyclone incident. He took the decision not to land during the rescue of individuals as planned, worried he would crash into a crowd, but died as he moved the aircraft away from the people - a true hero.

Colours of statues I find interesting. There is a bright statue  of an American, Sir Colonel Henry Steel Alcott which sits outside Fort railway station. He is described as a  revivalist of Buddhism via development of schooling in Sri Lanka. There were some tempory statues that were created by those wanting change in the country by way of peaceful demonstrations in 2023.

So whilst driving or walking  around this amazing island, see if you can find those odd, interesting  or unusual statues. Send me a photo.