More paintings from Nihal D Amerasekera

More paintings from Nihal D Amerasekera

ND has sent a few more beautiful paintings he has done with very useful descriptions for each.

As we have seen., he is a very talented (and modest) artist.- Speedy

Regents Park

Regents Park is a 410-acre area in North London. It was made into a pleasure garden in 1810 by King George V. It is managed by a team of experienced gardeners of the Royal Parks, a Royal charity.

Regents Park is just a five-minute walk away, virtually on my doorstep. It is my gym and also my place of refuge from the inevitable storms of life. There is a secluded cove at the edge of the lake with a bench ideal for clearing one’s thoughts and meditation. Many ducks, swans, and cormorants frolic in the shimmering waters of the lake, adding to its serenity.

Although the park is a magnet for visitors all year round. For those who yearn for solitude, there are quiet corners hidden away from public gaze for relaxation.

The Queen Mary rose garden is my favourite. It is a haven for bees and butterflies too. I have sat on the seats by the roses admiring the sweet smell and the wondrous colours all through June to October.

My painting is of the great fountain. There is a bowl for the birds to bathe and preen themselves. The fountain is surrounded by flowers so well watered by its generous spray. 

The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

Although I was born in the citadel in the hills, I never had the good fortune to live there except while on holiday. Nevertheless, whenever I visit that beautiful city, I feel a link and a closeness like nowhere else on earth. It is true that I have left my heart in that ancient capital.

The Peradeniya botanical gardens is not far from the city centre. The gardens are considered as one of the finest in the world. I have made countless visits to the gardens. Those visits with family and later with friends have left an indelible mark in my memory and recall them with much nostalgia.

The park’s 147 acres display nature's charm and elegance, which have survived the wars and the destructive forces of nature.

Its origin dates back to the reign of King Wickramabahu III around 1371. During the British rule it was unused and neglected. The gardens  were revived in 1821 to grow cinnamon and coffee. It was only in 1843 that a formal botanical gardens was established. Successive British superintendents managed the gardens with great care and affection. They handed the gardens over to the Department of Agriculture in 1912.

During WWII, Lord Mountbatten commandeered it and used it as his headquarters for the Allied Forces. This famous location by the Mahaveli River was used for the film Bridge on the River Kwai.

The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens will remain in my memory forever despite my long “exile” in a foreign land.

The Hakgala Botanical Gardens

The Hakgala Botanical Gardens is one of the finest gardens in the world. Situated by the Nuwara Eliya—Badulla road, it has attracted visitors from all over the world. The garden was established in 1861 to plant Cinchona and later for the experimental planting of tea. It was not until 1884 that a botanical garden was established.

The area is featured in the epic book The Ramayana when Sita was offered a pleasure garden in the same area as Hakgala. At the time, it was called Ashok Vatika. The area was named Sita Eliya, where the Sita Amman temple, which exists to this day, was built.

During the 1970s, I worked at the Central Blood Bank in Colombo. My work took me to every corner of Sri Lanka to collect blood. This remains a most memorable and cherished memory. Then I travelled in my rugged and reliable VW Beetle. When in the hill country, I made it a point to visit the Hakgala Gardens. The views of the pristine green mountains partly covered in mist and the sound of the trickling streams still remain etched in my soul. I have drawn the entrance to the gardens.  It was here the landscape changed most dramatically from the endless pine forests to geometric patterns of colourful flowers and foliage. Then my heart leapt up to behold its beauty.

I feel a tinge of sadness not to see the gardens again.