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What it means to be Sri Lankan

Brunch Editor

By Dimithri Wijesinghe

“A 53-year-old man arrives at the voting booth for the first time in his life, to vote for an election of the country that he holds dear to him. He crosses the ballot card with a fervent hope and resolve that his country deserves an overall transformation, including a new constitution, new leadership that drives the country towards progress, and a fresh political culture that unites the people towards progress. Upon casting his maiden vote, he goes for a stroll to discover an area he had not hitherto seen in his own neighbourhood, and of himself. He wonders if the vote he just casted is by chance or choice. Perplexed by this question and lost in a labyrinth of (this) newly discovered neighbourhood and his own thoughts on democracy, motherland, and patriotism, he fumbles to find his way back home.”

   Udan Fernando’s latest short film tells the story of a long-lost classmate he met by chance who had a most peculiar journey in life. Describing the film itself, he said that it is “a story of one man’s self-discovery and his quest to find his political self in a climate of uncertainty amidst forces of misfortune and misery created by the recent pandemic”.

Speaking to the director, he shared that he chose to tell this story as there’s never been a better time than right now to take a real look at what it means to be Sri Lankan.

The narrative is of a man of Sri Lankan origin who, upon going abroad immediately following his Ordinary Level (O/L) exams, proceeded to have an illustrious academic and professional career, as he became a global citizen in the process. However, upon getting stranded in his land of origin by chance due to the pandemic, he has the opportunity, for the first time in his life, to cast his first-ever vote – revealing that despite his travels and successes, he has chosen to hold onto his Sri Lankan identity and remain a Lankan citizen for 40 years, away from his motherland.

Shot in the form of a documentary, Fernando follows his protagonist from the morning of election day to the polling station where he exercises his right to vote for the very first time, following which they engage in an introspective conversation.  

Fernando shared that the subject matter is timely in that there has been a discussion on patriotism, nationalism, and what it means to be Sri Lankan. How much of a connection must you have with your motherland? He said that while he himself has an opinion on the matter, he wished only to provide a narrative which encourages healthy conversation to further this discussion.

A large population of our country is currently residing abroad, he said, adding that while the majority of them may not even hold Lankan citizenship any longer, there are those who feel most dearly towards Mother Lanka; 

they are engaged in our current affairs, they follow our news, our art, they care intensely with a near desperate need to hold on to their roots.

The film was launched on 3 September at the 80 Club of Colombo at an event organised by the STC (S. Thomas’ College) ‘83 O/L, ‘86 A/L (Advanced Level) Batch and featured a panel discussion with expats representing different parts of the world sharing their experiences of being Sri Lankans far away from home.

 

 

Duration: 12 minutes

Medium: English, with English subtitles

A short documentary film by Udan Fernando

Photography: Sameera Weerasekara

Editor: Lahiru Kanishka

Music: Nadeeka Guruge

Colourist: Marlan Jayans

Assistant Director: Yoshitha Perera

Concept and Director: Udan Fernando