In a bid to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Sri Lanka sending her first Representative to India in 1942, the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi has commissioned a bust of Sir D.B. Jayatilaka, the first representative of Sri Lanka to India, to be installed in its premises.
The unveiling of the bust is marks the latest of a series of activities organised by the High Commission to commemorate the important anniversary.
The bronze bust of Sir D.B. Jayatilaka symbolises the important role that he played by laying the foundation for modern Indo-Lanka relations. The project was funded by the India-Sri Lanka Foundation.
Prominent Indian sculptor Gautam Pal of Kolkata sculptured this bronze bust.
A past student of Academia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan, Italy, Pal has sculptured hundreds of statues and busts of prominent Indian personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore to be installed at Indian diplomatic Missions abroad and other locations in India. He is also a member of the prestigious panel of sculptors of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.
According to the ‘Integrated Country Strategy for the Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India 2021/ 2023’ announced by Milinda Moragoda, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Earlier, in February, the High Commission named its Chancery building after Sir D.B. Jayatilaka and in August, a portrait of Sir Baron was unveiled at the High Commission.