I took a stroll down Green Path this morning, and what I found was nothing short of inspiring — a living, breathing canvas of Sri Lankan creativity. Kala Pola, the open-air art fair that has become a cornerstone of our cultural calendar, was once again alive with energy, emotion, and extraordinary talent.

A Street Transformed

Every year, Green Path turns into something magical — rows of canvases lining the street, bursts of colour meeting the hum of conversation, art lovers weaving between easels under the shade of trees. But what struck me most this time wasn’t just the beauty of the artwork — it was the sincerity of the artists behind them.

Each piece felt deeply personal. You could see stories, struggles, and slices of life — painted with honesty and emotion. These weren’t just paintings to hang on a wall; they were reflections of identity, heritage, and imagination.

More Than Decoration

We often forget that art isn’t just decoration. It’s culture, identity, and history woven into strokes and shades. It’s how a nation remembers, questions, and dreams. Through colour, texture, and form, these artists tell stories that textbooks often can’t — stories of resilience, belonging, and beauty amidst chaos.

Sri Lanka’s artistic community is bursting with vision, yet it doesn’t always get the platform it deserves. And that’s the challenge — we admire their work for a moment, but rarely support it in a way that sustains their craft.

Beyond Appreciation

Walking through Kala Pola reminded me that it’s time to go beyond appreciation.
To not just visit, photograph, and applaud — but to invest, amplify, and celebrate.
To help build a community that values art not as a luxury, but as an essential voice in shaping who we are.

If we don’t nurture and uplift our own artists, who will?

Events like Kala Pola are proof that creativity thrives when it’s seen, shared, and supported. Every stall I passed was a reminder that behind each canvas is a dream — one that deserves more than a glance, more than a like, more than a passing compliment.

A Final Thought

I left Green Path today with a quiet kind of joy — and a renewed belief that Sri Lanka’s creative soul is alive and vibrant. It just needs us — all of us — to keep it that way.

So next time you pass by a stall, an exhibition, or a painting that moves you — don’t just look. Engage. Support. Share.
That’s how culture grows.