Tribute to a gifted personality
Having served as members of the Museum Committee of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) we wish to express our appreciation of the valuable contribution of the late Hema Nalin Karunaratne to the Museum Project of the IESL.
The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka gifted the National Museum with a National Heritage Gallery comprising six selected exhibits representing ancient engineering skills of this country. A large room on the second floor of the Natural History Museum was allocated for the purpose. When the project, which took some years to reach fruition, was almost ready to be opened to the public, we initially called him to obtain his services only as the compere for the opening ceremony. But since Hema Nalin insisted on knowing what he was to compere, we explained our original idea as well as mentioned our inability to achieve what we desired owing to financial and other limitations. He was fascinated by the idea but sad about the situation, and offered to give at least a few final touches to enhance our work. As a result, came the idea of the approach passageway and the documentary.
The then existing approach to the gallery was rather gloomy and somewhat narrow, ending with a few steps to reach the gallery level. He inquired from the committee as to exactly what was to be exhibited and the reasons for their choice, and then proposed to decorate the passageway with huge posters that would introduce the visitor to what was on display. He did not have sufficient time to get done all what he would have liked to. But the walls of the passageway were fully covered with huge colourful posters introducing the architectural and engineering wonders of Sigiriya, the Jetawanaramaya, the Bisokottuwa, the Wind Driven Steel Furnace and the Athpahana.
The entrance with steps leading to the gallery became a model of the stone archway in Sigiriya, and the whole passageway was transformed into a colourful and fascinating introduction to the exhibits.
He also prepared an informative documentary which was shown at the opening. The attractive leaflet distributed during the opening ceremony was also one of his contributions.
The Institution paid him for the services he rendered. But we all know from our hearts that he did the job not for the money he got but out of interest and a sense of dedication.
Even after the formal handing over of the gallery to the public was over and his task done, he continued to liaise with the museum committee. He voluntarily gave his invaluable suggestions as to how we can continue the task and tell the public the engineering and technological aspects of our ancient wonders of which only the historical, cultural, aesthetic and architectural side has been admired and highlighted so far.
When Dr Gill Juleff, the British archaeometallurgist who discovered the Samanala Wewa monsoon wind driven steel smelting technology visited Sri Lanka in 2013, a group of engineers including a few from the museum organized an exhibition wind powered smelt at SamanalaWewa using a reconstructed furnace and replicated the ancient technology. When Hema Nalin came to know of the event, he offered to give free video coverage to the smelt. He came to the Kinchigune site at Samanala Wewa driving his small hatchback car packed with his crew and equipment and stayed three days with us at the site actively assisting Gill and the local team to do the smelt. Thereafter, he initiated a documentary using his coverage and even posted an introductory video of it on YouTube, which is still there. Unfortunately, due to whatever reason, he could not finish the full documentary. If someone could complete what Hema Nalin had started, that would be invaluable educational material.
True our association with Hema Nalin was a short one. But during this period, we came to know how talented and creative he was. Thus, besides all the accolades and tributes, this note of appreciation is from the engineering fraternity marking our appreciation to the great individual who is no more.
May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana