ITC Ratnadipa WelcomGallery opens ‘Artful Echoes’: A group exhibition of Sri Lankan art

By Kavinu Cooray

ITC Ratnadipa WelcomGallery recently opened its third exhibition, ‘Artful Echoes’, to the public on Thursday, 14 August. Featuring the work of five Sri Lankan contemporary artists, Swarna Abeytunge, Anura Srinath, Samanthi Hemamali, Nilanthi Weerasekara and B. Wimalaratne, this group exhibition is the latest installment in ITC Ratnadipa’s ongoing commitment to support Sri Lanka’s local artistic community at the intersection of culture and hospitality.

‘Artful Echoes’ displays a colourful diversity of artistic mediums and contemporary subject matter. Swarna Abeytunge, speaking on behalf of the featured artists, said, “Integrating an art gallery into this hotel is a timely and valuable concept. We wish for the WelcomGallery to be an iconic gallery in Sri Lanka. We five artists have turned our imaginations, dreams, key thoughts, and the essence of nature into shapes and colours, not only with the brush, but with all our hearts.”

This is WelcomGallery’s third exhibition since it opened in April earlier this year. Having exhibited a total of 7 Sri Lankan artists so far, ITC Ratnadipa’s WelcomGallery breaks away from the traditional gallery experiences in Colombo. With an emphasis on reducing the barriers to entry for artists, WelcomGallery provides a platform for local talent of a wide calibre to have their voices uplifted. Not only is the gallery space provided free of charge, but the artists are also not charged a commission on sales. In this way, the profit made from art sales at WelcomGallery will go directly and completely to the artist. Through this initiative, ITC Ratnadipa ventures to widen the scope of public access to Sri Lankan contemporary art, while fostering a system that would benefit new artists and contemporaries in the local scene who need their voices amplified.

The current exhibition showcases an array of works from artists across the contemporary scene, ranging from established names to emerging ones. Swarna Abeytunge is a Chartered Secretary by profession and a self-taught artist. Her artwork has been acquired by collectors internationally and featured in collections in Singapore, the UK, the USA, India and Australia. She has participated in several exhibitions, including Lionel Wendt Art Centre (2023), Sapumal Foundation (2026), and the Kalapola Annual Art Fair (2024 - 2026), among others. Samanthi Hemamali is a renowned artist in Sri Lanka who resides in Colombo. She has participated in art exhibitions including Kalapola (2026), Warna (2026), and the Fairway Colombo Art and Jazz Festival (2025 - 2026).

Nilanthi Weerasekara is a renowned artist currently residing in Moratuwa, Colombo District. She graduated from the Institute of Aesthetic Studies at the University of Kelaniya and holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Painting from the College of Art in New Delhi, India. Nilanthi has been exhibiting extensively since 1997, with solo exhibitions in Sri Lanka and Sweden, including at Konstepidemin in Gothenburg, Sweden, the Heritage Gallery and 706 Art Gallery in Colombo, and Kandalama.

Anura Srinath Malaviarachchi is a renowned artist in Sri Lanka who has been in the art field for decades. His works reflect a draw to experimentation and the transformative power of imagination. With more than 40 paintings in private collections across 18 countries, Anura has participated in many art exhibitions across his career, including the Kalapola Annual Art Fair (1993 - 2026), ‘Anuralokaya’ solo art exhibition (2012 - 2026), and Fairway Colombo Art and Jazz on the Street (2017 - 2026). B. Wimalaratne is a renowned artist based in Ratmalana, Colombo District. His abstract works transform organic landscapes and elements into non-representational forms, translating their emotions, colours, and textures. He has held seven solo art exhibitions at the Samudra Art Gallery, National Art Gallery, Lionel Wendt Art Gallery and Alain Franchise Gallery, Colombo.

Marketing and Public Relations Head Dilshi Fernando stated, “It fills us with immense joy and pride to give these artists a platform to share their talent and to tell their story louder. WelcomGallery is an extension of ITC Hotels’ WelcomArt initiative, celebrating art, music, theatre and culture by giving our guests an opportunity to connect with the incredible local talent around us.”

ITC Ratnadipa is currently the only international branch of ITC Hotels to integrate the WelcomArt initiative outside of India. This initiative endeavours to nurture a truly memorable experience at ITC Ratnadipa for local and international visitors alike. By displaying a snapshot of the breadth of Sri Lanka’s contemporary art scene within a luxury hospitality setting, the initiative endeavours to convey the intricacies of Sri Lanka’s cultural arts to a broader international audience.

Free for public viewing until 30 August 2026, ‘Artful Echoes’ will be open daily from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m., at the WelcomGallery, ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo.

Pix by Shehan Gunasekara