M.Sarlis

         He was born on 07- 06 -1880 in Adadola village, Ambalangoda. In 1909, Sarlis was fortunate enough to work with Richard Hendrikus, one of the island's foremost painters, at the Jayatilakarama Temple in Grandpass. Sarlis also became a follower of Hendrix, who was accustomed to drawing in the Western realist tradition. The main Buddha statue at Jayatilakarama Vihara in Grandpass was completed by Sarlis. While working on the project, he started painting at the Maligakanda Vihara under a disciple of the great painter Gurunnance of Kadolgalle. Explaining his mastery of the art, he completed its design after 9 years. Many Sinhala homes of this era used pictures of the Victorian royal family or Western models as wall decorations. He also used his creative skills to fill the gap left by the absence of such decorations or paintings suitable for a Buddhist house, even though Christian homes had paintings related to the religion For that, Sarlis explored new dimensions of art Several paintings created by a Sinhala Buddhist businessman at the time Presented to Mr. D. William Pedris. As a result, the royal couple, who had until then reigned supreme in Sinhala homes, were replaced by paintings adorned with Buddhist customs