Restoration of Damaged Photo in Dharga Town Relieves Her More than Everything Else

Understanding what a photo represents is not grounded in visual experience but in understanding the sentimental and symbolic value of it.

It was no difference to Aluthgama Dharga town-based Mrs U.L.M Shabdeen, a well-respected intellectual-cum-a Justice of the Peace whose house was also damaged in the most recent violence in the area.   

She was more disturbed and highly upset about the damage those perpetrators caused to the precious photo of her late father, Mr N.M Haneefa, a Court Mudliyar by profession. The photo has remained dear to her heart for generations since it recalls past family memories.

The team of Army personnel to her affected house, led by Major General U.A.B Medawela, Commander, Security Force Headquarters, West (SFHQ-West) for the express purpose of assessment of the damages, was told about the partly-damaged photo of her father which has been found amid debris and remnants when she was cleaning up.

Touched by her sentimental lamentation on the partly-torn her father’s framed photo, Major General Medawela, consoled her and took away the said photo with him, assuring its return to her later as Army members continued with their assessment work for necessary repairs about a week ago after the President’s directive.

Just three days after the Army formally commenced its reconstruction and repair work, Major General Medawela to her astonishment, showed up again on her doorstep on Monday (30) with a surprise gift, the restored photo of her beloved father who also served as an interpreter in Badulla Courts many moons ago.

On receipt of the restored photo, emotionally moved Mrs Shabdeen, together with her relatives and neighbours, burst into tears and was full of praise to the Army for restoration of it which is of sentimental value to her life and thanked Major General Medawela profusely for his sensitive thoughtfulness and speedy action since a photo perceives more than what is visually represented.