The second day of Harmony Week 2025, brought together art and social consciousness through a compelling photography exhibition organized by the Centre for Social Reconciliation. The event was held on September 9, 2025, at the Art Gallery, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya.

The exhibition titled “200+ Beyond the Struggle” showcased photographs that vividly portrayed the lifestyle, hardships, and resilience of the Up-country Tamil (Malayagam) community. The title reflects more than 200-year history of endurance and struggle experienced by this community in Sri Lanka.

The exhibition was officially opened by Prof. M. M. Gunathilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Dr. Kumudu Sumedha, Director of the Centre for Social Reconciliation; and members of the academic staff, marking the significance of the event within the university’s broader commitment to inclusivity and social awareness.

What made this exhibition particularly powerful was that the photographs were taken by youth from the Up-country Tamil community themselves. Having lived through many of the challenges depicted, their work transcended mere visual appeal, and each image served as a call for recognition, dignity, and justice.

Following the exhibition, an engaging interactive discussion was held with the organizers, photographers and featured key speakers: Mr. Buddhika Bandara, Ms. Sanjeewani Rupasinghe, and Mr. M. Pradeepan. The conversation unpacked the stories behind the images and highlighted the ongoing struggles faced by the Malayagam Tamil people.

The discussion emphasized the power of art, particularly photography as a tool for social change and a medium to raise awareness about the inequalities and systemic challenges faced by marginalized communities in Sri Lanka.

By blending powerful visuals with meaningful dialogue, the event fostered empathy and understanding among attendees. It reinforced one of the core messages of Harmony Week: “Peace and harmony require acknowledging diversity and cultivating empathy to move forward as a society.”