Catholic priest shapes a new generation of artists with his vision

Early morning in Galpalliya is a quiet time, yet the air vibrates with sounds of chiselling, and chirping young voices drifting from a small hut behind the Holy Cross Church.

- By Quintus Colombage

Early morning in Galpalliya is a quiet time, yet the air vibrates with sounds of chiselling, and chirping young voices drifting from a small hut behind the Holy Cross Church.

Sunlight spills through open windows, casting long shadows on partially finished statues of saints and famous people. Behind the scent of paint and clay, something miraculous is happening here.

At the center of it all is Fr. Samantha Thushara, a Catholic priest with mud on his shirt and a vision in his heart. For more than a decade, Fr. Samantha has been working quietly behind the scenes to reshape not only statues but lives.

A Workshop of Wonders

Walk into his workshop, and you'll find young artists deep in focus: some sculpting life-size crucifixes, others delicately painting the serene face of the Buddha. There is no divide, only unity in purpose. For Fr. Samantha, art isn’t just a form of devotion; it’s a language that transcends faiths, backgrounds, and borders.

One of his students, Desiri Manathunga, 23, a Gampaha resident, gestures to a giant figure of Jesus crucified on the cross. "When the devotees behold this, some get teary-eyed. This is not a sculpture. It’s an indication of sacrifice, of universal human suffering," he says. "To understand the history and meaning behind our work gives every creation sanctity.”

Manathunga calls the life-sized crucifixion statue of Jesus on the Cross, portraying the Good Friday crucifixion, one of the most impressive displays of art’s ability to move the human soul. Across parish churches throughout the country, such statues serve as centerpieces for Passion Plays, helping to bring the last few hours of Christ’s life dramatically to life.