Somasiri Jayamanne was born at Colombo (Sri Lanka) in 1943 from a family of painters, he began to paint since he was a child. At the age of 14, he obtained the highest marks in the admission contest of the National Fine Arts Academy, but his admission is refused because he was below the minimum age allowed.Somasiri continues to paint, make sculptures and participate in various exhibitions and contests, including some organised by the State for sketches of stamps.

He continues his studies and in 1967 graduates with honors in Biological Science at the Vidyodaya University of Colombo, where he remains to teach and collaborate in a research program, until in 1968 he moves to Italy where he specializes himself in Medical Microbiology at the Superior Institute of Sanity in Rome. Inspired by the Italian artistic atmosphere, in October 1968, before he begins the Scientific research, Jayamanne makes his first personal exhibition in Perugia at the “Centro Studi Internazionali Crocevia”.

In 1970, having finished his studies, he’s in Paris, where he continues his artistic activity and sells several paintings in a boutique situated in the Sacre Coeur Square. In 1971 he’s back in Italy, where, after a first collaboration with the Spallanzani Hospital, he starts working as a bacteriologist in the “Monterchi Medical Center”  in Rome.

The sign of maturity reached by the artist and his artistic involvement is evidenced by the several and significative first place awards won. Besides, he’s been invited to the VI Rassegna d’Arte Contemporanea ‘75 (VI Review of Contemporary Art), where he awarded the 1975 Oscar. The sensible spirit of the artist that loves nature and life is evidenced by the language of his paintings, that are exposed in various private collections in Italy, Paris, Metz, London, Frankfort, Solingen, Basel, Luxembourg, Sydney, San Francisco, Boston, Athens and Colombo.

His painting (always oil on canvas), inspired by a symbolism that sometimes recalls Dalì, deals with topics such as war, politics, religion and nationalism. Especially after 2005 he dedicated himself also to sculpture, creating both modeled and assembly works and using different materials as metal, resin, wood and electrical equipment.

Jayamanne’s works have a market value of nearly 100,000 euros.

The Artist was granted Italian Citizenship, and now, as a painter and sculptor carries out his permanent activity in Rome.