‘A perspicacious judge of art in all its manifestations…’ (G. Claessen)

An artist increasingly popular as a Sri Lankan cartoonist was enjoyed by many, though, would not have been satisfied with every political attitude he was to take. His work was originally seen in the ‘Times of Ceylon’ and later in the ‘Observer’ and ‘Daily News’.

He gave a sharp edge to his drawings which cut deeply but never maliciously. Collette was gifted with the art of observation: in the early days to be noticed by Collette was in itself an honour.

Collette’s ‘1954 FACES’ which was published in that year is a collection of seventy-three pastel studies of prominent Sri Lankan personalities. These portraits were also seen at an exhibition at the Colombo Art Gallery. Another book ‘Sun Tan: The Asian Sensation’ was published in 1985 by the Times Books International.

His subjects were mainly politicians and people in public places. The remarkable talent of Collette was the ability to summarise these figues not just for their appearance but for what they truly were. Dr. G. P. Malalasekera wore his OBE perpetually pinned on to his white shirt; C.W.W. Kannangara held aloft the pearl of great price of free education – small symbols that marked their special conceit.

His work was happiliy recived in Australia, Malaysia and other places mainly because it tapped the universal foibles they symbolize and not merely lay open with surgical precision of the individual personality he caricatured.

The portraits of George Keyt, Ivan Peries and others of the 43 Group are indeed works of a master achieved with accuracy of line, economy and an unfailing touch of affection and humour.

Extracted from Rodrigo (2001-9) and Weeraratne (1993)