The Gal Vihara Rock Sculptures
Sri Lanka's, whilst quick to boast of the age and size of their monuments, are strangely reticent about the artistic quality of the best. If you have come to Sri lanaka and you haven't heard of the Gal Vihara you can be forgiven, although once seen it will certainly remain in your memory.

Out of a Cliff-face of granite, unknown artists carved three figures of the Buddha and a chapel. The earlist figure shows the Buddha standing on a lotus Plinth in the "blessing Posture". his arms folded and his eyes half-closed. The sculptor was working in a material that to some extent dictated the output. Dark Sterta in the rock sweep contour lines across the delicately carved features of his face like the slipstream from a dream.

Later in the reign of parakramabahu, this image was joined by the other figures. The seated Buddha meditates cross-legged against an interesting relief of buildings, another hint of how Polonnaruwa's temples originally looked. The rock-cut chapel alongside contains a furthur seated Buddha surrounded by attendants waving fly whisks and other decorations showing traces of paint. On the other side is the largest figure, a 14metre (46ft) reclining Buddha of such beauty that it inspired hundreds of year of Sinhalese art, but was never matched. Here the variations in the colour of the rock appear as a veli of ripples washing over the figure of the Buddha as he slips into Nirvana. The rock was not always kind to the sculptor; a place line of rock has inflicted a scar on the chin of the Buddha. But the reverent tenderness with which every detail, including the bolster-like pillow, has been carved with such graceful skill make it is easy to forget how difficult the sculptor's task must have been.

Later works in this idealised style are cold and mechanical in comparison but the gal Vihare figures manage to convey an emotional power while sustaining the most exquisite serenity. The Liquid flow of the robes and the calmfacial expressions are interpreted beautifully.