Camillus Perera

Infobox Comics creator


imagesize = 200px
caption = Camillus Perera
birthname = Camillus Perera
birthdate =
location = Negombo, Sri Lanka
nationality = Sri Lankan
area = Writer, Editor, Publisher, Producer
alias =
notable works = Gajaman
Don Sethan
Siribiris
Dekkoth Pathmawathi
awards =

Camillus Perera is a popular Sri Lankan cartoonist. His cartoon characters like Gajaman and Siribiris have been published in various Sinhala newspapers ranging from the Sunday Observer to Sivdesa. Perera was invited to join the advisory board of John Lent's Cartoon Journal in 2002.

Life and career

Early life

Perera was born in Negombo and was the eldest son in a family of four. He was educated at the Roman Catholic Sinhala School, Maris Stella and St. Mary's College, Negombo. Perera first dabbled in art in the lower grades. He also briefly pursed a career as a sportsman in his teens leading the Jupiter Football Association in Negombo.cite web|url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/08/15/new19.html|title=Camillus cartoons in Kandy|accessdate=2007-07-22|date=2004|publisher=Sunday Observer]

Cartoonist

Perera began work as a cartoonist in 1966 developing characters for the Observer and "Dekkoth Pathmawathi" for Lake House's film magazine.cite book |last=Lent |first=John |authorlink=John Lent |coauthors= |title=Illustrating Asia: Comics, Humor Magazines and Pictures Books |year=2001 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |location= |isbn=0824824717] In 1972 he created Gajaman, his most popular character. Gajaman first appeared on Sathuta, a Lake House comic art publication and from 1975 to 1984 occupied a spot on the comic publication Sittara.cite web|url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2002/06/09/new27.html|title=Anthalogy of Camillus cartoons at BMICH|accessdate=2007-07-22|date=2002|publisher=Sunday Observer] In April 1984 Perera produced a magazine devoted to his work titled "Camillusge Gajaman". Its success, with over 200,000 copies sold, prompted the followups "Camillusge Samayan" in December and "Camillusge Gajaman #2" the next year. Both sold between 200,000–300,000 copies and resulted in the formation of Camillus Publications. Perera cited copyright issues as a primary reason for the creation of his new company. He subsequently registered his 15 characters with the Department of Registry and Patents.

"Camillusge Gajaman Samaga Sathsiri" (later shortened to "Sathsiri") released in 1986 was the first comic magazine by Camillus Publications and immediately sold over 150,000 copies eventually achieving a circulation of 200,000. Their second magazine "Camillusge Don Sethan Samaga Rasika" (shortened to "Rasika") followed the misadventures of Don Sethan, Perera's oldest creation. Don Sethan first appeared in the daily "Janath" on May 1, 1966.

In the 1990s Perera worked on several periodicals including a weekly comic magazine.

Legacy

Several exhibitions of Perera work have been held. In 2002 Perera celebrated Gajaman's 36th birthday at BMICH, Colombo 7 with chief guest Power and Energy Minister Karu Jayasuriya. In 2004 Alliance Francaise de Kandy sponsored an exhibition which was opened by Professor Kapila Goonasekere, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya.

References