In 2005, artist Senaka Senanayake visited a Sri Lankan rainforest with his cousin. He was mesmerised by the beauty of the natural phenomena, the vivid hues that he chanced upon and the tranquility that he experienced. That led him on a quest to paint such forests and their exotic inhabitants, such as macaws, butterflies and fishes in a riot of colours.

While his family was involved in politics, Senanayake chose to pursue art over the last five decades. He was a self-taught artist but later went on to study at Yale University, USA where he read a Degree in Art and Architecture.