CHANDANA WICKREMASINGHE

People belonging to all spheres, including artistes have been affected by this pandemic. There are various associations on behalf of artistes, singers, directors, producers, photographers and other professionals. But I don’t know whether there is any organization on behalf of dancers in this country. I guess that’s because there is no unity among dancers who are at the forefront when adding colour and beauty to almost all ceremonies. But we are ignored. Thousands of dancers and drummers in our country are on a bad wicket due to this crisis, but no one has spoken on behalf of them. I must highlight the fact that only Bathiya Jayakody and his team inquired about dancers and brought their plight to the notice of the authorities. Our dancers have lost their total income. They never got even the Rs. 5,000 given by the government. We have done our part to uplift the image of this country, but we have today become a voiceless entity.