Filmmaker slams government over plight of pandemic-hit artists

by Sujeeva Nivunhella

Veteran award-winning cinema artiste, Dr. Somaratne Dissanayake, accused the government last week of not helping artists to survive the pandemic induced economic crisis.

Speaking to the Sunday Island, Dissanayake said that a large number of artistes were suffering immense hardship as their industry was in its death throes due to the impact of the pandemic.

“Some have taken bank loans, mortgaging their homes and risk losing their properties soon,” he said.

“I mortgaged my house to make “Tsunami” but could not screen it successfully due to Covid and am struggling to repay the loan.”

“We did not ask for free money but asked for a soft loan with a lower interest rate. We did not get even that,” he said.

“There are a number of artists without work as nobody is coming forward to produce a drama, teledrama or a film. If the government values these artists, it should help them with credit to continue in their professions. Politicians only use artists when there is an election but when the artists are in trouble they do not help.”