Artistes should not be neglected by society - PM

COLOMBO: An artiste is a sensitive person who performed some sort of service to the people whichever field he belonged to. Therefore artistes who provided entertainment and an important message to the people should not be neglected by society. It is a pity if artistes are left unattended in their evening of life said Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake.

The Prime Minister expressed these sentiments when a delegation of the joint organisation of television artistes including dubbing artistes, actors and actresses and sub title artistes met him at his office to discuss the setting up of a welfare and insurance scheme for them recently.

Although holding of felicitation and award ceremonies to appreciate the talents and skills of artistes was a good thing he did not approve the presentation of a memento or a none plastic image in recognition of their service. Although the service rendered by artistes was invaluable he personally believed that the proper tribute to them would be to make some ex gratia payment to them.

People like Wijeratne Warakagoda, Gemunu Wijesuriya, Ratnawalie Kekunawela and Mercy Edirisinghe who are here today have made their mark on stage, cinema and teledrama fields. Many are the artistes who had devoted their whole life time to the field of art."

Wickremanayake who recalled that artistes in neighbouring countries such as India were on a better economic forting said he would pay serious attention to the request made by the artistes and summon a meeting of relevant officials soon to discuss a possible relief measure.