Sethsara insurance scheme:

Media personnel eligible to apply

Chaminda PERERA

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka has decided to include the media personnel to the Sethsara Insurance scheme which was initially established for the benefit of veteran artistes at the elderly stages of their life.

The Premier added that media persons could apply for this insurance scheme and relevant applications should be forwarded to the Prime Minister's office. He added that he hoped to increase the scope of the scheme depending on the assistance provided by the members of the public and philanthropists.

He was speaking at a media briefing at the Prime Minister's Office yesterday. Several artistes including Amitha Walpola and Suriyakumara Muththalage were present.

He requested financial support from the philanthropists and the general public to strengthen the Sethsara Insurance scheme.

A large number of veteran artistes have become the members of this scheme which is a brainchild of Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka. He said that the artistes become helpless at the later stages of their life. "They do not have money to even afford medical bills," he said.

He said the artistes have a great deal of compassion and kindness towards humanity. "The artistes never ran after money and their creations are not aimed at earning money. The artistes are entertaining the people and giving a message to the society through their creations without expecting anything in return, he added.

The Premier said a number of artistes who have rendered an invaluable service to the society were in misery at the later stage of their life for want of a proper scheme to assist them.

He said that this insurance scheme is totally funded by the contributions of philanthropists and a large number of artistes have received benefits from this scheme.

The artistes representing theatre, cinema and various other fields have organized a variety show titled Ran Gee Ranga at Elphinstone Theatre on February 13 at 6.30 p.m to raise funds.