Interest-free loans for artistes

Priyanka Kurugala

Applications will be called from senior artistes for interest free vehicle loans from next month, granted by the Culture and Arts Ministry, a Cultural Affairs Department spokesman said.

It is proposed to allocate Rs. 1.2 million each for artistes from the budget 2012. The artistes should have been in the arts field for more than 18 years he said. Artistes in the field of literature, music, dance, drama, puppetry, acting, art and sculpture ,carving, photography, television, handicraft, etc are qualified to apply for the vehicle loan the spokesman said.

A special discussion on the implementation of the loan scheme was held at the Culture and the Arts Ministry under the patronage of Cultural and Arts Minister TB Ekanayake and parliamentarian Malanee Fonseka.

Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Wimal Rubasinghe, Cultural Affairs Director Vijith Kanugala and other artistes participated, he said.