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Prison inmates display their skills
View(s):The artistic skills of prison inmates were put on display at an event titled ‘Lalitha Siri Sara’ held at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall (BMICH) recently.
Story and pix by Reka Tharangani Fonseka
The programme is a concept developed by Mr Chandana Ekanayake, who is responsible for the Rehabilitation and Skills Development of prison inmates.
The objective of the programme is to improve the skills of the prisoners and provide them with life-skills which could provide prisoners a trade once they completed their term of imprisonment.
A number of inmates have been trained in carpentry as well as in other vocational studies which will help them once they are released.
Mr. Ekanayake is hopeful that inmates being trained in various artistic skills will prove helpful in the years after their release.
Several well-known artistes -Keerthi Pasquel, Sanath Wimalasiri, Jackson Anthony, Damith Abeyratna and Jananath Warakagoda- were among the attendees at the event.
Minister of Justice Thalatha Athukorale was the Chief Guest at the event.
Inmates showcased their skills in song and music
Jataka stories were among the plays enacted
A good picture is worth a thousand words
Inmates from Welikade put on a magnificent display of Kandyan dancing
Western song and drama too were included in the show