Art Exhibition at the Cancer Hospital

By Esther Williams
Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara

Vibrant and colourful scenes make up the majority of paintings done by the children of the Maharagama Cancer Hospital. While Sakura (11) chose a group of parrots, Prabath (12) portrayed the elephants at Pinnewala, Buddhika (14) a fisherman and Nimasha a lotus pond, all depicting happy memories.

Done over the last year, the 43 pictures at the Art Exhibition held at the hospital between October 2 and 4 were done by children who attend the Play House. Some of the paintings were dedicated to their friends, Malith Gayasham and others who had passed away a few weeks ago.

It can't be much fun for children at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital to live there for months together. They often have to miss school and can neither see their friends nor play with them. Hence the art classes offered at the Play House within the hospital premises is something they look forward to.

The Play House has been equipped and staffed by the Overseas School of Colombo since 2001 to cater to the residents of the children's ward. Theja Sandhya Kumari, Facilitator, sees about 30 students who come in between their treatment each day to learn maths, handwriting, stories, handwork and art between 9 and 4 pm.

Currently there are about a 100 children being treated at the hospital for leukaemia and blood related cancers. According to

Dr. Mrs. N. Paranagama, Deputy Director, their treatment is painful often causing considerable discomfort. "Art especially is very relaxing for children as well as their parents," the doctor says, adding that the children work well with the teacher.