A stage to shine
Weeks of rehearsals, improvisation exercises, and music sessions culminated in performances that blended creativity and resilience. Marking a remarkable milestone of 25 years of promoting disability inclusion through the arts, Sunera Foundation proudly presented Samanalayaya 2025, its flagship drama festival showcasing the extraordinary talents of differently-abled youth. The grand finale was held on November 4 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.
An abundance of talent: Scenes from Samanalayaya-2025. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Over the past 25 years, Sunera Foundation has used drama, music, art therapy, and puppetry as tools to build confidence, nurture talents, and facilitate social inclusion for persons with disabilities.
In the months leading up to the finale, nine regional drama festivals were staged across the country during August and September, featuring over a thousand participants from Sunera Foundation workshops in locations including Kurunegala, Dambulla, Matara, Maharagama, and Nattandiya, among others. Each workshop staged an original play or dance, conceptualised, scripted, choreographed, and directed by Sunera trainers, while the participants brought the performances to life with energy, creativity, and determination. A panel of judges evaluated each performance, and the best productions were selected for the finale in Colombo.
The evening started with a vibrant dance performance by participants from the Dambulla workshop, many of whom are hearing- or speech-impaired or on the autism spectrum, followed by additional dance acts from Maharagama and Nattandiya, each act unique in its own way and helping showcase the talents of each participant. The drama segment featured three standout performances: The Puppet of Hope by the Kuliyapitiya workshop, telling the story of a struggling puppeteer; The Journey from Matara, about a haamu mahattaya who redistributes his possessions after the death of his wife; and The Magic Lamp from Nattandiya, a creative take on the classic tale of Aladdin. Each act reflected the participants’ remarkable creativity and determination to convey meaningful stories through performing arts.
The event supported by the Australian High Commission in Sri Lanka through a Direct Aid Program (DAP) grant concluded with an award ceremony honouring the trainers who guided the dances and dramas, with tokens of appreciation presented by Sunethra Bandaranaike, founder and chairperson of Sunera Foundation.
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