Sri Lanka’s CID intimidates estate sector cultural activists

Threats to Tamils cultural expression seem to continue unabated in Sri Lanka, despite a change of government, which promises to protect and promote the cultural aspirations of all. Even the impoverished upcountry Tamils are spared when it comes to their little cultural expressions.

Ruling NPP Presidential Election Manifesto assures “The right to preserve and develop the cultural identity of every community”.

The dawn to dusk working community in the plantation sector look upon to expressing their feeling, aspirations and reflection of their day-to-day life through very small outlets like street performances in the upcountry villages.
And, now of late even such cultural expression has come under intimidation.

A few days after the NPP won the parliamentary election with a 2/3 majority, a theatre group engaged in cultural activities of the estate sector Tamil community faced intimidation and cultural oppression due to the interrogations of an individual who introduces himself as an officer attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The ‘Theatre Mates’ drama team, based in Sri Lanka’s hill-country, alleges that they are being intimidated under the guise of an investigation and that their aesthetic work aimed at entertainment.

“Continuing to do this has become a headache. Do we not even have the freedom to engage in such artistic work?”

Last year, the Army and the Police Special Task Force (STF) along with the estate administration had prevented the presentation of a stage play titled ‘Layaththu Koligal’ by the Theatre Mates team in the Bogawanthalawa, Kotiyagala area.

Regional correspondents report that the Theatre Mates team performs a stage play titled ‘Amassing Millions’ (கோடியோரக் கூடல்) on the third Sunday of each month for children in various parts of the country. On 17 November, it was performed in the Bogawanthalawa area.

During the performance, an individual who arrived at the venue and introduced himself as a CID officer had questioned: “What are you doing here? Who organized this?” He had further claimed that the CID had sent him to the venue to conduct an investigation into the stage play.

In response, members of the drama team had questioned as to why CID officers were following them when the officers could have been part of the audience.

“We are performing a stage play here. You can also take a seat and watch it. Invite CID officers as well. They too can watch this. Why is the CID following us?”

With members of the drama team telling the self-proclaimed CID officer that there are more pressing matters in the Bogawanthalawa area requiring investigation rather than their stage play, a heated argument ensued between the two parties.

Regional reporters further said that the individual who declined the drama team’s request to see his official ID and left the venue.

In July, 2023, the Theatre Mates team filed a complaint regarding an attempt made by government-led law enforcement agencies in collaboration with estate owners to prevent the performance of a stage play that depicted the lives of plantation workers.

A complaint has been lodged with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) regarding the attempts made by the Army and STF along with the estate administration to obstruct the performance of ‘Layaththu Koligal’, which was scheduled for 9 July, 2023. The stage play’s director had expressed concerns over the security of future drama-related activities.