Musician Sunil Perera joins Maithri’s campaign for change

  Sunil Perera, Sri Lanka’s best-loved musician, on Saturday joined the campaign for ‘change’ saying he could not stay silent while young artistes were being beaten up for expressing their views. Perera, who has lampooned politicians over the years with his creative and innovative style of singing, told a meeting organised by artistes that, “these young artistes being beaten up are just my son getting assaulted. These sons and daughters are our sons and daughters”. Last week a group of pro-Maithripala artistes were attacked at a meeting in Kurunegala. Perera, who has not openly supported any political party in recent times, said neither his wife nor members of the band were in favour of him getting onto the political stage but he had said he could not remain on the sidelines when artistes were facing threats. “If artistes supporting the government are allowed to freely express their views, then that right should be given to everyone,” he added. Perera said he was campaigning for the right to freedom of expression, not necessarily for President Mahinda Rajapaksa or the latter’s main opponent, Maithripala Sirisena. In his trademark style, he ended his short speech - at an event that saw the presence of veteran artistes like Lucian Bulathsinghala - with a song (and a jig) reflecting on freedom and rights. The presidential election campaign has seen actors, actresses, producers, directors, musicians and lyricists coming out into the open in support of either Rajapaksa or Sirisena. – Ends -