On the instruction of the Ministry of Culture and the Arts, the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Social Services are planning to hold a State Arts Festival from the year 2014 for the persons with special requirements with a view to develop the artistic skills of the people with disabilities, to expose their skills and give social recognition to them.
This Arts Festival is scheduled to be held at district and national levels. The winners who come first at district level will be qualified for the State Arts Festival. The State Arts Festival for the persons with disabilities will be held on 03rd December 2014 parallel to “World Day for the differently abled persons.”
The Festival is open for any Sri Lankan person with a disability. All the events of the competition will be conducted under 03 main categories. i.e Limited, Open and Wheelchair bound. Persons with congenital disabilities could participate under the limited category while the persons who became disabled due to diseases or accidents could participate under the open category. Contests will be held under these main categories for dancing, musical instrument playing, singing, drumming, drawings and drama creation. (KH)