COLOMBO : A Night For Palestine – by Stages Theatre Group and the Free Palestine Movement was held at Kolamba Kamatha BMICH, on Friday the 13th.
The purpose of this event was twofold; on the one hand it was to raise awareness about what is happening in Palestine through speeches and the arts; and it is also to bring to the attention of Sri Lankans, that with the change in government and the more progressive changes in policy, it is important for Sri Lanka to be consistent with its policy. PpThere were many issues addressed during the evening, not only of a clear stance against atrocities like genocide and that Sri Lanka needs to pass a resolution in Parliament to recognize Palestine as a country, but also for our labour laws and tourism industry to be consistent with these principles and values.
The audience was invited to sign a letter drafted to the Foreign Minister, highlighting the Free Palestine Movement’s concerns. Furthermore there were awareness stalls of local products that could be used as alternatives to products funding the genocide, and guests were free to sample the products on offer, from pizza, chips, drinks, chocolate and coffee. The Seeds of Solidarity stall had merchandise for sale, all proceeds going to the charity INARA.
The first play, Children of the Little Olive Park, was an adaptation of the book written by Ruwanthie de Chickera and illustrated by Ryan Holsinger, which had been devised and transformed into a play by the Youth Ensemble of Stages Theatre Group. It turns the Palestinian/Israeli conflict into a simple modern-day parable detailing how it began and why it remains unresolved. This book has received the endorsement of the Education Ministry of Palestine and it was initially distributed for free by the former Ambassador of the state of Palestine in Sri Lanka, Dr. Zuhair Hamdallah Zaid. The play was directed by Tracy Holsinger.
We were also privileged to have as keynote speaker, a stalwart of the Palestinian cause. No stranger to our TV screens in Talk shows, panel discussions and press conferences, Swasthika Arulingam is an Attorney at Law and a Trade Unionist. Swastika, who has always been passionately vocal and has arranged events to create awareness, stands in solidarity with the Palestinians’ right to statehood, right of return and the right to live without fear of persecution from Israel.
The next play Patterns of our Genocides is a poignant and devastating love letter from a young Rohingya refugee to a friend in Gaza. While witnessing the devastation taking place right now in Palestine, he reflects on the genocide against his own community, revealing parallel histories of systemic violence.
Directed by Ruwanthie de Chickera, this powerful performance explored the structural patterns that lead to and sustain a genocide.
AUDIENCE REVIEWS : ” I attended a double bill of plays at Kamatha in Colombo, both of which tackled the profound and difficult topics of oppression and genocide with remarkable sensitivity.
Patterns of Our Genocides delves into the recurring behaviors, strategies, and mechanisms that enable systemic violence, discrimination, and erasure of communities. It draws chilling parallels between the oppression faced by the Rohingyas in Myanmar and the ongoing plight of Palestinians, showing how such patterns escalate into mass violence. The play was powerfully cast, with Murthaaz Abdul Barry delivering a moving performance that brought many in the audience to tears.”
