File photo not related to the Theatermates drama group.
The Theatermates drama group, an upcountry Tamil theater ensemble, is under growing pressure as its members face harassment and intimidation, allegedly by individuals falsely associating them with the Sri Lankan Army and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The group has filed an official complaint with the Bogawantalawa Police in response to these threats.
Incidents include CID officers visiting the home of one member on two separate occasions and army officers making inquiries at the workplace of another artist. These events have raised serious concerns about why a small and peaceful drama group is being targeted in this manner.
Despite these ongoing challenges, Theatermates continues to make significant contributions to the upcountry Tamil community. Beyond their theater productions, the group also leads initiatives such as a Right to Information (RTI) awareness program, aimed at educating the public about their legal rights.
Theatermates is led by accomplished drama artists Rasaiya Logananthan, Selvaraj Leelawathy, and Muragesu Ajantha, who are highly regarded in Sri Lanka’s theater scene and have received multiple national awards for their work.
Adding to their accolades, the group’s children’s play ‘Bye Bye Bungalow’ has been selected for the Parichay Utsav Theater Festival in Kolkata, India, set to take place this March.
The recent harassment faced by the group is not new.
During a performance at the Kodiyora Koodal event in Bogawantalawa on February 17, a man claiming to represent the CID arrived at the venue and began questioning the group. Speaking loudly and aggressively, he demanded to know, “What are you doing here? Who organized this event?” Despite repeated clarifications that Theatermates had organized the event, the man insisted he was sent to investigate.
Later, the man identified himself as a Samurdhi officer from Norwood and claimed, “I was sent here by the CID to investigate this group. I came for another event, and they asked me to check this one as well.” After creating considerable distress, the man eventually left.
Theatermates subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the Bogawantalawa Police. The police media unit has since clarified that there is no connection between the army or CID and this specific incident. However, an investigation into the Samurdhi officer’s actions is ongoing.
Last year, the group filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCL) after being harassed by army officers during a performance at the Kotiyakala Estate in Bogawantalawa. However, the HRCL has not yet investigated the complaint, leaving the group without resolution.
The persistent targeting of Theatermates raises broader concerns about the harassment of peaceful artists and activists.