Programs
It is our responsibility and duty to maintain the remnants of Sri Lankan puppetry and protect its artistic and cultural value for future generations. There are many ways all parties can work together to preserve this art that can proclaim Sri Lankan identity to the world proudly. Here are some steps and decisions that can take to re-energize these precious puppet arts.
- Use puppetry shows for entertainment events as Cultural workshop at the state or foreign festivals to bring this art back to the public society and create people awareness and interest
- Utilization of this art as a subject or subject sub-division for children's education and university education as a method of imparting knowledge.
- Taking action to conduct exhibitions and workshops in association with the Ministry of Tourism and its approved institutions and places.
- Use puppetry to educate and generate awareness in public about health education, sex education, diseases (such as AIDS, dengue, etc.) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
There are many more arts with a real core value. Therefore all should be focusing on these areas, and all sectors should work together to preserve these arts because it will lead to a better outcome for society.
Services
It is a fact that the artistic ambitions of the people of Sri Lanka have long been fulfilled by such a rural art called “Puppets.” But it should be remembered that many of the social ideals go beyond this. Via “Puppets” art, there are many services that can be provided to the community and some of them can be listed as below.
- Puppetry art able to provide primary education.
- Puppetry art can be used to provide entertainment and social awareness to children with mental disorders like autism.
- Puppetry art can be used by attracting international visitors to raise the local income.
- Puppetry art can be used as an easy and attractive method for advertising.
- Puppetry art can be used as a raising awareness about public health and social diseases.
- Puppetry art can be used to educate children and adults about child abuse and crime.
- Puppetry art able to create new jobs and involving young people through linking puppetry to tourism.
Many of these things can be provided by puppetry to society, and up to some extent are still going on. A lot of social programs are timely to do with this string puppetry that goes beyond just watching a show.
