SAARC Special Lecture by Ms. Sulochana Dissanayake

The Seventh Session of the SAARC Special Lecture (Virtual Mode) titled ‘Is Puppetry Relevant in 21^st Century South Asia’ was held on (Friday), 13^th December 2024, 2:00 pm (Sri Lanka Standard Time) at the SAARC Cultural Centre (SCC), Sri Lanka. The speaker of the SAARC Special Lecture Series was Ms. Sulochana Dissanayake founder and artistic director Power of Play (Pvt) Ltd. A graduate of Bates College (B.A in Economics and Theatre), her study of social economics combined with formal training in acting, directing, playwriting and puppetry has led her to connect with diverse audiences using non-traditional tools for effective communication. She capitalizes on her experience in the USA, Europe, Africa and Asia to customize unique communication solutions for the corporate, governmental and non-governmental sectors of Sri Lanka. Her lecture provided a holistic understanding of how puppetry can address critical social issues such as gender inequality, racial harmony, economic and political crises, climate change and its role in protecting the environment and promoting culture, particularly within the South Asian Region.