A group of popular stars including Screen Queen and parliamentarian Malani Fonseka, Madu Madawa Aravinda, Damayantha Perera, Chandika Nanayakkara, Gihan Fernando, Kanchana Kodituwakku and Chandana Weerabaddana played different roles last week at the Leprosy Hospital in Hendala.

Popular actor Chandika Nanayakkara took the initiative to organize an evening with the 49 in-house patients at the hospital where they sang, danced and shared meals with them.

“These in-house patients are victims of social stigma. I feel no disease has been more closely associated with stigma than leprosy. The stigma and discrimination is due to lack of understanding and knowledge about leprosy. Today with the advancement in medical science, the disease could be totally cured in six months. These patients here can’t go home and join their families, so they will live here the whole of their lives.

It was my friend Trevor de Silva who told me about this hospital and the need for some solace to them. I contacted hospital director Dr. Namal Gunasekara and organized this get-together and sharing of gifts and food. Their sole form of entertainment is television and they are fond of artistes. I feel they need regular visits. Apart from the artistes who took part I am also thankful to Amith S. Senaratne who volunteered with the photography.,” he said.

(Hospital Phone number: 0112-930211)