‘We cannot carry on as usual’: Sri Lanka’s economic crisis forces artists to quit

Members of Sri Lanka’s creative community tell Peony Hirwani that their priorities have shifted from making art to making sure they can buy basics

A policeman stands guard in front of a banner during an ongoing anti-government demonstrations near the president’s office in Colombo (AFP via Getty)

Sri Lankan rapper Sahan Isuranga, widely known as DrBSKing, has not been able to run his studio in the past two months and his earnings have taken a hit.

The rapper is among hundreds from Sri Lanka’s vibrant community of creative artsists driven to despair as the country remains mired in deep economic and political crisis.

Protests have rocked Colombo and other parts of the island nation of 21 and a half million people following prolonged power cuts and fuel and medicines shortages triggered by a foreign exchange reserve crisis that has halted imports of essential items.