Natasha Edirisooriya, a Sri Lankan comedienne, who was once accused of allegedly “defaming” Buddhism during her performance of the show Modibhimanaya (Fool’s Pride) and later acquitted, has launched a new video series detailing her prison experience. However, Natasha is no longer the high-spirited girl full of giggles and infectious laughter that once captivated audiences.
In a sombre tone, she reflects on the 39 days she spent in the Welikada Remand Prison, paying tribute to her fellow inmates. “I was not broken because of the genuine human relationships I formed with other inmates,” Natasha said.
Natasha also expressed her thoughts on the current action plan for prison reform, emphasizing the importance of including the voices of inmates in shaping progressive reforms. “Prison is a very different place when viewed from the inside,” she reflected.
She plans to create a series of video presentations to share her prison experience as a gesture of gratitude to the genuine men and women she met during her time there.
Gesture of Gratitude
The larger question arising from her case is the harsh response to a satirical comment, which has seemingly silenced a talented comedian. Natasha was charged under Section 3(1) of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act No. 56 of 2007. The charge against her was “uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings.”
Despite the Senior Deputy Solicitor General for the Attorney-General raising no objections to granting her bail, Natasha was remanded and later acquitted. Many civil rights activists and international organizations expressed concern about her case, which drew both sympathy and continued expressions of hate—an unfortunate reality.
