Press Release: Undercurrents productions
Contact Paul O’Connor  info@undercurrents.org 1792 455900 / 07973 298359
March 22 2005

Send in the Tsunami Clown
Britain’s only Asian Clown will travel to the Tsunami hit areas of Sri Lanka on March 29th. Kingsley Perera from South Wales hopes to bring a message of hope to what are being dubbed ‘the Tsunami children’. Despite his strong Welsh accent, both of his parents were born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka before settling in Wales during the fifties.

Kingsley has proved to be very popular, being hired to entertain children across Wales at birthday parties. He hopes that he can support the Sri Lankan children in overcoming their trauma through his mime, juggling, bubble blowing, face painting and clowning work. It is the first time he has returned to Sri Lanka in 15 years.

When the full extent of the Boxing Day Tsunami became clear, Kingsley volunteered in the Sri Lankan embassy in London helping to ship emergency supplies. He is currently persuading arts shops to donate materials, which he will deliver to schools in Sri Lanka.

Undercurrents the award wining media charity based in Swansea, will document Kingsley’s journey. The documentary will be screened in June in community centres and cinemas across the UK to mark the six months since the Earthquake.

Gathering his clowning suits and spinning plates together, Kingsley said today
“Wales has done so much for Asia already so I want to continue strenghting the Welsh connection with Sri Lanka. By spending three weeks on the East coast of Sri Lanka in villages, schools, orphanages and relief camps, I hope to raise a few smiles amongst the devastation.”

Helen iles of Undercurrents added
“The staff of undercurrents are donating their time and energy to support Kingsley in helping as many people as possible.As the latest earthquake to hit Asia rings in the ears of the world, the undercurrents crew will be Sri Lanka from Tuesday March 29th until April 16th. As well as bringing Britians only Sri Lankan clown we also have trauma workers, a master builder, artists and a couple of videdo activists in our team. We plan to travel to the Sri Lankan East coast before heading North. We will also be filming our journey to screen around the festivals this summer so keep a look out for us as we feed back to how people will be able to help.'


Since Decembers tsunami, Undercurrents has raised funds for an organisation working on the East Coast building houses. Check out the excellent work as they work outside of the big development agencies. People power at its best!
 http://www.lankarealestate.com/20thmar2005.htm”