- EMA speaks up about the bleak future ahead
BY Cassendra Doole
The Covid-19 pandemic spread across the world at an unprecedented rate, forcing the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare it a global pandemic. This resulted in lockdowns, curfews, travel bans, and various guidelines that surrounded the theme of social distancing on a global scale.
Many industries that were thriving prior to the pandemic faced massive revenue losses, forcing entire economies to take a step back and re-evaluate the situation. Naturally, the event management industry was one of the worst-affected sectors.
Two years in, the third wave of the pandemic too made an appearance, and following a recent travel restriction, the Government of Sri Lanka began to gradually reopen the country, bringing it back to a state of normalcy. However, at a recent media briefing, the Event Managers Association of Sri Lanka (EMA) claimed that the Government is heavily discriminating against the industry.
Stepmotherly treatment
During its first major engagement with the media, EMA charged the Government with discrimination, claiming that the limit of 50 individuals for corporate events was not enough for a corporate to hire an event management company for the event.
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EMA President Roshan Wijeyaratne[/caption]
“We thank the Government for opening up the wedding industry starting from Monday, permitting 150 pax, but we are a little concerned and confused as to why a sector like ours is given only 50 pax for corporate events. No company will hire an event company for a 50-pack event. This serves no purpose for our industry,” said EMA President Roshan Wijeyaratne.
“The Government considers the private sector as the engine of growth, but then why do they restrict industries from operating? The 225-member Parliament never ran online, and the members attended Parliament because they have to keep the country moving forward,” he added, stating that if the Government can allow export-oriented industries to operate because of the need for foreign exchange, then the Government must also allow the event management industry to operate similarly.
Wijeyratne further noted that if the situation continues as is, the event management industry will not be able to survive at all, adding that most companies were either already bankrupt or on the verge of bankruptcy.
“I’d like to ask the Government why they refused to understand the event industry and why are we being given stepmotherly treatment? We don’t want double standards. We want one standard, whether it be a corporate event, wedding, fashion show, or musical show – we want one standard with one set of guidelines,” he emphasised, urging the Government to open the corporate sector and give a limit of 150 pax with the hopes of gradually increasing the number later.
Guidelines forgotten on someone’s table
According to Wijeyaratne, the EMA had met with a number of government officials, including representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Commander of the Army, in order to share a booklet containing a set of extensive guidelines to be followed at all events. This was done in the hopes of keeping with the necessities brought about by Covid and to assist the Government in decreasing the risk of spreading the disease.
“We started planning on how we can move forward when the situation comes back to normal, and we met with Ministry of Health officials and took part with them in putting the guidelines together for the industry. We also came up with guidelines on how to do events in the new normal. We met up with all our member companies and told them how events should be held,” he said.
“These guidelines speak of how we can keep our industry alive in the long term. We have been a very responsible industry and this booklet includes guidelines on how we can hold events very responsibly. We want to support the Government to restart our industry and to make sure that everyone follows these guidelines,” he added.
However, the guidelines might never see the light of day, said Wijeyaratne, adding: “Unfortunately, it is now sitting on somebody’s table.”
A 50% seating capacity
The EMA urged the Government to consider allowing 50% seating capacity for venues such as Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre and the Lionel Wendt Art Centre.
“The event management industry is not a sole industry. By extension, it also fuels the entertainment industry. And so, we ask the Government to allow 50% of the seating capacity of indoor auditoriums in places like BMICH, Nelum Pokuna, and Lionel Wendt with all guidelines in place, because there won’t be any eating or drinking in these places and everyone will have the mask on at all times. Then the event and entertainment industry can open up.”
The Sri Lankan Government relaxed a number of Covid-19 rules and guidelines recently, allowing cinemas, museums, and theatres to operate at 50% capacity.
More trouble with debt moratorium
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EMA Treasurer Nishan Wasalathanthri[/caption]
Meanwhile, EMA Treasurer Nishan Wasalathanthri alleged that the debt moratorium extended to the sector only made things worse with the added interest that was charged.
“Our sector has fallen to the lowest point in the current situation because without opening our sector, we cannot conduct our activities. We launched our companies with one or two people, and later we added hundreds, and most of these people have been working with us for 20 years or more. So we cannot just ask them to leave,” he said, adding that right now, they have only expenses with no income and no way of paying their employees.
“We were given a moratorium, but this moratorium did nothing for anyone in the industry. Not just that, it even put us in more trouble, having to pay an additional interest. They said we were to either pay the amount in full or they offered another loan on top of the existing loan. How are we to pay another loan when we can barely keep up with the existing loan?” questioned Wasalathanthri.
“Grant us a grace period without a moratorium. Around 75% of our members are now listed in the Credit Information Bureau of Sri Lanka (CRIB). None of the financial institutions are going to help us in this condition,” he claimed. “We will adhere to all these guidelines. If we violate these, by all means penalise us. We will be responsible. Give us a grace period of six months. Allow us to protect the jobs of our people.”
Meanwhile, EMA Vice President Sajith Kodikara said: “Many event companies have made massive investments into infrastructure, equipment, and development of skills with investments ranging from Rs. 10 million to Rs. 800 million per business. They are now on the brink of collapse and are struggling to pay wages and meet financial commitments. Without assistance, they face impending bankruptcy. This will affect 130,000 direct and 600,000 indirect jobs and the people and families who depend on our industry for their livelihood.”
Event management in SL holds great potential
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EMA Asst. Secretary Saliya Weerasekera[/caption]
EMA Assistant Secretary Saliya Weerasekara said the event management industry holds great potential to present Sri Lanka as an entertainment hub in South Asia, particularly with the mega Port City project coming up. He said that safeguarding such an industry must be a priority of the Government.
“The local event management industry has a proven track record of hosting events on an international level with international standards. Events such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and live concert performances by internationally renowned singers such as Enrique Iglesias were all managed by our local talent,” he pointed out.
The EMA Handbook lists out detailed safety and hygiene standards and protocols to ensure that all future events will be hosted in a responsible manner, minimising the risk of Covid-19 transmission at events in order to avoid further shutdowns of an industry that is already on the verge of collapse after 14 months of closure.
The Association represents the interests of an array of business segments, from event management companies, wedding planners, equipment rental companies (sound systems, lighting, LED, etc.), stage and set fabricators, furniture and infrastructure rental companies, and digital creatives companies to venues, florists, musicians, event support services, entertainers, dance troupes, artists, designers, technicians, and many more.
In total, the entire sector is estimated to contribute as much as Rs. 30 billion towards the national economy.
“The handbook is created to simplify the organisers’ tasks of planning and hosting events and to mitigate the risk of weaker standards being applied. While the guidelines are already comprehensive, we expect to update it with additional information shortly,” EMA Committee Member Minha Akram added.
The Association also expressed its support for the Government’s efforts to control the pandemic and restart the Sri Lankan economy.
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EMA Advisory Counsel Gerry Jayasinghe[/caption]
“In order for all sectors of the economy to scale up activity and have a meaningful chance at recovery, we need to achieve 60% vaccination as soon as possible. Only then will we be able to see larger-scale events take place. We also take this opportunity to urge the public to continue co-operating with public health measures to speed our progress to recovery,” EMA Advisory Counsel Gerry Jayasinghe said.
