SLIC and HNB:

Proud to be associated with Sarasaviya Awards

BY RAJMI Manatunga

THE 30th Sarasaviya Film Festival organised by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd (ANCL) will be held today at the BMICH. The festival which is the most glamorous event of Sri Lanka's Silver Screen is sponsored this year by the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) and the Hatton National Bank (HNB).

A special feature of this year's festival is that the cash prices for winners have been doubled. In addition, SLIC and HNB will present a free life insurance and a Pethum Vimana account to the 10 main winners of the festival.

HNB will also present cash rewards of Rs 50,000 to seven retired artists in recognition of their service to the cinema.

The Daily News interviewed SLIC Director Damien Fernando in this connection.

Q: Why did the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) decide to sponsor this year's Sarasaviya Film Festival ?

A: The SLIC is an organisation which since its establishment in 1961 has grown up with the support of the community. Therefore, we feel it is our responsibility to give something back to society. Extending our commitment to art, especially the film industry is one way of fulfilling that duty.

We believe that the relationship between the commercial organisations and society is vital for a country's development.

The 30th Sarasaviya Film Festival is the latest event which displays our corporate social responsibility.

Q: How has your organisation assisted artists and their respective industries in the past?

A: SLIC has contributed to various forms of art mainly in two ways. First, we have assisted artists in the fields of film, tele drama etc. financially by providing the capital for the production of their creations.

In this way SLIC has succeeded in exposing hidden talent to the world. Secondly, we have taken steps to encourage people in industries related to art by recognising and appreciating their contribution. Sponsoring the Sarasaviya Film Festival is such an instance.

Q: What significance do you attach to the Sarasaviya Film Festival?

A: The Sarasaviya Film Festival is like the Oscars in Sri Lanka. Although certain Sri Lankan films represent international film festivals, it is only at Sarasaviya which is the pioneer local film festival that all the Sri Lankan films produced within a year are appreciated.

Events like this play an important role in the development of the local film industry by encouraging local artists to create better works of art.

Another significance of this year's festival is that this year is the 30th anniversary of the event.

Q: How does your organisation view the role of art in society?

A: Art is an essential ingredient for the social development of a country. It builds character.

That is why in most countries in the world, children are encouraged to learn various forms of art from a very young age and continue it along with their education.

The pivotal role of art in social development is the reason why the business sector assists art. It is long-term investment.

Not all commercial organisations in Sri Lanka can afford to sponsor an event like the Sarasaviya Film festival. Therefore, those who have that opportunity should make use of it.

Q: Does the SLIC expect to continue its assistance towards art in future ?

A: Yes. We have always been willing to lend a hand not only to artists but also to other segments of the society. For example the SLIC has already completed a project to improve 100 under-developed schools with the help of the teachers, students and parents of those schools.

We will continue to perform our social responsibility in future.

The Daily News also interviewed Chandula P. Abeywickrama, Deputy General Manager, HNB.

Q: What is the role of the Hatton National Bank (HNB) in Sri Lankan art?

A: As a national bank of Sri Lanka HNB is interested in every local industry including cinema. The HNB's involvement with the art is three-fold. First, we have contributed to enhancing the quality of the Sri Lankan film and teledrama industry by producing a number of masterpieces.

This includes teledramas like 'Golu Hadawatha' and 'Sudo Sudu' which took famous works of art to a larger audience and teledramas like 'Iti Pahan' which exposed talented artists like Somaratna Balasuriya to the people.

Secondly, HNB has always been willing to keep faith in artists and provide loans to produce their works. The latest example of such a successful venture is the film 'Guerilla Marketing' by Jayantha Chandrasiri which was produced with our financial assistance. Thirdly, a large number of artists themselves benefit by banking with us.

Q: Why did the Hatton National Bank (HNB) decide to sponsor this year's Sarasaviya Film Festival?

A: As I said before HNB is a bank committed to assist indigenous industries, especially the local film industry.

Sri Lankan cinema may not have blossomed like Hollywood or Bollywood. But we believe that there is huge potential in our industry which could definitely be used to develop the local cinema, provided that the necessary infrastructure is available.

Another reason why the HNB decided to sponsor the event is the fact that the 30th Sarasaviya film festival coincides with the 30th anniversary of the incorporation of the HNB.

Q: What significance do you attach to the Sarasaviya Film Festival?

A: The Sarasaviya Film Festival is like the Oscars in the Western cinema. It is the most prestigious and most looked forward to event of the local film industry.

The thirty years of service it has rendered to the Sri Lankan cinema is enormous. We believe that appreciating and encouraging the talent of our artists through events like the Sarasaviya Film Festival is one way of ensuring the advancement of the local cinema.

Q: In your view, how can the commercial and business sector contribute to the development of the local film industry?

A: Sri Lanka is one of the best locations for the film industry. This is evident from the number of foreign films that are shot in Sri Lanka today. We also have very talented and dedicated artists.

That is why we believe that the local cinema has the capacity to flourish like Hollywood or Bollywood. But what is lacking is infrastructure.

If that requirement is fulfilled the commercial sector will not hesitate to provide financial and other means of assistance to the cinema. The film industries in countries like the United States, France and Italy are booming because the necessary infrastructure is available.

Q: Does HNB expect to continue its assistance towards art in future ?

A: Yes. It is for the first time that two financial institutions have come together to sponsor the Sarasaviya Film Festival. It is a giant involvement of HNB and SLIC which are two pioneer financial institutions and ANCL which is the largest print media institution in the country. This is just a beginning. We hope to continue our assistance in future as well.

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