PRESERVING CULTURE: The lead story of Thursday, May 25 of the Daily News was about President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordering the Public Performance Board (PPB) to ban the screening or telecasting through the television channels the controversial Sony Columbia Pictures movie Da Vinci Code, based on Dan Brown's best selling novel of 2003 on the same name.

This brings to my mind the strong protest brought by the Christians in the 1990s over the film Last Temptation of Christ. But of course the protestors could do nothing to prevent the film which had come in the DVD form to the country from being viewed in private homes. The same could be said of the `Da Vinci Code'. Those who have access would see it. None can prevent it.

The Public Performance Board (PPB) is already in the centre of controversy and public criticism for giving approval for Asoka Handagama's latest film Aksharaya. Some strongly feel that the film is not suitable even with the Adults only tag for the Sri Lankan audience. Critics have said that the film Aksharaya is hostile to the treasured cultural values of Sri Lankan community as it deals with the issue of incest and the ban is needed for the betterment of society.

Cultural Affairs Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene taking steps to ban the film being screened, or telecast, using powers vested in him as Minister has triggered public debate and it is already on. Some strongly feel that, the films of this type eat into the very fabric of Sinhala society and spoil the long cherished traditions.

In respect of the film Da Vinci Code some of the leading Buddhist monks while hailing the decision of the President to ban it said the visual productions hostile to religions and cultures of the respective communities and those challenging the faith and belief of Christians and Catholics should not be allowed to be screened.

This also brings to my mind the controversy triggered in 1950s over an incident where the then Minister of Cultural Affairs was dragged. If my memory serves me right it was about a shooting of a deer in the Sacred City of Anuradhapura. (It is claimed that Jayaweera Kuruppu was the first Minister of Cultural Affairs in the S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike MEP Government). No conclusions were made but the media had a good day owing to such incidents that rouse public anger.

I am also further reminded a controversy and public outcry over the publication of a little book on Mary, the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ. The book written by Ven. Mirisse Gunasiri Thera in Sinhala was named Kanya Mariyage Heti. It is regrettable that we lacked the leaders with courage to ban at the time what was unhealthy for social harmony and understanding.

Honouring someone or venerating a sacred object is part and parcel of human nature and the Sri Lanka polity with all their hundreds of shortcomings has something to be very proud of. That is, they are deeply religious whatever is said and done.

If we take an analytical view of the events just mentioned above and what happened a few decades ago, we see whatever the religion, all have had a sense of deep love and reverence to founders of religions and show esteem to the religious leaders. They never condone but condemn any attempt to tarnish or bring discredit and vilify the founders of religion. This is because Sri Lanka has people adhering to the four great religions in the world.

For this reason the country has won recognition of the international community as the Centre, a laboratory or the meeting point of four major religions in the World. It was very a beautiful sight to see that all religions are practised without hindrance from any quarter for long years. The example set by the religious dignitaries encouraged all to live and let live.

The open economy had its both good bad influence on our society. The human values which were taken to the religious realm are so deep that whether it was under closed or open economy, the people find it not a bar for them to go on protesting when such protests are called for.

If there is a feeling that the very foundation of our culture is shattered by the bad influence of the open economy and despite other benefits the people enjoy, the polity did not fear to raise their voice.

The fate of Aksharaya is now before courts. While it is to deal with the right to freedom of expression, the forthright action taken by the Cultural Minister has won him praise from those who are holding the view the Minister holds and brickbats from those opposed to the views held by the Minister. They go one step further and question what right the Minister has to ban the film. We will watch.

The criteria on a film, teledrama or a stage drama for that matter whether it should be shown or staged, should not be based on the fact that it has won international recognition or has won an award. But what matters is to decide carefully how it would affect the Sri Lankan culture cherished by so many and even the foreigners who find shelter for some time in Sri Lanka soil.

If a film or a book is not to the taste of the Sri Lankans and their divergent cultures, they preserve, and those in authority who have vowed to serve the community has to carefully study the film, drama or teledrama or peruse through the pages of a publication before releasing, so that a clear message would go to the public who are keen in knowing the mind of the Government in respect of issues claimed to be controversial or hit the good rapport among the people adherents of different religions.

While conceding that all are equal before law and that freedom of each has to be guaranteed and respect may I say that it is the duty of the Cultural Minister (whoever sits in that seat of power) is to take the decision at the correct time.

Also the Minister should scrap the Public Performance Board if it fails to respect religious and cultural values. It is the prerogative of the Minister in this instance to act swiftly to preserve the cultural values if he is determined to do so.