Concessions for South Indian film producers

The Sri Lankan Government is favourably considering South Indian film producers’ request to grant special considerations for Indian film producers using Sri Lanka as a location to film their movies, National Film Corporation (NFC) Chairman Asoka Serasinghe said. He was addressing film producers in Tamil Nadu during an interactive session in Chennai last week.

Chief Guest Radikaa Sarathkumar recalled her fond memories of Sri Lanka. Serasinghe, in Chennai in connection with the Festival of Sri Lankan films underway in Chennai, also stated that the Government was keen to promote filming in Sri Lanka by foreign film makers and was especially keen to attract South Indian film makers and producers to Sri Lanka.

Listing some concessions, Serasinghe revealed that the NFC would waive off any charges for filming feature films in Sri Lanka with immediate effect.

Director and Actor Channa Perera narrating his experience related to his film Anjalika scheduled to be part of the Film festival. He said the NFC would grant a Surety Bond to the Sri Lanka Customs for clearance of camera and other equipment brought to Sri Lanka for filming and that the NFC would provide internal transport facilities and accommodation.

Serasinghe stated that in addition to these facilities, the NFC could also provide the services of extra artistes and assist with hiring local equipment if necessary and added that the NFC could also arrange to visit locations chosen through its Location Library and would also liaise with the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and SriLankan Airlines to obtain further concessions where possible.

In addition to the above concessions, Serasinghe also announced that the NFC was working towards reducing various fees charged by Government institutions and authorities. He stated that concerns regarding effective distribution of Indian films in Sri Lanka have also been addressed and requested producers to liaise with the NFC.

Serasinghe stated that the NFC had received many requests for concessions from Indian film makers on some of the requirements and payments imposed for filming in Sri Lanka.

He said in view of the cordial and long standing relations between India and Sri Lanka, the NFC was working towards fulfilling these requests.

It was also disclosed that an agreement had been finalised with the Gemini Group of Companies, India to produce a film as a joint venture by India and Sri Lanka featuring Sri Lankan and Indian stars.

The agreement was due to be signed in Sri Lanka during November after which work on this film would commence in December.

Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner in southern India P. M. Amza invited film producers and directors to choose Sri Lanka as a location for film shooting.

The scenic locations have encouraged several production companies to shoot films there and the Sri Lankan Government is keen on more such collaborations, Amza said at the inauguration of a Sri Lankan film festival.

“Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka share a rich tradition of cinema,” Amza said. “Even today, post-production of many Sri Lankan films is done in Chennai to achieve superior technical quality”.

The Tamil film producers expressed their satisfaction and stated that they were pleased that most of their requests had been addressed positively.

They also expressed their gratitude to the Sri Lankan Government and the NFC for considering their requests favourably and added that they would certainly be happy to use Sri Lanka as a preferred foreign film location for their future projects.

- Asian Tribune