Development of cinema:

Long term plan needed

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the time had come for all those in the cinema industry to get together and device a long term plan for the development of cinema. Addressing the audience at a national cinema discussion organized by the National Film Corporation (NFC), Minister Rambukwella said that he is happy that the institution taken note of the crisis and is looking to find solutions to deal with the problem.

"I am happy that the NFC had not turned a blind eye on the situation. Locally produced commercial and artistic movies were equally popular in the 1970s and '80s. When Nidhanaya and Weli Kathara were running in cinemas Chandi Putha too competed with them and gained equal popularity. A lot of artistes worked on projects and the industry was flourishing," he said.

The introduction of television challenged the cinema's position in the entertainment scene. However they took on two different courses after a short-while and began catering to different audiences in the west. Sri Lanka too needs to take similar strategies to lure masses back to the film theatres.

"When Winston Churchill decided to prosecute the war with Germany he said that he had only blood, toil, tears and sweat to offer but President Mahinda Rajapaksa had commented that he will triumph over terrorism, win the election and take up the agricultural issues. He had overcome the first two hurdles and his focus is on agricultural development. The Hambantota project is the first step towards this aspect," Minister Rambukwella said adding that cinema has a crucial role to play in the development process.

"Those in the North East region were the ones is who were the most effected by terrorism. We need to ensure that the environment is right for development," he noted.

NFC Chairman Kumar Abeysinghe said that around 50 veterans connected to the cinema industry will be taking part in the discussions. Directors D B Nihalsinghe and Somaratne Dissanayake too spoke.

The event was held at Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) yesterday. The second session will be held at the same venue today.