‘THE LAST PHASE’, highlights Lanka’s unique post war revival
‘The Last Phase’, a documentary film depicting the true life story of
a former female LTTE cadre during the final stages of the humanitarian
operation was screened at a glittering function held at the Cinnamon
Lakeside Hotel in Colombo on Monday evening.
Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
graced the ceremony as Chief Guest.
The 45 minute documentary is directed and edited by Jeevan Chandimal,
a veteran in the local film industry. The documentary revolves around
the life of a former LTTE female cadre who grew up at ‘Senchcholai’, the
LTTE run orphanage for Tamil children.
‘Jayawadanee’ was brought up in an environment that was deliberately
planned to portray the other side as the necessary evil. She like many
others grew up with guns around her.
Though she was an exceptional student she was not allowed to pursue
higher education. Instead she was made to join the terrorist outfit as a
medical cadre.
Her ordeal during the final stages of the war left her with indelible
scars. Her family bears witness to unspeakable acts of cruelty being
committed upon people by the LTTE during the last stages of the war.
In the final stages when they were trying to cross over to the safety
of the Army, they get separated in a shell blast until they are reunited
with the help of the Security Forces months later. Jayawadanee and her
child both sustain serious injuries in the mortar blast directed at them
by the LTTE in order to stop them from fleeing to safety.
Presented by Richard Mundy and Anjani Perera, the documentary follows
the life of the main character, Jayawadanee through her ordeals from
childhood to the final moments of the war at the earth bund.
The authenticity of the story is supported by actual footage of
Senchcholai and the final stages of the war.
At a time when the nation celebrates four years of peace with the end
of the LTTE terrorist group, this documentary attempts to penetrate the
dark mysteries of death, horror, violence and crimes against humanity
with credible and authentic real life evidence.
Interestingly, it is only the final phase of this prolonged human
suffering of a nation that has been brought under international
scrutiny.
Sri Lanka was fighting a separatist terrorist outfit that invented
the radicalization process which introduced suicide terrorism to the
world.
Jayawadanee’s experience is an eye opener for the uninitiated who
continuously hound the government for accountability.
Sri Lanka’s post war revival is unique. Nowhere in the world has a
country rehabilitated former combatants, built houses, provided jobs and
looked after them except in Sri Lanka. In doing so it has given an
example to the world.
A panel discussion headed by Prof. Sharya Scharenguivel, Head of
Department of Private and Comparative Law, UoC, Mrs. Wasantha
Senevirathne, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law of the UoC Mrs. Rose
Wijesekera , Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, UoC was also held during
the event.
A large number of invitees, including ambassadors, Chief of Defence
Staff, Tri Forces heads, think tanks, academics, senior government
officials, NGO heads and local and foreign media personnel were present
on the occasion.
(Courtesy:Defence.lk)
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