Cinema of Sri Lanka

 

  Sri Lankan cinema includes film made in Sri Lanka. Beginning of industry that has struggled to establish, since its induction in 1947 with “Kadauna Poronduwa” produced by S.M.Nayagam of chithrakala move tone. Due to the language of the majority Sinhala people most of Sri Lankan film made in Sinhala language.

In early years most film were made in South Indian studios. So that South Indian film style influenced to the Sinhala films in early period. The pioneer director Lester James Peris was the first Sinhala film director who shot his first film completely out of the studio. It name was “Rekawa” in 1956. It was commended by local and international cities.

In 1963, Mr. Lester James Peris contributed development of Sri Lankan cinema with “Gamperaliya”. It was a turning point in Sri Lankan cinema doing away with songs, dance, comic and fights. He won the Golden prize at the International Film Festival of India in 1965. Since that he had made 20 feature films including Nidanaya and Kaliyugaya. He is considered as the father of Sri Lankan cinema.

During 1970 several talents came to the forefront while commercial cinema contributed to steal from Indian cinema. “Welikathara” by Dr. Nihalsingha Sri Lanka’s first film in cinemascope ratio wide screen in 1972. Wasantha Obesekara, Darmasena Pathiraja, Mahagamasekaraand Sumithra Peris are other major directors who stepped forward during this time.

In recent years few best movies made in cinema industry. The film produce such as Thissa Abesekara, Prasanna Vitanage, Vimukthi Jayasundara and Ashoka Handagama were became the leader in the industry and they have attempted to breathe new life in to the industry.

More over state film corporation (SFC) established a unique credit scheme for film production loans were given on the basis of script evaluation.