(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Award wining film banned under censorship laws The Free Media Movement is extremely disturbed by the news that the exhibition of Prasanna Vithanage’s award-winning film “Purasanda Kaluwara” (Death on a Full Moon Day) has been deferred due to the prevailing security situation. This film, which won […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release:
Award wining film banned under censorship laws
The Free Media Movement is extremely disturbed by the news that the exhibition of Prasanna Vithanage’s award-winning film “Purasanda Kaluwara” (Death on a Full Moon Day) has been deferred due to the prevailing security situation.
This film, which won the prestigious Grand Prix at the Amiens Film Festival and the International Critics’ Award at the Fribourg Film Festival, was due to be released shortly. This was in keeping with the tradition established by the National Film Corporation that any film produced in Sri Lanka and winning an award abroad is entitled to be exhibited as soon as possible after the receipt of the award.
However, on 22 May 2000, Mr. Ariya Rubesinghe, in his capacity as Competent Authority, informed Mr. Vithanage that he could not approve the exhibition of the film, citing Emergency Regulations as providing the basis for this decision.
Following the Supreme Court decision in the “Sunday Leader” case, Mr. Vithanage appealed to the Chairman of the National Film Corporation on July 3, 2000, asking for a re-consideration of this decision, since the Court had found the appointment of the CA and all his actions following the appointment to be unlawful. The NFC began making preparations for the release of the film.
However, Sri Lankan film-goers were once again denied their right to see Mr. Vithanage’s film. On July 21, 2000, Mr. Sarath Amunugama, writing to the Chairman of the NFC in his capacity as Minister of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development of the Northern Region, directed the NFC to defer the release of the film. This was intimated to Mr. Vithanage by Mr. Tissa Abeysekera, Chairman of the National Film Corporation, on the same day.
This directive not only violates the rights of Mr. Vithanage as a film-maker to exhibit his creative work to the Sri Lankan audience, but it restricts the capacity of all Sri Lankans to view a film that has brought international fame to the island.
As the Free Media Movement, we are particularly concerned about this move in the context of the general atmosphere of censorship and curtailment of freedom of expression in many different ways that we have experienced in the past months. Despite the repeated commitments of the government to permit a free flow of information and ideas, there has been little done to create an environment in which Sri Lankan citizens may truly enjoy these freedoms. Although the authorities have argued that the current “war footing” may warrant such restrictions, we strongly feel that any argument that justifies the hiding of some “truths” regarding the war in the north and east from the people of this country constitutes a violation of rights and a blatant display of political opportunism.
We call on the government to re-consider its decision to defer the exhibition of this film, and appeal to all democratic citizens to lend their voices of protest to ours, in safeguarding our right to choose our own sources of information and opinion.
Seetha Ranjanee
Secretary
Victor Ivan
Convenor
25.07.2000
