Sri Lankan cinema celebrates 71 years
View(s):Today, January 21 is a historic day for Sri Lankans and especially for those who are cinema lovers. It was on January 21 1947, that Sri Lanka’s firsttalkie, ‘Kadawunu Poronduwa’ or “The Broken Promise” was first shown at the Kingsley Cinema in Colombo.
This historic day is being celebrated with a series of events organised by the National Film Corporation (NFC).
Religious observances were held on January 19 marking the 46th anniversary of the establishment of the NFC.
The main celebration will be held today, January 21 with the participation of Public Administration and Management Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Deputy Minister Susantha Punchinilame, Ministry Secretary J. J. Ratnasiri and all those involved in the film industry.
Starting at 3 pm, the day’s schedule includes unvailing of photographs of former NFC chairmen, planting of a tree in front of the corporation, a talk on Sri Lanka’s cinema history by Prof. Patrick Ratnayake, the launching of a film magazine, screening of a documentary film, felicitation of cinema artistes who won international recognitions in 2017 and awarding of diploma certificates and an analysis of cinema history with the film clips.