Dickman's Road named in honour of Maestro

The name of internationally acclaimed filmmaker Dr. Lester James Peries who turned 88 years last Thursday, April 5 was given to Dickman's Road in Bambalapitiya last week.

Dr. Lester James Peries

The road connecting High Level Road and Galle Road at Thimbirigasyaya was named as 'Dr. Lester James Peries Mawatha' for his service in creating a national and international identity for Sri Lankan cinema. The filmmaker made all his masterpieces from his residence at No 24 on this road which was open for anybody including amateur filmmakers, journalists, students hunting for information on films or anyone seeking his advise on cinema.

The move to name this road after the doyen of Sri Lankan cinema was first proposed eight years ago when he celebrated 80 years and several times after that. But every time it was turned down citing various reasons including administrative and bureaucratic difficulties.

This time it was President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself who had initiated the move to honour the filmmaker who is placed among Japan's Akira Kurasova and India's Satyajit Ray who were considered three world renowned filmmakers in Asia.

The event was coordinated by the Cultural Ministry and the Colombo Municipal Council.