Actor-director Ranajan Ramanayake's latest film 'Leader' has created controversy over its release as the Public Performance Board (PPB) has directed to remove some parts of the film which is revolving around a political theme.

The maiden production by Bevan Perera, a London Based businessman, the film was made with comparatively high budget of Rs. 40 million. "I invested on 'Leader' in order to promote local cinema internationally. But this is absurd that the PPB has asked to remove some of the vital scenes in the film," producer Perera complained.

"At the initiate stage the National Film Corporation had its full blessing on the film and even approved the script to be granted a financial assistance of Rs. 4 million,".

"And this amount was also approved by the present Chairman of the PPB Ashoka Serasinghe when he was the Chairman of the National Film Corporation. It is strange that now the same person as the chairman of the PPB is asking us to remove parts of the film.

The PPB in a letter has informed the film director on November 24 that the film was reviewed by the PPB and they had decided that certain scenes including an entire song had to be removed to reconsider on issuing permission for the public release on the relevant circuit.

"According to PPB decision, there is no guarantee that the film would be allowed to release even after removing the relevant scenes. The PPB wants to review it again to consider to grant permission for the public screening," the producer said.

"By removing those scenes there won't be a film to be watched by the public," director Ranjan Ramanayake said. However according to the filmmaker, the trailer which was passed by the PPB contained some of the censored scenes but it had been screening on the cinema over the last year. And the theme song that was ordered to be removed was filmed at the premises of Sarasavi studio in Dalugama and for this the permission was granted by the present chairman of the Censor Board, Ashoka Serasinghe who was then the chairman of the National Film Corporation.

Further completing entire filming, Mr. Serasinghe had scene a DVD copy of the film and even granted a loan from the Film Development Fund of the NFC for the post production. ‘It would be meaningless to screen the film without the said scenes,’ Mr. Perera said. He further noted that he together with the film director Ramanayake would resort to legal action if the film is not allowed to be released in full. Having directed 'Parliament Jokes' and 'One Shot' successfully with box office record, Ranjan directed 'Leader' as his third film.