A teledrama to promote the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka

Well-known film, teledrama and stage play Producer and TRC Senior Consultant, Dr. Arosha Fernando has launched his latest teledrama production ‘Samanalunta Enna Kiyanna’ with its muhurath ceremony recently held at the Grand Monarch Hotel with Minister of Agriculture and General Secretary of SLFP Duminda Dissanayake as the Chief Guest and many other well-wishers from the industry. 

The production is another project of the Agriculture Ministry and National Food Promotion Board, and directed by the veteran film and teledrama director and the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Films Guild, Anuruddha Jayasinghe. One of the key objectives of the production is to address number of burning issues in the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka in an artful manner, and to promote the use of new technologies that are readily available in Agriculture sector by way of educating the mass especially the youth segment.  

The cast includes Chinthaka Kulatunga, Buddadasa Vithnaarachi, Gayesha Perera, Isuru Lokuhettiarachi, Ayesha Disanayake, Nayana Thara, Hansamala Janaki, Methin Jayasooriya, Ayodhya Dakshika, Anton Kure, Badra Nandani, Anjana Premaratna, Dayasiri Hettiarachi, Jayantha Muthuthanthri, Suneth Priyasantha, Daya Thenakoon, Gresh Thennakoon, Kaushlya Samarasinghe, Rohan Ranathnga and many more. It will be shot mostly in the scenic locations in Anuradhapura and surrounding areas and in few locations in the Colombo city. The first schedule of shooting is to be commenced from early August, with a planned 100 episodes.  

Recognised as the producer who has produced highest number of creations in the shortest time frame in Sri Lanka, this is Dr. Arosha’s fourth teledrama production where he has produced nine films, three teledramas and two stage plays within a short period of three years. Dr. Arosha’s first teledrama Suriya Bhanu telecasted on ITN in 2014 followed by Ida Denna on Rupavahini in 2016. His third Punarjai is scheduled to telecast from August this year, and his fourth and the latest production Samanalunta Enna Kiyanna is expected to telecast before end of the year.

In an exclusive interview, Dr. Arosha said that his first teledrama Suriya Bhanu was focused on bringing justice to the society followed by both Ida Denna and Punarjai teledramas were focused on the post war reconciliation process in an artful manner giving a positive message to the mass. 

“Similarly the new teledrama Samanalunta Enna Kiyanna too is focusing on giving a positive message to the mass on issues related to the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka. I strongly feel wherever possible we should use media especially through teledramas to address the timely issues of the country and the society in a tactful manner. This has been done very cleverly in most of the developed countries, and I am trying my level best to do the same here. My fifth and next teledrama production will be focusing on the drug eradication program and the youth which is currently at the planning stage. I am hoping to commence this new project by September this year, and hope that too will carry a good message to the society,” he added.