A friend of Sinhala cinema

I felt so happy to hear that Fr. Ernest Porutota had been honoured at the SIGNIS Salutations 2016 held last week. He well deserved the recognition for his untiring efforts over several decades to create a meaningful Sri Lankan cinema. He wrote on Sinhala cinema. He compiled data on Sinhala cinema and produced a Film Annual. He was outspoken on matters relating to censorship. He initiated film awards maintaining a high level of impartiality and independence. 

I have known Fr. Porutota since the late 1950s when he used to pay an occasional visit to the ‘Dinamina’. On his way to meet the editor, M.A. de Silva he would stop and have a word with some of us whom he knew were interested in cinema and theatre. The youthful priest dropped in either to hand over an article he had written or to have a chat with MAdeS whom he knew. Staff member Jayawilal Wilegoda was then writing on cinema. 

Fr. Porutota would undoubtedly have been influenced by Fr. Marcelline Jayakody whose interest in Sinhala art and culture was well known. While Fr. Jayakody’s keen interest was Sinhala music Fr. Porutota developed an interest in the cinema. To my knowledge there were no other priests in that era with similar interests.

Fr. Porutota was always on the lookout for avenues of how indigenous cinema could be improved to reach international standards. He played an active role in promoting serious writing on cinema. He was a founder member of the Film Critics and Journalists Association which in the early 1970s played a significant role in building up a high level of taste for Sinhala films. Sad as nothing is heard of it now.

His biggest contribution to cinema was the role he played in opening the Sri Lanka branch of the International Catholic Organization for Cinema (OCIC) now SIGNIS. This year was the 39th year OCIC/SIGNIS awards were presented.

Being keen on working towards a healthy tradition in cinema, OCIC did not believe in censorship. I remember him saying how OCIC does not believe in banning films and does not approve censoring films. Its objective was to encourage a new generation of filmmakers by holding seminars and workshops, publishing books and journals, and recognising well produced films and talented actors and actresses by presenting awards.

In selecting the films for awards he ensured that an independent jury did a thorough job. That’s why we hardly heard the awards being criticised.

Now in his mid-eighties, he has completed virtually sixty years in his priesthood. After his studies at Sr. Aloysius Junior Seminary and at National Seminary, Ampitiya, Kandy he entered priesthood in February 1957. Starting as an assistant parish priest at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena he later served as parish priest in over a dozen places in Western Province. Along with contributing to the Catholic weeklies, he started writing books from the early 1960s. 

Fr. Porutota did much to build harmony between Christians and Buddhists wherever he served as parish priest. As a Buddhist I felt quite at ease with him to discuss any subject, which we did. I remember meeting him and chatting during the time he lost one eye after a fire cracker hit it when he was watching a procession at the church premises at Nugegoda. I recall how composed and calm he was in describing the incident to me. In Buddhist terms he showed so much of equanimity.