MR plays cameo to save local movie industry

 Mahinda Rajapaksa

• Wants Govt. intervention to develop industry 
• Says neglecting sector has resulted in poor quality and lack of competition 

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday took up the cause of the local movie industry, and criticised the Government for neglecting the sector, which has led to increased production cost and low quality.

Raising a question under Standing Order 27/2 in Parliament, the Opposition Leader demanded the Government to allow financial assistance for production and artists, tax concessions to import equipment, develop the Ranminitenna movie village, to introduce a proper waiting list for the few movies locally produced, and standardise the production and the distribution process of movies.

Talking about the pathetic condition of the local cinema industry, which is over seven decades old, being unable to compete with high-quality foreign productions, the Opposition Leader wanted the Government to step in with assistance.

“The Government should develop infrastructure facilities, technology, train human resources, introduce a proper system to distribute the films among the movie theatres, and recognise the artist and the people engaged in movie production. We were able to provide tax concession for movies that incurred over Rs.35 million production cost during our Government,” said Rajapaksa.According to the Opposition Leader, over 80 movies are waiting for an opportunity to be distributed among the movie theatres scattered on different parts of the country. “Distribution of movies should be given back to the National Film Corporation. The poor condition of the local cinema industry has affected the families of those who were depending on production related employments not to mention the creativity, which is also badly affected,” he said.