Monopoly in film distribution: DC extends enjoining order against Film Corp.

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Colombo District Court yesterday extended its interim order, against the decision allowing the National Film Corporation to distribute films, to 25 July.

District judge R.P.D.P.P. Ratnayake issued this order consequent to the complaint filed by private film distributors E.A.P. Films and Theatres Ltd, Movie Producers and Importers Ltd, Lanka Film Distributors Company Ltd. and Cinema Entertainment Ltd. citing the National Film Corporation as the Defendant.

President’s Counsel S.A. Parathalingam with N.R. Sivendran and Achini Ranasinghe, instructed by Anoma Goonetilleke, appeared for the plaintiff.

The plaintiffs state that it was brought to the notice of the Cabinet that the monopoly over the entire local cinema industry, which was in the hands of the National Film Corporation, has not proven effective both in formulating policies to meet new developments and in the management of the distribution of local films and other related activities.

They say that a Cabinet decision was taken in regard to handing over the distribution of films to the private sector.

They state that consequent to the applications made by them, a written agreement was entered into. They also state that the National Film Corporation under ‘Rithma’ distribution equally distributes films islandwide to the various theatres and there are 61 theatres under Rithma distribution.