Features

The Great Cinemas of Colombo

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/22

In this series of interviews on Colombo’s heritage, we cover Colombo’s great cinemas with Historian Asiff Hussein, the Author of The Great Days of Colombo.

By Ifham Nizam

Q:In your book ‘The Great Days of Colombo’ you have covered Colombo’s cinema scene comprehensively. How would you trace the evolution of our cinema theatres. How long do they go back to?

A:It’s a long story, but to keep it short, entertainment in the form of movies was a gradual development. There is said to have been an Englishman named Warwick Major who put up what is described as a tent at the site of the present Regal Theatre to screen English films or bioscopes as they were then called. That must have been in the early 1900s. Another early development was what was called the ‘Bioscope’. The American Consul for Ceylon Stillman Eells wrote in Small Island Markets for American Motion Pictures (1931 that: “There is also a touring “Electric Bioscope” which shows at various times in town halls at more or less regular intervals, with an average audience of about 400 in each place”. It is possible that it showed in Colombo as well. Older folk I have spoken to also recall the ‘Bioskope Man’ who pushed his cart and showed movies like in the cinemas.

This Bioscope man was a Muslim who pushed his cart along the roads of Slave Island and elsewhere in the 50s and 60s. He would gather a few customers and roll the film with a handle while passing it through a light source and a glass that magnified the image and projected it on to a black box. These were monochrome silent films and the man would give a running commentary on the film in Tamil which was understood by the Muslims there. Who knows, there may have been others. Modern cinema as we know it came in the inter-war years, that is to say the years between the Great War or World War I and World War II. The American Consul for Ceylon Stillman Eells wrote in Small Island Markets for American Motion Pictures (1931): “There are three sound theatres in Ceylon- The Empire, the Regal and the Majestic Talkies, all of which are located in Colombo. The latter two are equipped with fading lights and exhaust fans. The average programme at each of the houses is a half hour of gramophone records prior to the opening of the show, a synchronised or talking news reel, a synchronised or talking comedy, and a synchronised or talking feature reel. Pictures at all three theatres are changed twice a week. The majority of talking pictures so far exhibited have been of American origin, although a few British and German productions have been shown”He goes on to say: “A remarkable thing about the exhibition of talking pictures in Ceylon is their popularity with the natives, even those who do not understand English. Every theatre in Ceylon gives two shows nightly, one at 6. pm and the other at 9.30 pm. At the 6 pm performances of the sound theatres, the cheaper class of seats are always filled, mostly by natives who do not understand English. The English-speaking natives and the Europeans have almost forgotten the silent drama for the talking pictures, and even when films are only synchronised, extremely adverse comments are heard from the audience. It would therefore seem that the talking film has really “taken” in Ceylon”.

Q:Who were the pioneers of Modern cinema theatres in the city?

A:One of the earliest was Regal at Parsons Road (now Sir Chittampalam Gardiner Mawatha) set up in 1930 by Ceylon Theatres and which at the time had 900 seats equipped by an American company. At that time it was one of only three talkies or sound theatres in Colombo, the other two being the Empire and the Majestic.

Majestic Cinema at Galle Road Bambalapitiya was originally established by the Parsi-owned Madan Theatres in the inter-war years was bought over by Ceylon Theatres owned by Chittampalam Gardiner. It was called Majestic Talkies back then in the 1930s and was soon showing some great American movies. They showed some very good films and attracted movie buffs of all kinds. They mainly showed Metro Goldwyn Mayer movies like Scapegoat, Green Helmet, Tarzan the Apeman, Secret of Monte Cristo and The Mirror has Two Faces in the early 1960s. In the 1980s the old cinema was demolished by its owners of the Page family and replaced by Majestic City, a large commercial mall which also included a cinema complex still known as Majestic Cinema. The Liberty Cinema at Turret Road, Colpetty (now Dharmapala Mawatha) was built by Jabir A.Cader in the 1950s and showed films by both Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures. One of the first films shown at the Liberty was A White Christmas. Later came the comedies staring Gerry Lewis and Dean Martin and Danny Kaye’s Knock on Wood, musicals like Cliff Richard’s Summer Holiday and My Fair Lady, thrillers like Towering Inferno and Cassandra Crossing, horrors like Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo and Psycho and Robert Aldrich’s Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. The early years of the sixties also saw Franco Zefferelli’s Romeo & Juliet screened here. It is said that whenever a Western was shown at the Liberty, young men would come out with their hands as if about to draw a gun.

Savoy Cinemaat Galle Road, Wellawatte was also built in the fifties and must have taken its name from the more famous Savoy cinema of London. It was owned by a person named CV De Silva who is said to have started life providing entertainment for overseas troops stationed here during World War II which was built by one Jason Fernando. In the late fifties it was the scene of a commotion when they screened the 1956 musical film Rock Around the Clock featuring Bill Haley and the Comets when some Burgher boys attending the evening show got into a frenzy and started dancing inside the cinema. The police apparently had to be brought in to quell the situation as the boisterous lot became a nuisance to the rest of the audience. Among the better known films screened there in the 1960s were Gun Fever, Lady Chatterly’s Lover and The Case Against Brooklyn. They also showed the James Bond Movies Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger and Thunderball.

The Rio at Kumaran Ratnam Road, Slave Island came much later, in 1965. . It was set up by Appapillai Navaratnam. At the time it had an open area opposite the cinema which served as a parking lot for cinema patrons. The section between it and the roadway was adorned with cutouts of the film running at the time. The early films shown here were mainly Twentieth Century productions and musicals such as South Pacific, Sound of Music, Can Can and West Side story, war films like Alamo and humorous adventure films like Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines.

Q: What was the experience like for movie-goers of the early days, any idea about it?

A:I can speak of the 1960s because I gathered a lot of information from some of our older movie buffs who fondly recall those days. Tickets back then even in the best cinemas cost from fifty cents to three Rupees max. The Gallery usually cost fifty cents, Second Class 1 Rupee, First Class two rupees and Balcony three rupees

Even then almost all the cinema theatres had air-conditioning and so it must have been a very comfortable experience. It would be surprising to many that the Rio was probably the country’s most family-friendly cinema at that time. This is of course a far-cry from today with its focus on adults only movies. It is sad to see the impact the 1983 riots had on it. It was a victim of the riots and was burned by a mob. It recovered, but the quality of its films sadly declined. Today it is only a shell of its former self.

But back then, its impressive facade was Neon lit at night with red lighting running through the name Rio at the very entrance and blue lighting throughout the side of the building. Rio’s exterior in the good old days was covered with Ceylon timber such as Gintota Ply with Satin and Kirihambiliya facings. It also had large comfortable seats upholstered in foam rubber and creamy beige rexine and with satinwood arms which were all tailored to give an unobstructed view of the large screen over forty feet wide and nearly forty feet high. The large lounge which was open to cinema patrons was provided with snacks such as Chinese rolls from the Nippon Hotel across the road. Its snack bar served patties, sandwiches and hamburgers while its ‘sweet bar’ facing the hall was amply stocked with ice chocs, soft drinks, cashew nuts and peanuts.

A couple of cinemas also had usherettes back then. For instance, Rio its early years had its usherettes attired in grey air force caps with a white stripe running in the middle, white shirt and bluish grey jacket and skirt. These women are said to have been drawn mainly from the Burgher community. They would go around carrying trays strapped to their shoulders and selling refreshments like ice chocs. Its snack bar served patties, sandwiches and hamburgers.

It was the same with the Savoy. They too had usherettes in the 1960s. These were usually Burgher women. They would be dressed in white frocks and red and white dotted cravats. They would have torches to show people their seats. In the intervals would make another appearance holding trays filled with sweets and ice chocs for sale.

So I guess it was quite an experience then!

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Features

Illegal solar push ravages Hambantota elephant habitat: Environmentalist warns of deepening crisis

Published

16 hours ago

2026/03/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

Land earmarked for the project

A large-scale move to establish solar power plants in Hambantota has triggered a major environmental and social crisis, with more than 1,000 acres of forest—identified as critical elephant habitat—cleared in violation of the law, environmental activist Sajeewa Chamikara said.

Chamikara, speaking on behalf of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform, said that 17 companies have already begun clearing forest land along the boundaries of the Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve. The affected areas include Sanakku Gala, Orukemgala and Kapapu Wewa, which are known to be key elephant habitats and long-used movement corridors.

He said that what is taking place cannot be described as development, but rather as a large-scale destruction of natural ecosystems carried out under the cover of renewable energy expansion.

According to Chamikara, the clearing of forests has been carried out using heavy machinery, while large sections have also been deliberately set on fire to prepare the land for solar installations. He said that electric fences have been erected across wide stretches of land, effectively blocking elephant movement and fragmenting their natural habitat.

“These forests are not empty lands. They are part of a living system that supports wildlife and nearby communities. Once destroyed, they cannot be easily restored,” he said.

The projects in question include a 50 megawatt solar development undertaken by five companies and a larger 150 megawatt project implemented by 12 companies. The larger project is reported to be valued at around 150 million US dollars.

Chamikara stressed that these projects are being carried out in a coordinated manner and involve extensive land clearing on a scale that raises serious environmental concerns.

He further alleged that certain companies had paid about Rs. 14 million to secure support and move ahead with the projects. He said this points to a troubling failure of oversight by state institutions that are expected to protect forests and wildlife habitats.

“This is not only an environmental issue. It is also a serious governance issue. The institutions responsible for protecting these lands have failed in their duty,” he said.

Chamikara pointed out that under the National Environmental Act, any project of this scale must receive prior approval through a proper Environmental Impact Assessment process.

He said that clearing forest land before obtaining such approval is a direct violation of the law.

He added that legal requirements relating to archaeological assessments had also been ignored. Under existing regulations, large-scale land clearing requires prior evaluation to ensure that sites of historical or cultural value are not damaged.

“The law is very clear. You cannot go ahead with projects of this nature without proper approval. What we are seeing is a complete disregard for legal procedure,” Chamikara said.

The environmental impact of these activities is already becoming visible. With their natural habitats destroyed, elephants are increasingly moving into nearby villages in search of food and shelter. This has led to a sharp rise in human-elephant conflict in several areas.

Areas such as Mayurapura, Gonnooruwa, Meegahajandura and Thanamalvila have reported increasing encounters between humans and elephants. According to Chamikara, more than 5,000 farming families in these areas are now facing growing threats to their safety and livelihoods.

He warned that farmers are being forced to abandon their lands due to repeated elephant intrusions, while incidents involving damage to crops and property are rising. There have also been increasing reports of injuries and deaths among both humans and elephants.

“This is turning into a serious social and economic problem. When farmers cannot cultivate their lands, it affects food production, income and rural stability,” he said.

Chamikara also raised concerns about the broader environmental consequences of clearing forests for solar power projects. While renewable energy is promoted as a solution to reduce carbon emissions, he said that destroying forests undermines that goal.

“Forests play a key role in absorbing carbon dioxide. When you clear and burn them, you are increasing emissions, not reducing them. That defeats the purpose of promoting solar energy,” he explained.

He added that large-scale deforestation in dry zone areas such as Hambantota could also affect local weather patterns and reduce rainfall, which would have further negative impacts on agriculture and water resources.

Chamikara called for a shift in policy, urging authorities to focus on more sustainable approaches to solar power development. He said that rooftop solar systems on homes, public buildings and commercial establishments should be given priority, as they do not require clearing large areas of land.

He also recommended that solar projects be located on degraded or abandoned lands, such as areas affected by past mining or other low-value lands, rather than forests or productive agricultural areas.

“Renewable energy development must be done in a way that does not destroy the environment. There are better options available if there is proper planning,” he said.

Chamikara urged the Central Environmental Authority and the Department of Wildlife Conservation to take immediate action to stop ongoing land clearing and investigate the projects. He stressed that all activities carried out without proper approval should be halted until legal requirements are met.

He warned that failure to act now would lead to long-term environmental damage that could not be reversed.

“If this continues, we will lose not only forests and wildlife, but also the balance between people and nature that supports rural life. The consequences will be felt for generations,” he said.

The situation in Hambantota is fast emerging as a critical test of whether development goals can be balanced with environmental protection. As pressure grows, the response of authorities in the coming weeks is likely to determine whether the damage can still be contained or whether it will continue to spread unchecked.

By Ifham Nizam

Features

Why Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings need to be at the heart of conflict resolution

Published

16 hours ago

2026/03/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

Mahatma Gandhi

All credit to the Tamil Nadu government for taking concrete measures to perpetuate the memory of the renowned Mahatma Gandhi of India, who on account of his moral teachings stands on par with the likes of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Confucius and Jalaluddin Rumi, to name a few such all-time greats. The time is indeed ripe to draw the world’s attention to the Mahatma’s humanistic legacy which has resonated in the hearts of peace-oriented sections the world over down the decades.

Under its mega developmental blueprint titled ‘ Tamil Nadu 2030’, the Tamil Nadu government, among other things, intends transforming villages into centres of economic growth in conformity with the Mahatma’s vision of making the village the fundamental unit of material and spiritual advancement. Thus will come into being the ‘Uttamar Gandhi Model Villages Project’, which will be initially covering 10 village Panchayats. (Please see page 3 of The Island of March 11, 2026).

The timeliness of remembering and appreciating anew the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi resides in the utter lawlessness that has been allowed to overtake the world over the last few decades by none other than those global powers which took it upon themselves to usher in a world political and economic order based on the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Mainly in ‘the dock’ in this regard are the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

As is plain to see, the international law and order situation has veered out of control. Principal priorities for the international community or what’s left of it is to prevent the current mainly regional war in the Middle East from degenerating dangerously into another world war, coupled with the task of eliminating the possibility of another nuclear holocaust.

The most scorching of ironies is that the world’s ‘number one power’, the US, has virtually lost its way in the ‘Global Disorder’ it has been party to letting lose. For instance, instead of making good its boast of militarily neutralizing Iran and paving the way for the constant flow of fuel and gas from the Strait of Hormus by itself and Israel, it is now appealing to the rest of the West to come to its assistance. Not surprisingly, US allies are indicating their unwillingness to help pull the US’ ‘chestnuts out of the fire’.

Oil and gas are the veritable life blood of countries and going ahead it should not come as a surprise if impatience gets the better of the major powers and the nuclear option is resorted to by some of them under the dangerous illusion that it would be a quick-fix to their growing economic ills and frustrations.

All the above and more are within the realms of the possible and the need is pressing for humanistic voices to take centre stage in the present runaway crisis. As pointed out in this column last week, Realpolitik has overtaken the world and unless the latter is convinced of the self-destructive nature of the major powers’ policy of ‘meeting fire with fire’ to resolve their disputes, annihilation could be the lot of a good part of the world.

For far too long the voice of humanity has been muted and silenced in the affairs of the world by the incendiary threats and counter-threats of the big powers and their allies. No quarter has been bold enough in these blood pressure-hiking slanging matches to speak of the need for brotherly love and compassion among nations and countries. But it’s the language of love and understanding that is the most pressing need currently and the Mahatma in his time did just that against mighty odds.

At present the US and Iran are trading threats and accusations over military-related developments in the Gulf and it’s anybody’s guess as to what turn these events will take. However, calming voices of humanity and moderation would help in deescalating tensions and such voices need to go to the assistance of the UN chief and his team.

The Mahatma used the technique of ‘Satyagraha’ or the policy of non-violent resistance to oppose and dis-empower to a degree the British empire in his time and the current major powers would do well to take a leaf from Gandhi. The latter also integrated into the strategy of non-violent resistance the policy of ‘Ahimsa’ or love and understanding which helped greatly in uniting rather than alienating adversaries. The language of love, it has been proved, speaks to the hearts and minds of people and has a profoundly healing impact.

Mahatma Gandhi defined the ideal of ‘Ahimsa’ thus: ‘In its positive form, “Ahimsa” means the largest love, the greatest charity. If I am a follower of “Ahimsa”, I must love my enemy or a stranger to me as I would my wrong-doing father or son. This active “Ahimsa” necessarily includes truth and fearlessness.’ (See; ‘Modern Indian Political Thought; Text and Context’ by Bidyut Chakrabarty and Rajendra Kumar Pandey, Sage Publications India, Pvt. Ltd., www.sagepub.in).

In the latter publication, the authors also defined the essence of ‘satyagraha’ as ‘protest without rancour’ and this is seen as ‘holding the key to his entire campaign’ of non-violent resistance. From these perspectives, the teaching, ‘hatred begets hatred’ acquires more salience and meaning.

Accordingly, the voice of reason and love needs to come centre stage and take charge of current international political discourse. The UN and allied organizations which advocate conflict resolution by peaceful means need to get together and ensure that their voices are clearly heard and understood. The global South could help in this process by seeing to the vibrant rejuvenation of organizations such as the Non-aligned Movement.

An immediate task for the peace-oriented and well meaning is to make the above projects happen fast. In the process they should underscore afresh the profound importance of the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, who is acclaimed the world over as a uniting and healing political personality and prophet of peace.

If the Mahatma is universally acclaimed, the reason is plain to see. Put simply, he spoke to the hearts and minds of people everywhere, regardless of man-made barriers. The language of peace and brotherhood, that is, is understood by everyone. The world needs more prophets of peace and reconciliation of the likes of the Mahatma to drown out the voices of discord and war-mongering and ensure that the language of humanity prevails.

Features

Exciting scene awaits them …

Published

16 hours ago

2026/03/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Future Model Hunt extravaganza, organised by Rukmal Senanayake, and advocacy trainer Tharaka Gurukanda, held in late January 2026, has brought into the limelight four outstanding contestants who will participate, at the international level, this year – Sandeepa Sewmini, Demitha Jayawardhana, Diwyanjana Senevirathna, and Nimesha Premachandra.

Nimesha took the honours as Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2026 and was featured in The Island of 05th March,

Sandeepa Sewmini was crowned Miss Supranational 2026 and will represent Sri Lanka at the big event to be held in Poland later in the year.

A Business Management and Human Resources student, she will be competing under the guidance of Rukmal Senanayake from the Model With Ruki – Model Academy & Agency.

The Mister Supranational Sri Lanka crown went to Demitha Jayawardhana, a 20-year-old professional model and motocross rider.

Apart from modelling he is engaged in his family business.

Demitha Jayawardhana: Mister Supranational Sri Lanka 2026

Demitha is also a badminton player with a strong passion for sports, fitness and personal growth.

In fact, he is recognised for his strength, discipline, and passion for fitness.

A past student of Wycherley International School and St Peter’s College, Colombo, Demitha is currently in his second year of Economics Management at the Royal Institute of Colombo.

He will represent Sri Lanka at the 10th edition of the Mister Supranational pageant, in Poland, in August, 2026.

Mister and Miss Supranational are annual international beauty pageants, held in Poland, and are designed to discover new talent for the modelling and television industries and produce instant celebrities.

The competition focuses on elegance, intelligence, and social advocacy, with contestants, representing their countries.

The newly appointed Miss Teen International Sri Lanka 2026 is Diwyanjana Senevirathna.

She was crowned at the Future Model Hunt and will represent Sri Lanka at the Miss Teen International 2026 pageant in India.

Diwyanjana is noted for her grace and dedication to representing the country at this prestigious event that aims to celebrate talent, intelligence, charm, and individuality, and provide a platform for young girls to showcase their skills.