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Rethink ban on ONUR radio dramas: Mangala

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24 August 2018 02:13 am - 18     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Media and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday urged the Cultural Affairs Minister to reconsider the ban imposed on radio dramas produced by the Office of National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR).

He told Parliament the notion that these dramas insulted Buddhism was incorrect.

“I checked the titles of these radio dramas when I heard about the complaint and found that the aim is to influence the younger generation to embrace the culture of the country which is based on Buddhism. These dramas really attack the celebrity culture where people go after celebrities and emulate their lifestyles without focusing on their heritage. The radio drama titled ‘Tharunwan Sarani’ highlights the celebrity culture instead of embracing 'Therunwan', which includes the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha. A politically motivated Buddhist monk who was a one time MP has attempted to mislead the people by making false allegations,” the minister said.

He said artists should be allowed to produce their work freely and that it would be a violation of their right to expression if there was no freedom.

JO MP Bandula Gunawardene said his move to produce a movie based on the life of journalist Richard de Soyza who was killed in the 1990s was stopped by this government.

Mr. Samaraweera responded by saying he never banned the production of any movie as the Media Minister.

“You should also produce a movie on the killing of journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga,” he said. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)


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  Comments - 18

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  • Sunil Friday, 24 August 2018 03:18 AM

    Censorship is not the way to go! We need to protect the freedom of speech and expression at any cost. We need more speech and art that expresses a whole range or interpretations, views and opinions.

    SL Friday, 24 August 2018 10:34 AM

    abusuing freedom of speech needs to be tackle.these rasckles shave done it so must be banned.

    SL Friday, 24 August 2018 10:34 AM

    abusing freedom of speech needs to be tackle.these rasckles shave done it so must be banned.

    Dallas Friday, 24 August 2018 04:39 AM

    What about a movie about 60000 people killed by the UNP in 1987 1989 period, this makes a lot of sense It will show how dead bodies were displayed at left ,right and center in public places.Richard the Soyza is just one of the 60000 This is the main reason why UNP can not still stand on their own legs even after almost 30 yearsCurrently UNP vote base is 32% and a party which has history of about 1 year beat them squarely We are not dead to forget the crimes of the UNP

    Ranjith Friday, 24 August 2018 01:11 PM

    NUP, LTTE and JVP killed Sinhalese by thousands. Whatever said and done it was only MAHINDA who stood up to save the Sinhaleese

    Don Friday, 24 August 2018 01:29 PM

    The fact that the population here is 50% for UNP suggests a hiding in any election for UNP

    LGBT Rainbow Friday, 24 August 2018 07:10 AM

    I love the approach taken by Hon Minister Samaraweera

    sach Friday, 24 August 2018 03:41 PM

    you mean lying? The dramas are not banned

    ANIBAL AND JOKERS Friday, 24 August 2018 07:15 AM

    This man could have voiced against the drama if the drama is called Jesus Rasthayadua, Joke in Kouran or Allah ge Rasthayduwa.Do not try someone patient braking the limit.මේවා කළා නිර්මාණ නෙවෙයි.පැහැදි අපහාස කිරීමේ උත්සහයක්..කලාවට තියෙන නිදහස වෙනත් පාර්ශවයකට හිත රිදවීමට භාවිත කිරීම .මේකත් අර " බුද්ධ බාර් " වගේ බුද්ධාගමට කරන අපහාස.අල්ලගෙ රස්ත්යාදුව,ජේසුගේ රස්ත්යාදුව ,රාමගේ රස්ත්යාදුව කියල පොත් ලියල .කුරානේ විනාශේ කියල නාට්‍යක් හැදුවනම් රෙද්ද උස්සගෙන එන්නේ මෙන්න මේ අපතය

    Indika Friday, 24 August 2018 10:57 AM

    As long as you insult buddhism it's ok - it's freedom of expression. As soon as you say one word against any other religion 'ammo racist' P.S - I'm a catholic.

    Gayan Friday, 24 August 2018 10:45 AM

    Make similar movies on jesus, Allah etc then we'll see the people who ask for freedom of expression would say.

    Rahul Friday, 24 August 2018 01:19 PM

    Death by hanging.

    Zod Friday, 24 August 2018 04:53 PM

    There are plenty of art, movies and music making fun/ criticizing Christianity. Do your homework before committing.

    Nihal Amarasekera Friday, 24 August 2018 10:46 AM

    Why drag Buddhism aligned clauses in the first place. It can amount to blasphemy.

    Gayan Friday, 24 August 2018 10:51 AM

    Is it just a coincident that most of these 'reconciliation' themes are attacking Bhudism and sinhalese?

    Nimal Friday, 24 August 2018 01:23 PM

    Anti Buddhist, anti sinhalees, anti family

    sach Friday, 24 August 2018 03:42 PM

    What do these people expect in insulting Buddhism? And how does one can get reconciliation from that?

    LGBT Rainbow Sunday, 26 August 2018 02:13 PM

    Hon Minister Samarweera looks very strong and handsome. Our entire community should support his efforts


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