NFC once again blocked from film distribution

 By Susitha R. Fernando   

The Civil Appellate Court of Colombo yesterday issued an interim injunction preventing the National Film Corporation (NFC) from handling the distribution of films until the final determination of the case.  The Civil Appellate Court bench issued this order following an appeal filed by four film circuits namely the Lanka Film Distributors & Co. (Pvt) Ltd., Movie Producers & Importers Co (Pvt) Ltd., EAP Films & Theatres Ltd. and Cinema Entertainments (Pvt) Ltd. The appeal has been filed challenging the Colombo District Court Order issued on June 18 this year allowing the NFC to take over film distribution rights.   Earlier on June 18, 2018 the District Judge had issued an enjoining order restraining the National Film Corporation from taking over the distribution of films from four private circuits. The four film circuit owners went to courts against the then decision taken by NFC to take over the distribution of films which was at that time handled by the private sector.   However last June 18, the District Court lifted the enjoining order and allowed the NFC to carry out film distribution.   Yesterday’s interim injunction will be effective until the final determination of the case and the next hearing was fixed for September 11.  Deputy Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena appeared for the NFC while S.A.Parathalingam P.C with N.R.Sivendran instructed by Mrs. Anoma Goonetilleke appeared for the film circuits.