29.3.2008
Sri
Lankan filmmaker Thushara Peiris who was subjected to
a mob attack instigated by LTTE sympathisers in Tamil
Nadu gave up his hunger strike yesterday after Foreign
Minister Rohitha Bogollagama's intervention to bring down
film copies detained at Gemini Colour Laboratory in Chennai.
The
Minister assured co-producer of Prabhakaran, Saman Thanthrige,
of the Government's fullest co operation in this regard
when the latter met the Minister on behalf of Peiris who
is receiving treatment at a private Hospital.
Thanthrige
gave a brief outline of the incident and sought the Foreign
Ministry's direct intervention to bring the film copies
back, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. The Foreign Minster
has immediately directed the Deputy High Commissioner
in Chennai to look into the matter and make early arrangements
to bring the copies back.
Accordingly
the Deputy High Commissioner based in Chennai in coordination
with the High Commissioner in Delhi have already taken
initial steps towards this. Peiris was brutally assaulted
by protesters opposite the Gemini Laboratory when he arrived
there to hand over his debut film Prabhakaran for dubbing.
The
Tamil Nadu Media has given wide publicity for this film
slated for release in the State.
However,
he has managed to escape with a deep laceration on his
back after the intervention of Indian Police and intelligence
service agents.
Peiris
said the Filmamakers Association in Chennai has watched
the film and suspended screening it in Tamil Nadu. They
have directed the Gemini Laboratory not to release the
film to the Director.
"The
film is directed by me and it is my property. They should
hand it back," he said. "Film Corporation Chairman
T.M. Sanghadasa came to see me and promised all possible
efforts to bring back the film.
"I
went to the Gemini Laboratory to dub Prabhakaran which
gives a clear picture of LTTE terrorist atrocities and
child conscription to the world," he said.
But
later I came to know that some film artistes and technicians
have been hoodwinked by the LTTE sympathisers to protest
against this film which according to them was anti-Tamil,
he said.
"There
is a misconception among the Tamil Nadu artistes that
this film is anti-Tamil. It is not true," he added.
Courtesy
Daily News