President Mahinda Rajapaksa will open the Mahinda Rajapaksa National Tele-cinema Park in Ranmihithenne, Tissamaharama, today at 4 .30 p.m. Around 450 artistes will take part in the event which will felicitate President for his yeoman service to the industry. The park which includes facilities required to produce films and teledramas began work in 2008 . The first stage of the project has been completed at a cost of Rs. 600 million. The whole process is expected to be completed in three consecutive stages. The construction process is funded by the revenue from the taxes levied on foreign teledramas, films and advertisements imported by local television channels.

 

Opening the Mahinda Rajapaksa Ranmihitenna Tele - Cinema Village is fulfilling the artistic aspirations of the nation under the Mahinda Chintana concept of making our country the Miracle of Asia, Mass Media and Information Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said in a message issued for the occasion. The message adds: “Ranmihitenna will be an impetus to the artistes who could endeavour to create cinematic productions of excellence as its location and ample space available for film makers could be made use of with all the facilities provided for tele-cinema arts.” “The tax charged on screening foreign films and tele-films was used productively to build this cinema village and President Mahinda Rajapaksa had directly and indirectly contributed to making it a reality. Ranmihitenna complements the massive development of the South with the Hambantota Port, International Airport at Mattala, International Sports Stadium at Suriyawewa and other major development schemes coming up.” “We wish that the tele-cinema village will render a long lasting service to the nation”, the message states.