Sri Lankan Cinema in Crisis: ‘It’s Beyond Anyone’s Comprehension How Much of the Industry Will Survive’
variety.comSri Lanka weathers the worst economic crisis in its history.The island nation known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean — where films like “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” “Tarzan, the Ape Man” and “The Bridge on the River Kwai” were shot on location — has been through some extraordinary times in recent weeks.In the last year, the government’s economic mismanagement has precipitated a foreign currency and agricultural crisis that has led to shortages of medicine, fuel and basic food staples amid a 50% rise in inflation.
The country declared bankruptcy earlier this month. While the impact to local film and TV production isn’t high on the priority list amid a looming famine, Sri Lankan industry insiders say it will take years for the creative sector to recover. “It’s impossible to even fathom a timeline for the country to return to normal — or the survival of the film and TV industry during that time.
Economists predict it’ll be at least three to four years before the country can breathe easy. It’s beyond anyone’s comprehension how much of the industry will survive until that moment,” explains Kalpana Ariyawansa, co-director of “Dirty, Yellow, Darkness” (2015).For the moment, inflation and the depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee has increased production costs tenfold.Costs for catering, lodging and equipment rentals have risen massively from pre-pandemic days, and with a dearth of foreign currency, imports have been limited to essential items.
Meanwhile, a massive shortage of fuel, cooking gas and prolonged power cuts have also hit the industry hard.The precarious economic situation prompted mass anti-government protests that ultimately led to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa being toppled last week.
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