The producers of the award-winning, Emmy-nominated documentary No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka released a version of the movie in the Sinhalese language at an event in the House of Commons in London.
A press release said the new version was a "direct challenge to the new government over its commitment to a free media".
The event, which coincided with the new Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's visit to London, was attended by No Fire Zone Director Callum Macrae, Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh and Conservative MP Lee Scott and was also addressed by exiled Sinhalese writer Bashana Abeywardane.
“I welcome President Sirisena’s commitment to freeing the media in Sri Lanka from the censorship and repression of the Rajapaksa years,” Mr Macrae said.
“Today we have placed the Sinhalese version of the film on a special dedicated web-page where anyone can download it and see it. I call on President Sirisena to ensure that the website is not blocked.”
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Director Callum Macrae and MP Lee Scott at launch of No Fire Zone in Sinhalese in the House of Commons |
The director also called on Sri Lankan broadcasters to show the documentary.
“I call on Sri Lanka’s television stations to show the film. I would be very pleased to take part in a television debate after the transmission. I hope that in the interests of encouraging a free and open debate President Sirisena will encourage Sri Lankan media to show the film.”
“Under the last regime the truth about what happened at the end of the terrible war in Sri Lanka was denied to the vast majority of people in the country. Now they will be able to watch it and make up their own minds at last. I hope that the release of the Sinhala language version of No Fire Zone will help stimulate a national discussion in Sri Lanka about the best way forward.”