Call for ban on bringing mobile phones to cinemas

With reference to an illegal recording and uploading his film ‘ Sinhabahu’ on social media, Film Director and President of Film Directors Guild of Sri Lanka (FDGSL) Somaratne Dissanayake yesterday called for the banning of brining mobile phones into cinemas.   

“We have to do what we can to avoid unnecessary situations. What we can do is to ban mobile phones in cinemas. Such a ban is imposed in cinemas in countries such as Australia. One wonders why Sri Lanka cannot follow,” Dissanayake told a media briefing.   

“People go to cinemas to enjoy a movie. They forget their domestic issues, political issues and other problems especially when you enjoy a sensitive scene of a movie. You lose your mood whenever you hear a phone ringing. You are also distracted when you hear someone chatting over the phone. 

These are the reasons why taking of mobile phones to cinemas should be banned,” he said.   

Dissanayake came out with these ideas in addition to his emphasis on illegal recording and uploading of movies over social media   

A 24-year-old man was arrested on June 11 for allegedly video recording the popular Sinhala movie ‘Sinhabahu’ and uploading it on YouTube. The suspect, a resident of Kandy was arrested by the Police Computer Crimes Investigation Division after he had posted the video of the movie on YouTube, which he had recorded at the Sigiri Cinema theatre in Katugastota.