New Act to replace Public Performance Board Act

Steps are being taken to replace the current Public Performance Board Act with a new legislation to reflect new trends and developments in the performance arts field in accordance with the freedom of expression ensured in the constitution, sources said.  

A committee headed by former Chairman of the Public Performance Board Saman Athaudahetti had been appointed by President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake to come up with proposals in order to draft a new act.  

The other members of the committee are film director Ashoka Handagama, writer and photographer Anoma Rajakaruna, dramatist Rajitha Dissanayake and President’s Counsel Jagath Wickremenayake.   

Chairman of the committee Saman Athaudahetti said that the new act will be drafted to ensure provisions in section 14 of the constitution dealing with freedom of speech, expression and publication while taking into consideration new trends in the field of arts worldwide.   The committee had been appointed based on the Policy Statement presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the opening of the new session of the Parliament recently and the basic draft is expected to be completed within two months.