Attending the recent premier of Sumithra Peiris’ latest film ‘Vaishnaavi’ at Regal Cinema, chief guest Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe fondly recalled the time he was able to see Lester James Peiris’s maiden film ‘Rekhawa’ in the very hall in 1956 along with many other memories associated with films by Lester James Peiris.
“Since my mother was rather late to the Rekhawa première we had to sit in the gallery,” the Prime Minister fondly remembered adding that at the time what was more important for him was not as to who was Lester James Peiris was but in fact the role his Aunt Iranganie Serasinghe played in the film.
“Lester James Peiris too was gifted with the strength of artistes such as Ediriweera Sarathchandra and Geoffrey Bawa who unleashed new creations based on traditional art,” the Premier noted.
Wickramasinghe also in his speech remembered other veteran artists who supported Peiris in his creations such as Sarath Wijesinghe, H.W. Jayawardena and John Keats.
The Prime Minister claimed that ‘Gamperaliya’ by Lester James Peiris was the best film he have ever seen adding that its beauty enhanced as it is a black and white release.
“Gamperaliya’ was the first Sinhala film without background music, yet its famous lullaby without any music is alive in our nostalgic memories” he said.
At the event Wickramasinghe also recalled famous film songs out of Peiris’s films from the yesteryears.
“The song ‘Olu Nelum’ composed by the duo, Sunil Shantha and Sisira Senarathne became an instant hit, ‘Sandeshaya’ with its ever popular songs, ‘Puruthugeesikaraya’ and ‘Rajina Mamai’ was a ground-breaking success” he said.
Claiming to be an ardent fan of Peiris, Wickramasinghe said he hardly missed Lester’s films while going on to watch the same film several times.
“During my school days I used to participate in the Sarasavi film festivals along with my uncle Ranjith Wijewardena,” Wickramasinghe remembered wondering out aloud if despite being present if Sumithra Peiris remembered him.
The Prime Minister went on to say that Lester James Peiris would have been better known to the world had he produced his films in one of the major world or Asian languages.
“Yet his films enriched the Sinhala cinema and his name will go down in the annals of history as one who helped change Sri Lanka” the Prime Minister said going on to thank Lester James Peiris on behalf of the country.