The Film Producers' Association has filed a complaint with police after a locally produced Sinhala film was illegally distributed on social media platforms, highlighting growing concerns over film piracy in Sri Lanka.
The Film Producers' Association has escalated efforts against online film piracy following an incident in which a Sinhala movie produced by Janitha Marasinghe was shared without authorization on Facebook and Telegram. The association filed a formal complaint with the Moratuwa Police against an individual responsible for the unauthorized distribution.
According to police, the suspect is an 18-year-old school student from Koralawewa. Rather than pursue formal charges, the matter was resolved through mutual agreement between the parties involved, with the youth receiving a stern warning.
Association Chairman Rasitha Jinaseena emphasized that such acts constitute serious criminal offences rather than minor violations. He noted that pursuing legal action against perpetrators could enable producers to recover financial losses incurred through piracy. Despite the settlement in this particular case, the Film Producers' Association indicated its commitment to combating film piracy more broadly and advocated for strengthened legal measures to address the issue.
The incident reflects ongoing challenges facing the local film industry as digital platforms continue to facilitate unauthorized content distribution. Industry stakeholders are pushing for stronger enforcement mechanisms and legislative protections to safeguard producers' intellectual property rights.
