US film makers keen on Lanka

Four US filmmakers will travel to Sri Lanka in September, to select film locations, providing a major boost to the country’s tourism, the Sri Lanka Tourist Board said.

It said Sri Lanka’s Consul General in Los Angeles was provided this information by Warner Brothers Pictures - World Wide Locations Executive Bill Bowling.

“Tourism will gain important mileage, when proposed plans come through it will help Sri Lanka Tourism to deal with the issue of uncertainty that prevails in the minds of indecisive tourists, ” said Renton de Alwis, Chairman of the Tourist Board. “Four Hollywood companies have agreed to go to the island to investigate appropriate locations,” said Jaliya Wickramasuriya the Sri Lankan Consul General in Los Angeles who met Bill Bowling at ‘Focus Sri Lanka’ trade exhibition in L.A.

‘Focus Sri Lanka’ felicitated child star Sarala for her incredible performance in Deepa Mehta’s ‘Water’ which earned her the international award of ‘Best Child Actor’ presented by Hollywood’s Young Artists Foundation. Sarala drew Hollywood film makers to the fair, and the films’ location ‘Bolgoda’ also earned high publicity.