By Newswire Editorial
The Sri Lankan film ‘Bambaru Avith’ (The Wasps Are Here) was screened in Amsterdam, Netherlands, as part of celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands.
According to the Sri Lankan Embassy in The Hague, the special screening was held on November 01 at the Eye Filmmuseum in Amsterdam, in collaboration with the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka.
The event was attended by representatives of the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education, Culture and Science, diplomats, academics, representatives of cultural organisations and members of the Sri Lankan community.
Addressing the gathering, Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Netherlands Rekha Gunasekera highlighted the country’s rich cultural heritage and the contribution of Sri Lankan filmmakers in portraying universal human experiences through cinema.
She said the screening provided an opportunity to promote Sri Lankan cinema internationally while strengthening cultural relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Annemarie van der Heijden, Head of the South Asia and Southeast Asia Division of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the longstanding historical ties between the two nations.
She also identified opportunities for further cooperation in maritime security, port development, undersea infrastructure, culture, heritage and tourism.
Eye Filmmuseum’s Director of Collection and Knowledge Sharing, Maral Mohsenin, highlighted the importance of cinema in connecting cultures and expressed interest in screening more Sri Lankan films in the future.
Bambaru Avith, directed by the late Dharmasena Pathiraja, is an award-winning Sri Lankan film featuring music composed by the late Premasiri Khemadasa. It was also the first South Asian film to be restored by the Asian Film Archive in Singapore.
The Embassy noted that while historical relations between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands date back nearly 425 years, formal diplomatic relations were established on November 23, 1951.
The screening was part of a series of events organised to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Following the screening, guests were treated to traditional Sri Lankan sweets and savouries accompanied by Ceylon tea. (Newswire)