Daily News · 31 Aug 2009Films.lk – Lankan Cinema on the Web
This Daily News feature, titled “Lankan cinema on the Web,” highlights Films.lk, the Sinhala cinema database created and developed by Isura Wickramarachchi. Written by Sachitra Mahendra, the article discusses the need for a comprehensive and accurate online database dedicated to Sri Lankan cinema and presents Films.lk as an ambitious effort to preserve and organise the country's film history.
The feature explains the extensive research involved in building the database, with Isura noting that he had to search through almost all available archives to gather reliable information. At the time, Films.lk already documented Sinhala films from Kadavunu Poronduwa (1947) through to contemporary releases in 2009, presenting film information, galleries, descriptions, cast and crew details, songs and other cinema-related material.
The article also highlights the site's interactive features, which allowed visitors to submit film information and images, become fans of films, rate movies, indicate films they wanted to watch, and leave comments. It describes Films.lk as an interactive online space for cinema enthusiasts rather than simply a static film-information website.
The Daily News coverage represents an important early milestone in the history of Films.lk, documenting the project in its first year and recognising Isura Wickramarachchi's effort to build a comprehensive digital resource for Sri Lankan cinema and its historical records.