COLOMBO, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will see 36 new cinemas opening in the next five-years with the most advanced technologies and upgraded consumer experience, a top investor in the Sri Lankan film industry told local media on Monday.
Liberty Cinemas Ltd. Managing Director Imthiaz J. Cader was quoted by local Daily FT as saying that the new cinema screens will be opening in capital Colombo and in the outskirts.
Most of the new Cineplexs will be setup in the upcoming mixed-development projects, such as Colombo City Centre, One Galle Face, Odel, Havelock City, while there will also be significant investments made outside Colombo.
Cader said Sri Lanka's first international six-screen multiplex under the brand name Scope Cinemas, will be launched on Aug. 3 at the ultra-modern mixed development project, Colombo City Center.
He said one of India's largest film entertainment companies PVR Cinemas was investing in nine new film screens at Colombo's first internationally developed and managed integrated lifestyle destination and mixed-use development, One Galle Face.
He also said Sri Lanka's EAP Cinemas, with its new investor, Britain-based Lyca Group, was also looking at upgrading and investing more on cinemas, particularly at Impala, Rajagiriya, in the outskirts of Colombo.
Cader pointed out that the total number of cinema screens in the island country had increased to 186 at present compared to 168 in 2001, which he describes as a result of the market liberalization.
He acknowledged that the Sri Lankan government was keen on nurturing and uplifting the film industry, while noting that it was also looking at joint ventures to encourage foreign production houses and hosting of regional film festivals, which would also boost the tourism industry.