Cinemas to reopen under strict safety guidelines from 1 Jan.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has advised to reopen cinemas from 1 January 2021 strictly in compliance with COVID-19 safety guidelines except in isolated areas, Prime Minister’s Office said in a release.

The Film Industry has been vulnerable due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as both production and consumption of its output has stopped completely.

After a careful deliberation with artists, including film producers, directors and members of the Film Association, Minister of Buddhasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has permitted the reopening of cinemas under strict, new health protocols.

In order to revive the entertainment industry, this decision has been taken but cinemas in isolated areas still remain closed.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stressed on the importance of enforcing strict sanitisation rules within the cinema premises and request the public to strictly adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and safely return to the new normalcy.

Many artists lauded the Prime Minister’s decision to take steps to protect the film industry as well as artists in the face of the COVID-19 challenge.