“This film is not just about Sri Lanka; it is about the universal challenges of governance, accountability, and the enduring spirit of democratic aspirations,” says Beena Sarwar
Documentary on Sri Lanka by Pakistani Journalist Supported by the Pulitzer Center Screened in Colombo, also being shown in Pakistan
The reputed foreign policy thinktank Factum in Colombo together with the global Southasia Peace Action Network and the syndicated features service Sapan News Network announced the first international screening of the documentary ‘Democracy in Debt: Sri Lanka Beyond the Headlines’ by Beena Sarwar, a senior Pakistani journalist based in the Boston area.
This documentary is notable for being the first of its kind by a foreign filmmaker to be shown in a local cinema, offering a unique perspective that transcends national boundaries.
Factum is delighted to host the screening, said Dr Ranga Kalanasooriya, Factum co-founder and media analyst. “The case of Sri Lanka could be a good lesson for the rest of the world, mainly for those in the global south.”
“A classic case is what is now happening in Bangladesh,” he added. “Any government should know how to respond to mass protests without killing or violating basic fundamental rights of its people. Sri Lanka in that sense told a story on how to change a regime through the power of the people and allow a smooth transition of power. Beena has captured this message very well in her story.”
The 25-minute film, supported by the Pulitzer Center, delves into Sri Lanka’s socio-political landscape, exploring the impact of the 2022 economic crisis through the voices of villagers, policymakers, academics, and political representatives.
Dutuwewa sunrise - Photo by Ben Samarasinghe
The documentary juxtaposes the thoughts and feelings of residents from the ancient village of Dutuwewa with the opinions of urban policymakers, providing a multilayered narrative that explores how the country has coped and what lessons can be learned globally.
“I wanted to tell the story of Sri Lanka from the ground up, capturing the resilience and disillusionment of its people amidst a political and economic crisis. The contrast between the self-sufficient villagers and the policymakers in Colombo reflects the broader struggles of democracies around the world,” says Sapan News founder and chief editor Beena Sarwar, on her motivation and the significance of this project:
“This film is not just about Sri Lanka; it is about the universal challenges of governance, accountability, and the enduring spirit of democratic aspirations,” she adds.
“The film asks important questions about the nature of democracy and its longstanding resilience in Sri Lanka,” said Factum senior international policy analyst Uditha Devapriya who worked on the film with Beena Sarwar and is also coordinating the Colombo event. “It also reflects on its inherent fragility.” – Sapan News
Factum, the reporting project's institutional partner in Sri Lanka, shared about the Colombo screening at this post on Facebook . The activist group Good Governance Yaya in Colombo also held a screening with a discussion - video recording here.
One of Sri Lanka's foremost political commentators featured the film in his column last Thurs. 01 August and The Daily Morning, Colombo carried a full page interview with the filmmaker on Friday, 2 August.
In Pakistan, the country's largest television channel Geo TV ran the documentary on Saturday evening with Urdu subtitles. They will run an Urdu version later.
The film will be screened in Islamabad at The Black Hole on 09 August, Karachi at The Second Floor on 10 August, and possibly Lahore at Alhamra on 15 August.
