New Year starts with Ariyawansa’s movie View(s):‘Malaki Duwe Numba’By Susitha R. FernandoFollowing the successive release of several Sinhala films in 2025, some of which went on to become box-office hits, the New Year opens on a promising note with the release of Malaki Duwe Numba, directed by Kalpana Ariyawansa and Vindana Ariyawansa. Featuring the late queen of Sri Lankan cinema, Malini Fonseka, the film is a special juncture in Sri Lankan cinema as the cast included three generations of Fonseka family. Having screened at a number of international film festivals, “Premaya Nam” was nominated for Best Picture by a New Director, the Best New Director, and the Best New Screenwriter awards at the Beijing International Film Festival. The film was also nominated for Best First Film at the Cayman Islands International Film Festival and for the Best Feature Film at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival. Additionally the film represented Sri Lankan at several international film festivals in Shanghai, Goa, Kerala, London, Florida, and Chicago.

Source: Sunday Times January 03, 2026 20:36 UTC