Lester James Peries

Sri Lankabhimanya Lester James Peries (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකාභිමාන්‍ය ලෙස්ටර් ජේම්ස් පීරිස්; 5 April 1919 – 29 April 2018) was a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter, and film producer. Considered as the father of Sri Lankan cinema, Lester worked as a filmmaker from 1949 to 2006, and was involved in over 28 films, including shorts and documentaries.

He received critical acclaim for directing Rekava, Gamperaliya, Nidhanaya, Golu Hadawatha, Kaliyugaya, Awaragira and Yuganthaya. His movie Wekande Walauwa, starring Ravindra Randeniya and Malini Fonseka, was Sri Lanka's first ever submission for the Academy Awards and the film Nidhanaya was included among the top 100 films of the century by the Cinémathèque Française. Peries' films often deal with Sri Lankan family life in rural settings and conflicted characters. He helped create an authentic expression of Sinhala Cinema.

Early life Lester James Peries was born on 5 April 1919 in Dehiwela, Colombo, Ceylon. His father, Dr. James Francis Peries, studied medicine in Scotland and was also a cricketer for a Scottish club. His mother, Ann Gertrude Winifred Jayasuria, was the first graduate of St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo. Peries had three siblings: Erica, Ivan and Noel. "Delowak Athara" in 1966; "Golu Hadawatha" in 1968 based on the novel by Karunasena Jayalath; "Nidhanaya" in 1970 which was chosen as the best film of the first 50 years of Sri Lankan cinema and was included among the top 100 films of the century by the Cinémathèque Française;

Personal life

Peries met his wife, Sumitra, who is also a film director, in Paris at the home of a mutual friend and married in 1964 at All Saints Church in Borella. Peries' brother was artist Ivan Peries.

Peries died on 29 April 2018 at the age of 99.

Filmography + As director Year !! Film !! Cast!! Language !! Notes

Sarasaviya Best Director Award, entered into the 3rd Moscow International Film Festival. Won the Golden Peacock award at the International Film Festival of India Sri Lanka's Presidential Award for Best Director. Entered into the 14th Moscow International Film Festival.

Sri Lanka's first submission for Academy Awards. UNESCO felini award Sri Lankabhimanya The highest Civil Honour of Sri Lanka (2007). Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 31st International Film Festival of India (2000) Commandeur (commander) in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) from the French government (1997) Diploma of Honour Venice Film Festival for the film "Conquest in the Dry Zone" (1954) The Mini Cinema Cup for the short film "Soliloquy" for displaying the best technical proficiency by the Institute of Amateur and Experimental Film Makers Festival -Great Britain (1951) Amateur Cine World Silver Plaque for the experimental film "Farewell to Childhood" – ten best films of the year – Great Britain (1950) Issue of a National Stamp dedicated to Lester on 5 April 2002 A hybrid orchid was named after Dr Lester James Peries on 11 March 2004 – Ascocenda Lester Peries April 5 was named as "National Artist Day".

The Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation

The Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation was inaugurated on 9 June 2011 at the BMICH with an oration by the chief Guest - celebrated Indian film maker Padma Vibushan Dr. Adoor Gopalakrishnan and the Speaker of Parliament Chamal Rajapakse was the Guest of Honour. The Foundation is incorporated through an act of Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The bill of incorporation was forwarded to parliament by Hon. Malini Fonseka on 5 January 2011. The foundation focuses on the following general objectives-

1. To provide assistance for the development, promotion and sustenance of the Sri Lankan cinema and to those associated with it; 2. To promote and foster cinema and related arts and crafts for children and young adults; 3. To promote, improve, develop, provide financial assistance and maintain academic, scientific, cultural, literary, artistic and physical abilities and aptitudes; 4. To promote, propagate and foster humanitarian ideals, democratic and pluralistic values, good citizenship, patriotic concepts and beliefs; 5. To improve, develop, create, foster and maintain talents and abilities in entrepreneurship, research and training in business, technology and management and concept of income generating and self-employment ventures and enterprises; to establish, improve, encourage, develop and maintain research and research facilities in scientific, cultural, educational, economic and all other aspects of human development; 6. To advise and assist the Government, NGOs and individuals in the furtherance of the objectives of the Foundation; 7. To preserve and promote all cinematographic and any other creations of Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries made by them including scripts, manuscripts, books, letters, articles, poems, photographs, audio cassettes, VHS cassettes, CDs, VCDs, DVDs, MP3s and any other audio devices, visual devices and media; 8. To preserve all cinematic equipment and personal memorabilia owned and used by Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries; 9. To maintain Archives to promote and preserve all cinematographic and any other creations of any Sri Lankan film maker; 10. To grant prizes, rewards, awards or scholarship to develop, promote and encourage creative talents in general or in particular fields; 11. To organize, conduct and participate in seminars, meetings, workshops, discussions, talks, classes, films, film shows, demonstrations, sports, and recreational activities, and to write, print and publish books, periodicals, magazines, articles and newspapers, in furtherance of the objectives herein specified and specifically in all areas of educational activity; 12. To establish and maintain libraries, workshops and readings rooms, and to equip the same having regard to the primary objects of the Foundation;

13. To publish articles, periodicals or such other literature and information as may prove necessary or useful for the purpose of the Foundation; 14. To undertake and execute any trusts the undertaking whereof seems desirable and either gratuitously or otherwise.

The Foundation operates from Peries' residence and is involved in organizing many events annually to promote the film industry of the past and present in Sri Lanka.

The Foundation is spearheaded by its trustees- Dr. Lester James Peries, Mrs. Sumitra Peries, Mr. Yadamini Gunawardena, Mr. Kumar de Silva and Mrs. Gayathri Mustachi. Also on the board of directors serves Ms. Yashodha Wimaladharma, Mr. Sameera Manabharana Randeniya, Mr. Yasoja Gunawardena and Mr. Nuran Gomez.

The "Lester James Peries Film Archive"

The most recent development on Dr. Lester James Peries is the building of a film archive in his name. From the time he was a young film maker one of his only requests was that the government make way for a proper film archive that would help protect the heritage of the films produced by Sri Lanka. On 5 April 2014, his own milestone 95th birthday, his request was granted when the National film corporation ceremoniously opened the "Lester James Peries Film Archives" at the request of President Mahinda Rajapakse. The event was followed by a photographic exhibition of Dr. Peries' life and works.

Literature and records

Peries has written approximately twenty books. The most-well known of them are LJP Life and Works (Prof. A. J. Gunawardene), Lester by Lester (as told to Kumar de Silva) and Lester (Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne).

A music CD was produced by The Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation containing 21 songs from Peries' films.

Some of Peries' films have been restored and placed in DVD format.