Artist: Asoka Handagama, Sri Lankan filmmaker
Confronting Bodies: Sri Lankan Cultural Minister, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena
Date of Action: April, 2006
Specific Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Description of Artwork: Handagama's film examines various relationships in society including those between a mother and son, a married couple, gender and society, morality and sexuality, and those holding power and those without power.
Description of Incident: The Cultural Minister decided to ban Handagama's film from being shown after the film received approval from the Censor Board. The Cultural Minister said he would only approve the film if the sexually explicit scenes are removed. Many fear that freedom of expression would be threatened if the ban of the film is successful.
Results of Incident: Petition brought by Handagama to Sri Lankan Supreme Court.
Source: International Freedom of Expresion Exchange, Free Media Foundation for South Asian Free Media Association (www.freemediasrilanka.org)
Submitted By: Danielle Biber
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