Anoma Janadaree launches Punarukthi in English

In 2011, Anoma Janadaree published her story - Punarukthi / Rebirth - in Sinhala and thereby marched forward undaunted, in her crusade against male harassment of women. It make people think and sparked discussion on this perennial issue.

The launch of the English translation of this book coincides with Anoma Janadaree's birthday and brings together several women's organisations which have come forward in a show of support and solidarity.

The launch will take place under the patronage of Sri Lanka's celebrated and veteran film-maker Sumitra Peries at the Lakshman Kadiragamar Institute for International Relation and Strategic Studies, Horton Place Colombo 7 on May 3 from 4 - 7pm. Other speakers will be Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne, Kanzul Sirdous and Manohan Nanayakkara.

Rukmani Devi was the first actress in the Sinhala cinema. She sacrificed her entire life for the welfare and the benefit of the Sinhala cinema, during a very dull period when males played female roles. The national face of the Sinhala cinema then changed course and a new journey began with Punya Heendeniya, Anula Karunathilleke and Malani Fonseka.

Numerous changes have taken place in Sri Lanka since those early days. The harassment of women by men is very visible today. Women too have come out strong against this kind of harassment, sexual and otherwise, and face society with great determination, motivated to fight for the rights of women.

An example is Vasantha Obeysekera's Dadayama which brought the issue of victimisation of women to light, with a stellar performance of the lead role by well known and award winning actress Swarna Mallawarachchchi.

In the backdrop of this changing social and political scenario came Ashoka Handagama's Thani Thatuwen which threw more and different light on the rights of the Sri Lankan woman.

Today, Ashoka Handagama's Thani Thatuwen occupies a significant place in Sinhala cinema, as a film which boldly explored hitherto taboo subjects. Playing the lead role in this movie, actress Anoma Jandaree successfully broke down all superstitious ideas (Bamunu Matha) destroying them through the Cinema Characters

Until that period, the customary and established superstitions had been destroyed by the brilliant character portrayals of Swarna Mallawaarachchi. Actress Anoma Janadaree successfully went a step further and encouraged social and political change in the film Thani Thatuwen.

"Girls and women face untold harassment at the hand of men and this is sharply on the rise. Parallel the numbers of perpetrators are also sharply on the rise.

"I decided to bring this huge social issue to the forefront and make people talk and react. I now want to take this issue to the international community and hence the launch of this book in English. I sincerely and warmly invite all those interested to be a part of this launch, too stir a national consciousness and help stop the harassment and victimisation of women", said Anoma Janadaree.