This namesake park is opened in the President’s home district. Hambanthota is the luckiest district of Sri Lanka under President Mahinda Rajapaksa although it is one of the least developed areas of the country. The district has won a port, an international airport, an international cricket stadium and many other projects.
Ranminithenna, the venue of the tele cinema park, once became famous with an early announced terrorist attack that led to a ban on a private radio channel.
Hiru FM owned by famous businessman Reno Silva announced in one of its news bulletins in 2008 that Ranminithenna village had come under a terrorist attack of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE). The news proved wrong and the swiftly retaliated with the cancellation of the broadcasting licence of this pro-opposition radio channel. However, later there were some suspicious moves of terrorists in the area. By that time, LTTE was trying to expand war to south while the Army was advancing towards their strongholds in Kilinochchi.
Later, Reno Silva cut a deal with the President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Reno's younger brother Duminda Silva, a budding youth politician of the opposition United National Party (UNP) joined hands publicly with the President denying the UNP. The radio licence was reinstated and the once opposition backing radio now operates as yet another trumpet of the government.
The government spent Rs. 600 million for the construction of the first phase of the park. The park is a concept of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa who has acted in several movies and tele dramas. The park is located in a 200 acre land and two production crews can engage in work in it now.
The construction was commenced in 2007. The park consists of an administrative building, a dormitory with facilities for 96 individuals, a large studio of the size of 130 X 70 feet, three showrooms for costumes, two seminar halls, two libraries, kitchens and 31 sets.
The inauguration will coincide with a street musical drama that is participates by 450 artists.
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