Sinhala Movie " Walampoori" Accused of Violating the NATA Act
Contents
Summary
- " Walampoori" is a Sinhala movie released in 2025 and was accused of violating the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Act.
- It depicted smoking on its promotional flyers and portrayed smoking in multiple scenes within the movie.
- It was directed by Lakmal Dharmarathna and smoking was portrayed by multiple actors including Priyantha Sirikumara, Ashan Dias and Anjana Premarathna
Background
Walampoori: Seven and Half Dreams (වාලම්පුරි: හෙවත් හීන හතහමාරක්) is a Sri Lankan Sinhala movie released in 2025. It was directed by Lakmal Darmarathna, his first movie following his successful TV series Koombiyo. Walampoori was produced by Asanka Dodantenna and Pradeep Perera, and the script was written by Damitha Chandrasiri, reportedly with contributions from Lakmal Darmarathna.[1][2][3][4]
The cast included Priyantha Sirikumara, Thumindu Dodantenna, and Sarath Kothalawala in lead roles and Anjana Premaratne, Dilhani Ekanayake, Ashan Dias, Niroshan Wijesinghe, Wasantha Moragoda and the late Darshan Dharmaraj in supportive roles[1][3][4]
Film revolves around five village con men and a fake priest teaming up to sell a dummy "Walampoori," a conch shell which has spiraled in opposite direction in contrast to the usual, believed to bring good luck to its bearer according to the local belief.[1][2]
Direct and Indirect Promotions of Tobacco and Alcohol in the movie
This movie contained multiple scenes depicting tobacco and alcohol use. For example, Images 1 and 2 illustrate one of the main characters (Priyantha Sirikumara) and a supportive character (Anjana Premaratne) smoking tobacco in the ‘Walampoori’ movie. (Image 1 & 2).
In addition, the promotional flyers and the posters of the movie (Image 3 & 4), distributed on social media, featured a supportive character (Ashan Dias) holding a cigarette.
- Gallery
Image 3: The promotional poster of the movie (distributed on social media, featured one of a leading character (Ashan Dias) holding a cigarette, Excerpt from facebook profile of Thumindu Dodantenna[6]
Image 4: The promotional poster of the movie (distributed on social media, featured one of a leading character (Ashan Dias) holding a cigarette, Excerpt from facebook profile of Jayamini Chathurika Priyadarshana[7]
Complaints on Violating the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Act
The Tobacco Unmasked Hotspots (TUHS) website received several complaints on this movie having multiple scenes promoting tobacco and alcohol use, which were forwarded to National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA).
Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC), the pioneering civil society organisation engaged in prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances in Sri Lanka, highlighted Walampoori as an example of 'Tobacco Promotions by the Film Industry', in their article titled ‘Uncovering the Truth: How the Tobacco Industry Misleads the Public’. In the article, they described how the movie, through these scenes, attempt to normalise smoking and alcohol use among informal occupational setting workers.[8]
Implications
Scientific evidence reveal that youth exposed to tobacco advertising and promotion hold positive attitudes towards tobacco use, increasing their risk of initiation and sustenance of the habit. Thus, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) recommends complete ban of tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship. You can read more on our page FCTC Article 13: Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship.
National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Act, the main legal framework on tobacco and alcohol, prohibits direct and indirect advertisements on tobacco and alcohol. According to the NATA Act, “tobacco advertisement” means:
“any writing, still or moving picture, sign, symbol or distinctive colours or other visual image or any audible message or any combination of the aforesaid that promotes or is intended to promote smoking, the purchase or use of a tobacco product, a trade mark registered in respect of a tobacco product or articles that include tobacco products, a brand name associated with a tobacco product, the name of the manufacturer of a tobacco product.”
Tobacco Unmasked Resources
- National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Act
- Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
- FCTC Article 13: Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship
The local language translations
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Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 K. Weerakkody. හීන හතහමාරක් පොඳි බැඳන් “වාලම්පුරි” ළගදීම , cinema.lk, 31 October 2023, accessed July 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Imdb. Walampoori: Seven and Half Dreams, 2025, accessed July 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A.J. Fernando. සොඳුරු ජීවිතේ අඳුරු පැතිකඩ, sarasaviya, 10 April 2025, accessed July 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Films. Walampuri-new, undated, accessed July 2025
- ↑ Chinthaka Jayakody. Walampoori : Seven and Half Dreams | Sinhala Trailer, Youtube, 17 April 2025, accessed July 2025
- ↑ T. Dodantenna. මං උඹලගෙ එකෙක් නෙමෙයිනෙ සිඩ්නි, මං උඹලගෙ එකෙක් නෙමෙයිනෙ, Facebook, 24 April 2025, accessed July 2025
- ↑ JC Priyadarshana. දකුණු කොරියාවේ අන්සාන්හීදී සාර්තක ලෙස නිමා වූ වාලම්පුරි චිත්රපටය, Facebook, 28 July 2025, accessed July 2025
- ↑ ADIC. Uncovering the Truth: How the Tobacco Industry Misleads the Public, undated, accessed July 2025
