The most scintillating highlight of the Sambuddhatwa Jayanthi Celebration of 2011 will be the presentation of the Epic Film on the life of Prince Siddhartha and the progress of Ascetic Siddhartha towards the attainment of Supreme Enlightenment. This is to be Co-produced with the Light of Asia Foundation.

The precious script for this Epic of a Spiritual Quest, has undergone a whole series of “incarnations”, as it were, as the concern of all those involved in this magnificent project was to present to the world a transcendental work.

The initial draft of the script that evolved under the keen scrutiny of Kala Kirthi Edwin Ariyadasa and Mr. Saman Weeraman, received the blessings of leading Buddhist scholar — monks.

The script itself was meticulously developed. In the course of this preparatory period, the script was professionally scrutinized by local experts and personalities of high international repute.

Currently the final version of the script is in an advanced stage of completion. The selection of the right Director, the recruitment of the Cast and Crew are all in progress, while the shooting locations have been identified in Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

When the essential Team is assembled, the work on the Epic Film will begin. The major work and hundreds of films of various genres on Buddhist themes will certainly ensure that Sri Lanka will be the International Centre for the promotion and distribution of Buddhist films to a global audience awaiting the compassionate message of the Supremely Enlightened Buddha.