EAP Films
 | This article contains promotional content. (January 2021) |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | EAP Edirisinghe Soma Edirisinghe |
| Revenue |  Rs 34.2 billion (2019) |
| Owner | Ben Holdings (since 2019) |
| Parent | EAP Holdings (1972-2019) Ben Holdings (Lycamobile) (2019-present) |
| Subsidiaries | Savoy Cinema |
EAP Films was originally founded as Edirisinghe Cinema Theatres in 1972. It has the largest share of the Sri Lanka theatre market with more than 15+ screens island-wide. It started producing films in 1994 and its first release was Dhawala Pushpaya (1994). The company has been listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange since the 2000s.[1]
History
[edit]The company was founded by a husband-and-wife team in 1972 as Edirisinghe Cinema Theatres under its parent company, EAP Group. EAP acquired Savoy Cinema theatres in 1974. At first only Sinhala films were distributed, but during the mid-1980s a license for distribution of Hollywood movies was added.
Its theatres converted to digital in 2014. A cinema was built in Wellawatte.[2] EAP Film had their highest recorded bookings of 10,000 tickets for the 3D Tamil film 2.0.[3] Sunil Ariyaratne's Vijayaba Kollaya, Gajaman was also screened in 3D.[4]
In 2015 Village Roadshow of Australia and EAP Group signed a partnership.[5] In 2019, Ben Holdings acquired EAP Films for 12 billion Rs.[6]
In 2019, EAP Broadcasting Company parent company EAP Holdings was acquired by Lyca Group. EAP Broadcasting Company is a subsidiary of Ben Holdings along with Lyca Productions.[7]
Circuit
[edit]Apart from theatre, EAP Films & Theatres have their own circuit which is used to distribute film to theatres.
| Film theatre | Location | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Regal Cinema | Kompanna Veediya | 1941 |
| Savoy Cinema 1 3D | Wellawatte | 1949 |
| Samantha Cinema | Dematagoda | 1949 |
| Tower Cinema | Moratuwa | 1952 |
| Nikado Cinema | Kadawatha | 1959 |
| Jothi Cinema | Ratanapura | 1964 |
| Quinlon Cinema | Nugegoda | 1976 |
| Savoy Cinema (Roxy cinema) | Wellawatte | 1982 |
| Wilmax Cinema | Anuradhapura | 1986 |
| Queens Cinema | Galle | 1991 |
| Cinemax Cinema | Ja-Ela | 1993 |
| Regal Cinema | Ambalangoda | 1998 |
| Sinexpo Cinema | Kurunegala | 2002 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Leading entrepreneur and philanthropist Soma Edirisinghe laid to rest". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2015-11-05. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
- ^ "EAP theatres to go digital with a 400 million Rs. investment | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
- ^ "2.0 is on a record-breaking start with EAP Films & Theatres in Sri Lanka". bizenglish.adaderana.lk. 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
- ^ "Sunil Ariyaratne brings W.A. Silva's 'Vijayaba Kollaya' to screen | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
- ^ "EAP Films books Australian giant for JV to promote modern cinema multiplexes | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
- ^ "Ben Holdings's Savoy Cinemas secure Distribution rights of Dr. Somaratna Disanayaka's upcoming movie 'Tsunami'". bizenglish.adaderana.lk. 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
- ^ editor (2023-03-23). "Aliraja to buy state-owned shares in Telecom & Lanka Hospitals!". Retrieved 2024-07-08.
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