EAP Films

EAP Films, also called EAP Films and Theatres, was originally founded as Edirisinghe Cinema Theatres in 1972. It has the largest share of the Sri Lanka theatre market with more than 200 screens island-wide. It started producing films in 1994; its first release was Dhawala Pushpaya (1994). The company has been listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange since the 2000s.[1]

EAP Films & Theatres
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryEntertainment
Founded1972 (1972)
FounderEAP Edirisinghe
Soma Edirisinghe
Revenue Rs 34.2 billion (2019)
OwnerBen Holdings (since 2019)
ParentEAP Holdings (1972-2019)
SubsidiariesSavoy Cinema

History

The company was officially 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 in the mid-1980s a licence for distribution of Hollywood movies was added.

The company's market value rose by 1 billion Rs. in 2013.[2] Its theatres converted to digital in 2014. An IMAX cinema was built in Wellawatte.[3] EAP Film had their highest recorded bookings of 10,000 tickets for the 3D Tamil film 2.0.[4] Sunil Ariyaratne's Vijayaba Kollaya was also screened in 3D.[5]

In 2015 Village Roadshow of Australia and EAP Group signed a partnership.[6] Ben Holdings acquired EAP Films for 12 billion Rs. in 2019.[7]

EAP Theatres
Film theatre Location Opened
Regal Cinema Kompanna Veediya 1941
Savoy Cinema 1 Wellawatte 1949
Samantha Cinema Dematagoda 1949
Tower Cinema Moratuwa 1952
Nikado Cinema Kadawatha 1959
Jothi Cinema Ratanapura 1964
Quinlon Cinema Nugegoda 1976
Savoy Cinema 2 Wellawatte 1982
Wilmax Cinema Anuradhapura 1986
Queens Cinema Galle 1991
Cinemax Cinema Ja-Ela 1993
Regal Cinema Ambalangoda 1998
Sinexpo Cinema Kurunegala 2002

References
  1. "Leading entrepreneur and philanthropist Soma Edirisinghe laid to rest". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2015-11-05. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  2. "EAP entertainment and media firms go for Rs. 1.5 b listed debenture issues | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  3. "EAP theatres to go digital with a 400 million Rs. investment | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  4. "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.
  5. "Sunil Ariyaratne brings W.A. Silva's 'Vijayaba Kollaya' to screen | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  6. "EAP Films books Australian giant for JV to promote modern cinema multiplexes | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  7. "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.


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