A Film Screening at The Festival of Ideas hosted by BCIS (Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies)

The S.L. Reconciliation Movement (SLRM) hosted an educative film screening at ‘The Festival of Ideas’ hosted by the Bandaranaike Center for International Studies (BCIS) to commemorate its 50th anniversary on the 29th of November 2024.

The purpose of the film screening was to raise awareness and to instill empathy for the survivors and victims of the Easter Sunday Attack that Sri Lanka witnessed on the 21st of April, 2019.

The program included:

• 02 Film Screenings (an episode off ‘The Survivors Speak’ video series & an episode off ‘The Other Side’ video series)
• A presentation by Volunteers Aamina Muhsin and Lughadarini Yogarajah
• An interactive Q&A discussion with the audience

Event day gallery

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The Program

1. Documentary screening [The Survivors Speak & The Other Side]
2. A presentation by Volunteers Aamina and Lughadarini
3. An interactive Q & A discussion with the audience

1. Documentary Screening

Through direct interviews with all kinds of survivors of the attack, the EASP team has in its possession impactful documentaries on the survivor’s stories as well as stories of the families of the detainees in the eastern province.

As the opening of the official program, this session helped the audience immerse in a visual experience of the impact of the Easter Sunday terror attack. The first short film, an episode out of our series titled ‘The Survivors Speak’, mainly revolves around the interviews we conducted with the survivors of the Easter Sunday attack. It delves into the stories of those who were directly affected by that devastating day – those who lost family, friends, children and loved ones. It is a powerful short documentary that captivates the very voice of the survivors.

Our second short film is an episode of our docu-series titled ‘The Other Side’. This is a series of interviews made with the family and loved ones of those detained after the Easter Sunday attack. This documentary seeks to highlight a different perspective of all the chaos that followed that fateful day and explores the lives and perspectives of the families of the accused.

This activity presented two perspectives from vulnerable groups affected by the Easter attack: the survivors of the attack and the families of alleged perpetrators. The documentary highlighted both groups’ struggles and ongoing struggles, portraying the incident’s profound impact on their daily lives even five years later.

The audience appeared moved by the emotional depth of both stories, gaining a deeper understanding of the long-term challenges faced by both survivors and the families of detainees. This screening successfully met its objective, helping the audience recognize the lasting effects of the attack on all those involved, underscoring the importance of empathy and continued support. The screening not only fostered a sense of awareness but also encouraged attendees to reflect on their own perceptions and assumptions about the affected communities, promoting a more compassionate and nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attack.

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1. Documentary screening [The Survivors Speak & The Other Side]
2. A presentation by Volunteers Aamina and Lughadarini
3. An interactive Q & A discussion with the audience

2. A presentation by Volunteers Aamina and Lughadarini

The second activity featured a thought-provoking presentation by volunteers Aamina and Lughadarini, each bringing forward distinct narratives that encapsulated the human dimensions of the tragedy.

Aamina’s segment focused on the perspective of the loved ones of the perpetrators. Her presentation began with the emotional account of an art piece depicting a pregnant wife waiting for her husband to return home after the weekend, only to discover that he would never come back due to unfortunate decisions made on that fateful day. Through this narrative, Aamina provided a glimpse into the grief, confusion, and stigma faced by the families of those who carried out the attack. By delving into this lesser-explored side of the tragedy, her presentation encouraged the audience to consider the ripple effects of such actions on all parties involved and the challenges of navigating societal scrutiny while grappling with a personal loss.

Lughadarini’s segment centred on the torment and tenacity of the survivors and their families. She dwelled on the psychological suffering and the heavy burden carried by those who survived the attack and lost their loved ones. Highlighting various coping mechanisms, Lughadarini shared practical strategies and community-based approaches to help individuals deal with their bereavement and rebuild their lives after such traumatic events. Her presentation emphasized the importance of collective support systems in the community and mental health resources in facilitating healing and resilience.

Together, Aamina and Lughadarini’s presentations provided a balanced and compassionate exploration of the complex aftermath of the Easter Sunday attack. They succeeded in deepening the audience’s understanding of the multifaceted nature of grief and healing, prompting meaningful reflection and dialogue on the ways to support affected individuals and communities.

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1. Documentary screening [The Survivors Speak & The Other Side]
2. A presentation by Volunteers Aamina and Lughadarini
3. An interactive Q&A discussion with the audience

3. An interactive Q&A discussion with the audience

The audience was engaged in their thoughts and questions regarding the presentations and documentaries. So it was enlivening when the Q&A session opened. The session was an interactive and rejuvenating end to the program. The participants presented thoughts that attracted further debate, even on issues that were not discussed during the formal part of the program.

The participants noted the need to talk about the social conceptions of both survivors and the families of the accused. Others wanted to know about the complexities surrounding grief and guilt. These contributions made the discussion even more interesting and gave Aamina and Lughadarini a chance to address those areas that had not been fully addressed in the presentation and the film-screenings.

Generally, the session allowed for some meaningful discussions and some useful insights SLRM could take into consideration for their future work. It was an indication of the audience’s engagement in having a deeper understanding of the multidimensional impact of the tragedy.

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Challenges and Lessons Learned

One of the significant challenges encountered was the lower-than-expected turnout, primarily attributed to adverse weather conditions. While this limited the audience size, it did not diminish the quality of engagement among those who attended. The intimate setting allowed for deeper discussions and a more personalized experience for the attendees.

Another important takeaway was the wealth of diverse perspectives shared during the interactive Q&A session. While some of the opinions presented were divergent and strongly expressed, this variety of thought proved to be an invaluable asset for the organization. The discussion not only enriched the event but also exposed the team to fresh perspectives and areas for future research and development. This exchange of ideas highlighted the importance of promoting open, respectful communication in discussions surrounding sensitive topics.

In conclusion, the event succeeded in creating a meaningful platform for dialogue, understanding, and reflection. The lessons learned from such experiences will undoubtedly inform and enhance the staging of future initiatives aimed at community healing and awareness-building.

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The Team of Volunteers that contributed

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Feedback from an attendee

Let me thank Aamina and Lughadarini for your interest and effort on this topic.  Event was a real eye-opener to anyone who has the right thinking of the whole episode of Easter Sunday attack.

As a former military person and a person qualified and even as an instructor in Humanitarian law and Human Rights, I see a lot more things that should be developed with regard to the program that you are conducting. Biggest obstacle that I foresee is the interest of the political parties who were in power and are in power. All of them wanted to take advantage of the problem rather than a (provide a) genuine need to console the victims and find a real solution to the problem.

I was really happy to see you have taken an initiative to make the short films and do a presentation well prepared. It is also great to see you have thought of the victims in the caliber of close relatives of the suicide bombers where the others won’t think on that line. Aamina, Lughadarini and the team, may you be blessed abundantly to do justice to all victims and to our nation.

– Priyantha Marasinghe

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Features in the Media

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The SLRM team is immensely grateful to the BCIS and its Festival of Ideas coordinators for the venue, sound equipment, PR, and the hard work put into facilitating this event.