It's a much needed theme for a tele drama in Sri Lanka. And, "Monaravila" a teledrama being telecasted on Rupavahini, every Tuesday at 8.35 serves that exact need.
"Monarawila" take into discussion a very timely topic of "Biopiracy in Sri Lanka". It discuss, the matter of how international pharmaceutical companies exploiting our ancient Ayurwedic medicine knowledge, and how they patent for our indigenous herbal plants to their names, and preventing Sri Lankan Ayurwedic doctors, using these herbal medicines.
Romance, and family had been the well established themes for Sinhala teledrama's from early 80's. Only few writers and directors, tried to break away from these traditional themes, and to create teledrama's discussing much broader topics such as "cultural effects of colonial era, to modern Sri Lanka" (Kadulla, Pitagamkarayo), "ancient wisdom of Sri Lankans" (Dandubasnamanaya, Akala Sandya), and "War and ethnic conflict" (Esela Kaluwara, and Sudu Kapuru Pethi being the latest).
Much talk has been developed on the subject of quality of local teledramas, especially after the governments decision to impose a tax on imported teledrama's. "Monarawila" is long way short from the overall "production quality" compared to the foreign productions, but the story theme is a novel and interesting enough one to start a new tradition of teledrama's in Sri Lanka.
By definition, following are considered as "Biopiracy".
1) unauthorized use of biological resources
e.g., plants, animals, organs, microorganisms, genes;
2) unauthorized use of traditional communities' knowledge on biological resources;
3) unequal share of benefits between a patent holder and the indigenous community whose resource and/or knowledge has been used;
4) patenting of biological resources with no respect to patentable criteria (novelty, non-obviousness and usefulness).
The story develops around a newly appointed "Assistant District Secretariat" named "Ellepola" starts probing into an attempt by a multinational company to purchase all the lands of a rural village in Matale District. He's being supported by an Ex-MP "Wasala Adikaram", who was fired from his MP seat and the party, as a result of speaking in the parliament against biopirates.
According to the screenplay, Ellepola is a descendent (or a reincarnation?) of great "Ellepola Adikaram" of "Uva Riots 1817"
The decedents of same set of "villains" in 1817 riots, (Englishmen, and Sinhalese traitors who supported Englishmen) are the villains in the modern day story of biopiracy. Ellepola loose his job, as a result of a conspiracy by biopirates.
As an "Ex-Civil Servant", Ellepola joins "Ex-MP" Wasala, and his daughter (a lawyer) to fight against the biopirates trying to sell heritage of indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka, to multinational pharmaceutical companies.
As I said in the outset, the production quality of the drama is not great, compared to the western standards. But, this is a great attempt of making teledrama's under different, and timely themes.
The story concept reminded me an American series named "Dark Skies" during early 90's. It, was again about a newly appointed US civil servant at White house, and his attempt to uncover the truth behind JFK's assassination, which according to the story was done by Aliens!!!!
But, no Aliens are involved in Monarawila
All in all, it's a good story with a different taste, but those who are with an appetite towards "Praveena" or "Chiththee" won't like this at all!
Don't know much about "Desperate Housewives" fans would like this or not
"Monarawila" take into discussion a very timely topic of "Biopiracy in Sri Lanka". It discuss, the matter of how international pharmaceutical companies exploiting our ancient Ayurwedic medicine knowledge, and how they patent for our indigenous herbal plants to their names, and preventing Sri Lankan Ayurwedic doctors, using these herbal medicines.
Romance, and family had been the well established themes for Sinhala teledrama's from early 80's. Only few writers and directors, tried to break away from these traditional themes, and to create teledrama's discussing much broader topics such as "cultural effects of colonial era, to modern Sri Lanka" (Kadulla, Pitagamkarayo), "ancient wisdom of Sri Lankans" (Dandubasnamanaya, Akala Sandya), and "War and ethnic conflict" (Esela Kaluwara, and Sudu Kapuru Pethi being the latest).
Much talk has been developed on the subject of quality of local teledramas, especially after the governments decision to impose a tax on imported teledrama's. "Monarawila" is long way short from the overall "production quality" compared to the foreign productions, but the story theme is a novel and interesting enough one to start a new tradition of teledrama's in Sri Lanka.
By definition, following are considered as "Biopiracy".
1) unauthorized use of biological resources
e.g., plants, animals, organs, microorganisms, genes;
2) unauthorized use of traditional communities' knowledge on biological resources;
3) unequal share of benefits between a patent holder and the indigenous community whose resource and/or knowledge has been used;
4) patenting of biological resources with no respect to patentable criteria (novelty, non-obviousness and usefulness).
The story develops around a newly appointed "Assistant District Secretariat" named "Ellepola" starts probing into an attempt by a multinational company to purchase all the lands of a rural village in Matale District. He's being supported by an Ex-MP "Wasala Adikaram", who was fired from his MP seat and the party, as a result of speaking in the parliament against biopirates.
According to the screenplay, Ellepola is a descendent (or a reincarnation?) of great "Ellepola Adikaram" of "Uva Riots 1817"
The decedents of same set of "villains" in 1817 riots, (Englishmen, and Sinhalese traitors who supported Englishmen) are the villains in the modern day story of biopiracy. Ellepola loose his job, as a result of a conspiracy by biopirates.
As an "Ex-Civil Servant", Ellepola joins "Ex-MP" Wasala, and his daughter (a lawyer) to fight against the biopirates trying to sell heritage of indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka, to multinational pharmaceutical companies.
As I said in the outset, the production quality of the drama is not great, compared to the western standards. But, this is a great attempt of making teledrama's under different, and timely themes.
The story concept reminded me an American series named "Dark Skies" during early 90's. It, was again about a newly appointed US civil servant at White house, and his attempt to uncover the truth behind JFK's assassination, which according to the story was done by Aliens!!!!
But, no Aliens are involved in Monarawila
All in all, it's a good story with a different taste, but those who are with an appetite towards "Praveena" or "Chiththee" won't like this at all!
Don't know much about "Desperate Housewives" fans would like this or not
