May 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka cinema industry sources say that 74 cinema halls were closed within the past two decades while only a few were added.

The country has a fleet of 184 cinema halls currently, but the owners of many of them lament that they are not profiting and nearing to closure. Many halls in remote areas remain closed in most of the days of the week and have only day time shows due to lack of spectators.

Industry sources said that the 80 million spectator base of 1970s has now collapsed to 12 million. No movie was shown for 100 days in one hall for the past period and only three passed 50 days, cinema industry sources said.