Sinhala Cinema Database 2017 - Redesign

Project Overview

The Films.lk website was redesigned and developed by Isura Wickramarachchi in 2017, representing the third major generation of Sri Lanka's largest online Sinhala cinema database. Building upon the award-winning 2009 platform and the feature-rich 2011 redesign, the 2017 version introduced a cleaner visual interface, improved database performance, simplified navigation, and a stronger focus on presenting cinema information in a modern, content-first layout.

The redesign reflected the enormous growth of the database over the previous decade. By this stage, Films.lk had evolved into the country's definitive digital archive of Sinhala cinema, documenting more than 9,000 artists, over 1,800 Sinhala films, and more than 10,000 photographs. The platform continued its mission of preserving Sri Lanka's cinematic heritage while making historical and contemporary film information freely accessible to researchers, filmmakers, students, journalists, and cinema enthusiasts worldwide.

Design & Structure

The 2017 redesign adopted a clean, minimalist, content-driven interface with a modern colour palette of white, black, grey, orange, and blue, placing greater emphasis on photography, movie posters, and database content.

The homepage featured:

Large responsive featured slider.
Latest released films.
Upcoming film releases.
Featured artist profiles.
Artist biographies.
Film posters.
Film details.
Browse by decade.
Award ceremony archive.
Theatre directory.
Search facility.
Responsive advertisement placements.
Simplified navigation.
Footer quick links.

Compared with the 2011 version, the homepage reduced visual clutter and prioritised large images, faster content discovery, and improved readability while maintaining quick access to the site's extensive database.

Key Features

Dynamic PHP/MySQL database.
Comprehensive Sinhala film archive.
Artist biography database.
Film database management.
Browse films by decade.
Award ceremony archive.
Theatre directory.
Latest release management.
Upcoming film management.
Artist profile management.
Image gallery management.
Movie poster archive.
Responsive advertisement management.
Advanced search.
Administration panel.
SEO-friendly architecture.
Cross-browser compatibility.

Database Statistics

By the 2017 redesign, Films.lk had expanded to become the largest digital archive of Sinhala cinema, containing:

9,000+ Artist Profiles
1,800+ Sinhala Film Records
10,000+ Photographs
Thousands of movie posters.
Historical award records.
Artist biographies.
Theatre information.
Film production details.
Classic and contemporary cinema archives.

Technical Highlights

PHP/MySQL database-driven architecture.
Third-generation custom Cinema Content Management System (CMS).
Optimised relational database.
Faster search functionality.
Improved database indexing.
Responsive content presentation.
Enhanced image management.
Advertisement management system.
Streamlined administration interface.
Search-engine-friendly URLs.
Performance optimisation.
Cross-browser compatibility.

Significance

The 2017 redesign of Films.lk marked the evolution of a project that had been continuously developed by Isura Wickramarachchi for nearly a decade. Beginning with the original launch in 2009, followed by the comprehensive 2011 redesign, the third-generation platform modernised both the technology and user experience while preserving one of Sri Lanka's most valuable digital cultural resources.

Rather than simply updating the appearance, the 2017 redesign focused on improving usability, scalability, and long-term maintainability. The simplified interface enabled users to browse thousands of artist profiles, film records, posters, and historical archives more efficiently while ensuring the rapidly expanding database remained easy to manage and navigate.

With a collection exceeding 9,000 artist profiles, 1,800 Sinhala film records, and 10,000 photographs, Films.lk further strengthened its position as Sri Lanka's largest online Sinhala cinema database and one of the country's most significant digital heritage projects.

The platform continued the legacy established by the original 2009 award-winning website, which received the Best Entertainment Website Award at BestWeb.LK 2009, while demonstrating Isura Wickramarachchi's long-term commitment to preserving the history of Sinhala cinema through technology and continuous innovation.

Isura Wickramarachchi is a Sri Lankan author, historical researcher, web technology innovator, and social entrepreneur. He is best known as the creator of "Mahawansa Pradeepikawa", a comprehensive historical publication that presents the genealogy, portraits, and history of nearly 200 Sri Lankan monarchs in a modern, visually engaging format. The project combines historical research with digital technology, featuring QR codes that connect readers to an online knowledge platform containing expanded historical content, videos, and interactive resources.

Beginning his career in the fields of tourism and information technology, Wickramarachchi later founded isandi CREATIONS, one of Sri Lanka's pioneering web development companies. Over the past two decades, he has designed and developed hundreds of websites for clients in Sri Lanka and overseas. His award-winning projects include films.lk, Sri Lanka's first dedicated Sinhala cinema website, and mahawansaya.com, a digital platform preserving and promoting Sri Lankan history.

Driven by a passion for making history accessible to younger generations, Wickramarachchi spent approximately ten years researching more than 300 historical sources to produce Mahawansa Pradeepikawa. The 650-page, full-colour publication contains over 200 reconstructed royal portraits, more than 180 family trees, and detailed references designed to help readers understand the evolution of Sri Lanka's royal lineage. The work integrates traditional scholarship with modern visual learning techniques to encourage children and young adults to appreciate the nation's heritage.

Beyond his work as an author and technology professional, Wickramarachchi has actively contributed to numerous community development initiatives, including educational support programs, projects for children with special needs, blood donation campaigns, school infrastructure improvements, and digital literacy initiatives. His work reflects a commitment to using technology, education, and historical knowledge as tools for national development.

Through his publications, digital platforms, and public initiatives, Isura Wickramarachchi continues to promote Sri Lanka's history and cultural heritage while demonstrating how technology can preserve historical knowledge for future generations.