By Priyath Liyanage Head of BBC Sinhala Service

Udugan Yamaya is set in the rural Sri Lanka of 1989.

Film is based on the experiances of a child caught up in the terror engulfed the country during the time of the JVP uprising.

The insurgency is raging, but it hasn't yet touched the life of nine-year-old Sirimal, who lives an idyllic life with his mother and his boatman father, helping him ferry passengers across the river every day.

Sirimal is adored by his father who is easily softened by his son's beaming smile.

One day his father is requested to ferry a group of strangers with guns over to the island, and they are shortly followed by the army.

Gun battles and arrests soon ensue and Sirimal's world is changed forever by his father's disappearance.

Getting Sinhala films out of SL  Making films in Sri Lanka is a difficult task but there are few of us who struggle to put Sri Lanka on the map. Director Sudath Devapriya

As their local society descends into anarchy and bloodshed Sirimal and his mother desperately hang on to hope, setting out on a quest to find the missing parent.

The film touches the experiances of the families of thousands of families who are still waiting for the return of their loved ones.

The exploitation of their grief and the physical and emtional helplessness of the victims is discussed in the film with sensitivity.

Mauli Fernando, shines as Sirimal with the support of Veteran actors Suminda Sirisena and Chandani Senaviratne .

“It is important to get our films shown out of Sri Lanka.” Said Sudath Devapriya, who is attending the festival with his film.

“Making films in Sri Lanka is a difficult task but there are few of us who struggle to put Sri Lanka on the map.” He said.

Udugan Yamaya will be screened on Sunday the 24th and Thursday the 28th at the Times London Film Festival.