Top ministers to be grilled over ITN fiasco

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

Several top ministers and parliamentarians are to be grilled in the coming weeks over the alleged non-recovery of payment, from former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, owed to State-run Independent Television Network (ITN) for publicity over the network during the 2014 -2015 presidential election campaign.

The alleged financial manipulation, amounting to Rs. 115 million is currently being investigated by the Commission of Inquiry into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges.

The special Police investigation team of the CoI, headed by ASP Lalith Abeysekara, recorded statements from former Chairman of the ITN Anura Siriwardane, former Secretary to the Media Ministry, Charitha Herath, and United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Parliamentarian, Dullas Alahapperuma, last week.

According to public complaints received by the CoI, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had failed to pay Rs. 115 million, due to the institution for his election advertisements telecast during the 2015 presidential election campaign.

Secretary to the Commission, Lacille de Silva, said the channel had charged double the amount for airtime from common opposition presidential candidate, Maithripala Sirisena. Following the presidential election, ITN had reimbursed Rs. 8.9 million to President Sirisena for non-telecast of advertisements already paid for by the candidate.

“The CoI believes the non-recovery of dues from the former President for his election propaganda on ITN has caused severe financial loss to the media institution and this needs explanation,” de Silva said.

President Maithripala Sirisena appointed the special CoI in pursuance of the provisions of Section 2 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act (Chapter 393), by Extraordinary Gazette No. 1904/57 dated March 6, 2015.

The CoI is chaired by High Court Judge Preethi Padman Surasena and comprise Amendra Seneviratna, Vikum Kaluarachchi, Gihan Kulatunga and former Auditor General B.A. Premathilake . A special police team of 80 officers are attached to the CoI to investigate complaints.