Rajapaksa's advertising outside standard operational procedures:

ITN's internal auditor cries foul

By Dhaneshi Yatawara

An internal audit carried out by the State-owned Independent Television Network (ITN) has revealed the actual value of all the advertisements telecast in support of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's candidature during the 2014 - 2015 presidential campaign to be Rs. 101.7 million.

Chief Internal Auditor of ITN, Nuwan Manjula Alagiyawanne, making a statement before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources, and Privileges (PRECIFAC) on October 16, said the three advertising agencies that placed electronic advertisements on behalf of candidate Rajapaksa has so far settled Rs.70.8 million of the total amount owned.

The three advertising firms have been identified as Leo Burnett, Media Factory and Spell Solutions.

Alagiyawanne said it was not possible to discover through the audit process, any document to prove whether there was any special package offering free airtime to Rajapaksa. "This happened outside the standard operational procedures of the institution. This made it difficult to ascertain whether there were any special agreements for free or extra air time," he said.

The PRECIFAC continued with regular hearings on Friday (16) after Thursday's public hearing had to be postponed when Gamini Marapone PC, who watches the interests of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, objected to the composition of the Commission. However, objections were overruled by the Chair, High Court Judge Preethi Padman Surasena.