Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana emphasized in Parliament that if the Channel Eye, was not provided on a rental basis, there would not be a Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation today.
Minister Dr. Gunawardhana stated this while replying to a question raised by NPP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake under Standing Orders 27/2.The Minister further said that the SLRC has made a loss of Rs.1,660 million since 2018. Emphasising that the decision to rent out the Channel Eye was made for the purpose of running the institution. The Minister said that if anyone proved that fraud has occurred and fraud in this transaction, he will resign from his Ministerial position.
There are several matters that need to be explained to the country and the people regarding the SLRC. The SLRC has been bankrupt
since 2018. It has incurred loss of Rs.579 million in 2018, Rs.150 million in 2019, Rs.574 million in 2020 and Rs.362 million in 2021.In early 2022, the loss has been reduced to Rs.25 million. During the whole period, the total loss incurred by the SLRC is Rs.1660 million.
The Central Government has given money every year for the maintenance of the television. The Government has allocated Rs.182 million in 2014, Rs.374 million in 2015 Rs. 284 million in 2016 and Rs. 188 million in 2017,Rs. 467 million in 2019. Rs.263 million in 2020 Rs.549 million in 2022 and Rs.251 million in this year.
This institution is even not in the position of paying the electricity bill at the end. When I received this advance, the first thing I did was to pay the electricity bill. All Rs.75 million were used for the corporation. If there is fraud or corruption occurred, anyone can go to Court. If it is proved that such a thing happened, I will resign.
I am thankful to Anura Kumara Dissanayake for giving me the opportunity to state the facts about this incident which caused a lot of controversy in the media and social media in recent days. The air time belonging to Channel Eye, owned by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation , has not been leased to a private company for six months.
This channel has not been sold to any company. The air time has been provided to VI Broadcasting Company for six months on rental basis for Rs.150 million per month.
The Board of Directors has been empowered to carry out the relevant transaction in accordance with the provisions of the SLRC Act. I table Section E of the Act.
Also, as mentioned above, approval has been given to VIS Broadcasting Company under the rental basis. That approval was given because of my legal authority as the Minister in charge of the subject. And no lease agreement has been signed for this.
I am tabling the MoU signed between VIS Broadcasting Co. You can now check the MoU. It is also explained about the things that were done for the amount of Rs.75 million. Also, as the Minister in charge of the subject, I have not advised any illegal activity. This was approved because I have the authority which was entrusted with my by the Parliament as the Minister in charge of the subject at the time of passing the Bill.
“When we presented this to the Cabinet, the President said that this should not be brought to the Cabinet. He said that the Board of Directors has the right to run a business. The President said this even when I took the Cabinet papers to him regarding the removal of the ‘Pandu karanda’ tree. I worked in that way.
At the time of calling expressions of interests, we do not put the desired one. Anura Dissanayake has also served as a Cabinet Minister. The Cabinet paper is not written by the minister but the Secretary.
The SLRC was in a position where it was impossible to run.