ITN issue amicably resolved

At the discussions it was agreed to revert to the pre-october 26 status quo

The issue at Independent Television Network (ITN) was amicably resolved after discussions with all the parties concerned, Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera told Parliament yesterday.

Rs.100 million was owed by the former president to the ITN

He said this in response to a question asked by JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday. “Discussions were held with all parties concerned including Tilaka Jayasundara and others and it has been agreed to resolve the conflict in an amicable manner,” the minister said.“the government has decided to revert to the status quo which existed at the ITN prior to October 26 last year. Some workers who had opposed this move had formed ITN Surekime Savindanaya (Organization to protect ITN).”

He said the workers who protested had ignored the large scale corruption revealed by the Presidential Commission to Probe Serious Frauds. He said the commission had found Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and former minister Keheliya Rambukwella guilty of these frauds.“one of the frauds was the failure to collect Rs.100 million owed by the former president for advertisements aired during the previous presidential election.

The JVP leader who objected said the minister had failed to answer some vital questions he asked the other day. He said the minister had made some political appointments to ITN and that one of the deputy general managers appointed was Subash Jayawardene an associate of the minister.

The minister admitted that Mr. Jayawardene was known to him and that he was a former member of the JVP.