A disciplinary inquiry was conducted in to the Rupavahini’s live telecast of UNP’s special annual convention on September 03, where its Presidential Election nominee Sajith Premadasa’s name had been ratified.
The Defence Ministry conductied this inquiry on the directions of President Maithripala Sirisena, official sources said.
Accordingly , chairperson of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation(SLRC) Inoka Sathyangani and Director General Saranga Wijeyaratne have been summoned by the Defence Ministry to show cause of approving the live telecast of UNP special convention.
SLRC Chairperson Inoka Sathyangani has miserably failed to answer the questions in relation to violation of Rupavahini Corporation act by live telecasting a political convention when she appeared before the inquiry officer senior official Vineetha Mayadunne yesterday.
The inquiry officer barred the entry of SLRC employ carrying the relevant documents and files on behalf chairperson when the inquiry was about to commence at defense ministry in Colombo on Tuesday 15, officials said.
The live telecast was stopped abruptly after Election Commission officials visited SLRC, following several complaints they received about the live telecast from the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.
The officials inquired as to why the live telecast of the proceedings of a political party was being aired, when strict guidelines had been issued regarding the misuse of State resources with an election pending.
Officials at SLRC had said the UNP had paid for the telecast, at which point they were asked to produce the receipts given for such a payment.
As they were unable to show the relevant receipts, the EC issued a letter to the SLRC Director General, stating that an inquiry would be conducted into the misuse of State resources during election time.
SLRC officials handed over the receipt to the EC last evening, sources at the department said.
(LI)