Kadirgamar cancels private media group's TV license

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 February 2004, 06:17 GMT]
Sri Lanka'a Ministry of Information and Daily Communication, which is controlled by President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Monday, cancelled the TV operating license of Asian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), a successful private media group that runs five FM radio stations. No official reason was given for the sudden move to stop ABC from starting its TV channel. ABC will challenge the decision in courts, sources said.

Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, a close confidante of Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga, was appointed as Minister for Information and Daily Communication hours before Parliament was dissolved on 7 Februrary.

The ABC operates Hiru, the popular Sinhala radio station and Sooriyan, the widely listened to Tamil FM radio station. It also operates sha (Sinhala) and Sun, Gold (English) FM broadcasts.

ABC obtained license for starting a TV station in November 1995.