Election Commissioner brings SLBC, SLRC under Competent Authority

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 March 2004, 12:58 GMT]
The Commissioner of Elections Mr.Dayananda Dissanayake Monday brought the State controlled Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLRC) and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) under a Competent Authority (CA). Mr.W.D.Lakshman Perera has been appointed as the CA with immediate effect, Election Department press release said.

The Election Commissioner took this step using his powers vested with him under Section 27 (2) of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution in the wake of several complaints from opposition political parties that the State controlled electronic media have become the propaganda units of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), political sources said.

UPFA is led by President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge after she took over from the United National Front government in November last year.

A retired Director General of Customs Mr.Lakshman Perera will operate from the Election Secretariat with immediate effect under the supervision of the Election Commissioner as the Competent Authority.

This is the first time an Election Commissioner of the country has taken this drastic step to stop abuse of State media, political sources said.