Dharman says that Mr. 10 percent is now Mr. 15 percent
Monday, 28 January 2013
Media Advisor to the Economic Development Ministry, Dharman Wickremaratne it is learnt is telling the staff of advertising departments in local newspapers that Minister Basil Rajapaksa is no longer Mr. 10 percent since he is now Mr. 15 percent.
Wickremaratne has made this comment in connection to collecting 30 percent from the newspaper advertising offices for each advertisement published by the Economic Development Ministry – 15 percent for the relevant advertising agency and 15 percent for the Minister. Sources from national newspapers say that the respective newspapers were facing many difficulties due to Wickremaratne’s actions.
Wickremaratne has made arrangements for all advertising of the Economic Development Ministry to be given to advertising agencies affiliated to him. He earns the usual 15 percent in giving advertising assignments to national newspapers. However, he has managed to take a commission amounting 30 percent inclusive of 15 percent said to be for the Minister.
The decline in advertising has compelled the managements of national newspapers to agree to Wickremaratne’s demand although it was unfair.
Every week, the Economic Development Ministry publishes at least six full coulour one page advertisements that cost around Rs. 6 lakhs each. Therefore, the six advertisements would cost Rs. 3.6 million. Therefore, 30 percent of this amount would be around Rs. 1,080,000. The total amount earned by Wickremaratne using Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s name amounts to around Rs. 4.3 million monthly.
Sources from national newspapers say that Wickremaratne earns an additional amount through advertising in daily newspapers as well.
Also, large amounts of monies are spent on advertising agencies that produce the relevant advertisements. However, all the money spent on producing the advertisements are also taken by Wickremaratne since the advertising companies are either owned by him or affiliated to him. Therefore, he most often uses his company,' Live Media', to produce advertisements for the Economic Development Ministry. Media circles stated that this practice as 'Dharman's new media guide'.
Uncorrected Full Parliamentary Hansard Report – Impeachment Of Shirani Bandaranayake
We publish below the full Hansard document of the Impeachment Of Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. The Priciple content of the document; Resolution as per Article 107(2) of the Constitution for a motion of Parliament to me presented to his excellency the President for the removal of the Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs) Upatissa Atapattu Bandaranayake Wasala Mudiyanselage Shirani Bandaranayake from the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka – Passed
Incentives for those who cultivate Basil’s seeds
Monday, 28 January 2013Persons who reap a good harvest after planting the seed packets distributed by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa under the Divi Neguma programme are to be given many incentives.
The seed packets were distributed through the Grama Seva Niladharis island wide and many people who had received them have complained that the seeds could not be cultivated properly and there was no proper harvest. The Grama Seva Niladharis have said the complaints have dot be directed to Basil Rajapaksa’s ministry. The reason the seeds have not given out a proper yield was due to the fact that the seeds had passed its expiry date.
Each seed packet contains seeds of about 10 varieties of vegetables and the seeds had been imported by several leading companies. The Economic Development Ministry had spent millions of rupees for this contract to import seeds and the relevant companies in turn had paid millions of rupees as commission to the Economic Development Minister.
The relevant officials now claim that they cannot be held responsible for the low quality seeds since the transaction is now over.
