President to merge Rivira & Leader companies!
- Sunday, 22 December 2013
The president has decided to merge Rivira Media Corporation and Leader Publications, both of which are under the control of the Rajapaksa family.
Noting that the financial and propaganda performances of the two institutions do no justice to the high costs, he has told the owners to merge both and form a vast media institution. Leader Publications has been bought by Asanga Seneviratne and Rivira Media by Colonel Prasanna Wickramasuriya from Arpico chairman Sena Yakdehige using the money given by casino businessman Ravi Wijeratne.
According to reports reaching us, Rivira Media needs more than Rs. 10 million a month for maintenance, Ravi Wijeratne has pointed out to the president, and noted it was pointless to continue so any further. Leader Publication too, is facing a similar situation. The president has told Col. Wickramasuriya and Seneviratne to merge the two institutions.
Under the merging plan, ‘Sunday Leader’ is to be published on Sundays and ‘The Nation’ as a daily, while ‘Rivira’ to continue both as a daily and a weekender, while ‘Irudina’ as a weekender to cater to UNP and others in the opposition.
Once merged, the president has advised, the Sinhala publications should have senior journalist Upali Tennakoon, presently living in the US, as the consultant. He has asked for a monthly salary of Rs. one million.
Meanwhile, the president has decided to appoint lawyer Gyrika Perusinghe as the Lake House chairman, but he is yet to make any response to the offer. That is because incumbent Bandula Padmakumara is making devious plans to remain in the position. Karunaratne Paranawithana, named to be the Rupavahini Corporation chairman, has asked the president to give him any institution other than a media institution. He is presently engaged in politics in Ratnapura.
According to reports reaching us, Rivira Media needs more than Rs. 10 million a month for maintenance, Ravi Wijeratne has pointed out to the president, and noted it was pointless to continue so any further. Leader Publication too, is facing a similar situation. The president has told Col. Wickramasuriya and Seneviratne to merge the two institutions.
Under the merging plan, ‘Sunday Leader’ is to be published on Sundays and ‘The Nation’ as a daily, while ‘Rivira’ to continue both as a daily and a weekender, while ‘Irudina’ as a weekender to cater to UNP and others in the opposition.
Once merged, the president has advised, the Sinhala publications should have senior journalist Upali Tennakoon, presently living in the US, as the consultant. He has asked for a monthly salary of Rs. one million.
Meanwhile, the president has decided to appoint lawyer Gyrika Perusinghe as the Lake House chairman, but he is yet to make any response to the offer. That is because incumbent Bandula Padmakumara is making devious plans to remain in the position. Karunaratne Paranawithana, named to be the Rupavahini Corporation chairman, has asked the president to give him any institution other than a media institution. He is presently engaged in politics in Ratnapura.
