Good deal for Bathiya and Santhush from Mattala Airport
Thursday, 14 February 2013
The publicity campaign of the opening of the Mattala Airport has been handed to singers Bathiya and Santhush on a directive by MP Namal Rajapaksa although the two singers do not have any experience in advertising or publicity. The only experience they have is to support Namal Rajapaksa’s Tharunyata Hetak.
The publicity campaign was first handed over to Neela Marikkar’s advertising company, Grants Advertising. A sum of Rs. 210 million was allocated for the company to carry out the campaign. The Rs. 210 million included a publicity campaign locally and internationally. After receiving the contract, the company had invested Rs. 20 million of its monies to carry out the initial campaign work by even getting down foreigners to the country.
However, MP Namal Rajapaksa has ordered that Grants Advertising be given the foreign campaign while the local campaign is given to Bathiya and Santhush. The local campaign costs Rs. 125 million. Bathiya and Santhush have not carried out such a massive publicity campaign. They do not even possess the infrastructure facilities required for such a campaign. In reality, the campaign would be given to one of Namal Rajapaksa’s advertising companies by using Bathiya and Santhush as the front men. The massive commission money involved in the campaign was the reason for its hijacking in this manner.
Grant Advertising had handed over the campaign to a veteran in the industry, Fred Arumugam, who is the founder of the Sirasa media network. Sirasa media network was his concept. It was Fred Arumugam who had employed the late Nimal Lakshapathiarachchi to the network at the time. It is learnt that Arumugam is displeased with what has happened with the event.
Gihan gets top post while Janaka and Ajith clash
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Chairman of the Export Development Board (EDB), Janaka Ratnayake and Ajith Panditaratne from people’s Leasing Company are at loggerheads to be appointed to the post of Chairman of People’s Bank. Meanwhile, it is learnt that a relative of senior UNP MP John Ameratunge, Gihan Ameratunge it to be appointed to the top post at People’s Bank.
Acting Chairman of People’s Bank, Ajith Panditaratne is engaged in attacking his opponent, Ratnayake through the media. In response, Ratnayake has met the President and asked to be appointed as the People’s Bank Chairman considering his support to the government during the impeachment of the former Chief Justice.
The President is aware that both these characters are undesirable persons in the media field.
The President has therefore decided to appoint John Ameratinge’s nephew, Gihan Ameratunge to the People’s Bank. The President believes that it would be suitable since John Ameratunge was supportive of the government despite being an opposition member.
