Monday, 27 May 2013
Taj TV channel owned by Ten Sports has reportedly managed to get the broadcasting rights of the India-Sri Lanka cricket tournament scheduled to be held in 2017.
The India-Sri Lanka cricket tournament consists of two test matches, five one day matches and three 20-20 matches. Sri Lanka Cricket has sold the broadcasting rights of the cricket tournament to Ten Sports at US$ 1.1 million for each day of the tournament.
The Indian Cricket Board charges US$ 6.5 million per day from Ten Sports for broadcasting rights.
Sources from Sri Lanka Cricket say that Sri Lanka stands to lose Rs. 4 billion in revenue by selling broadcasting rights of the tournament for US$ 1.1 million per day when it could have been easily sold for at least US$ 3 million per day.
Unconfirmed sources say that the Rs. 4 billion in revenue lost by Sri Lanka Cricket by selling broadcasting rights of matches up to 2020 for US$ 46 million per year has been divided among the bosses at Sri Lanka Cricket.
Following is the manner in which the monies had been divided:
Namal Rajapaksa – US$ 5 million
Mahindananda Aluthgamage – US$ 3 million
Jayantha Dharmadasa – US$ 2 million
Nusk Mohomad – US$ 2 million
Nishantha Ranatunge – US$ 2 million
Hilam (head of tour organizing) – US$ 0.5 million
Ajith Fonseka – US$ 0.5 million
Asanga Seneviratne (former vice president) – US$ 2 million
The transaction was reportedly coordinated by Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Nishantha Ranatunge. He had traveled overseas with former head of the Interim Committee Upali Dharmadasa and had entered into the agreement without the approval of the President or the executive committee of Sri Lanka Cricket.
Since the term of office of the President and executive committee of Sri Lanka Cricket is two years, parties interested in the board have questioned as to how an agreement could be entered to cover seven years. Sources from Sri Lanka Cricket say that the situation has got worse since the current head of the board; Jayantha Dharmadasa does not act independently and is a puppet manipulated by others.
Journalist arrested for aiding and abetting Thero to commit suicide
MONDAY, 27 MAY 2013
A journalist has been taken into custody by the CID on charges of aiding and abetting Ven. Bowaththe Indarathana Thera who committed suicide by setting fire to his body opposite the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
Several other journalists too have videoed the incident.
