Upul, Thushara to say goodbye to ‘Mawbima’; Tiran is alone!
Dec 21, 2015
Managing editor Thushara Gunaratne and Upul Joseph Fernando are to say good bye to ‘Mawbima’ owned by Tiran Christopher Alles, which is presently incurring a loss of Rs. 35 million a month, say sources at the newspaper. The newspaper had a monthly circulation of around 200,000 about a year ago, but now, its print order for the Sunday issue is 27,000, while it is a mere 8,000 for the daily paper, say the sources.
The management had decided against holding the planned annual Christmas party for the employees on December 23. For that, every employee had to contribute two per cent from their last month’s salary. Since the employees have started asking questions about the money thus collected, Tiran has now decided to obtain a loan and hold the party, to prevent employees from asking as to what had happened to the money deducted from their salaries, purportedly for their welfare.
Tiran is continuing with the newspaper despite the losses because he well knows that no politician will give him a second thought if it is closed. Also knowing that he cannot get close to prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, he is now making a big attempt to get close to president Maithripala Sirisena, through Killy Maharaja and Shiral Lakthilake, according to the sources.
Thushara and Upul have made plans to start a national newspaper, together with the first investor for ‘Irudina’ and notorious deal striker Pasan Madanayake, on behalf of the UNP, and the preliminary discussions have now ended. It is reported that education minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam is behind this newspaper. The trio wants to balance the PM, through Akila, who has started the project to get support for his future political plans.
Although Pasan has got Thushara and Upul to join the new newspaper, they have decided against accepting Manel Dharmakeerthi alias Banda. They are of the view that Manel is the key person responsible for the collapse of ‘Mawbima.’ By now, only he is left in the marketing division, after the departures of chief executive Saranga Wijeratne, assistant advertising manager Ravindra Lakmal, marketing manager Thushara Jayasuriya, assistant marketing managers Suraj Pathirana and Kapila Bandara, advertising planning executive Jeevantha Gamage and marketing executives Ranga Gamage and Jonathan Daniel, marketing manager Jeevani Gangabadaarachchi and assistant advertising manager Charith Kumarasinghe. Manel was behind the departure of Saranga, but Tiran never gave him that position. Wishing all those leaving ‘Mawbima’, Manel tells them that the newspaper collapsed due to the mad politics of Tiran. Tiran and Thushara blame it on Manel’s having expelled Saranga. After coming to know that Thushara and Upul will not get him to join the new newspaper, Manel is saying publicly these days that “I am looking for a job in Australia. I will leave soon after getting one.”
In addition to those who have left the marketing division, assistant general manager (distribution) Nandana Weerasekara, general manager (printing) Athula Dassanayake, Shanthi Ruwanpathirana (manager credit control) and all staff of the layout department are presently at talks to join the new newspaper.
