The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) says that the use of communication devices including mobile phones that are not registered with the commission will be prohibited in the country in the future.
TRCSL Director General, Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Bandula Herath, stated that the objective of this move is to halt the illegal importation of communication devices into Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, the TRCSL plans to introduce a special initiative for this purpose by the end of the month.
However, the Director General emphasized that the new programme will not affect the mobile phones currently in use.
Commenting on this, the TRCSL Director General further said, “The people of the country have had to face various difficulties and obstacles by purchasing illegal communication devices that do not meet proper standards. Preventing the sale of such devices to consumers is a main responsibility of our institution. To address this, we plan to implement an automated system by the end of this month. The goal is to educate the public and ultimately stop the illegal importation of mobile phones into the country.”
He further stated that under this system, no mobile phones currently in use would be blocked, and there would be no obstacle for foreigners to use their mobile phone devices.
Former Minister Mervyn Silva and two other individuals were granted bail today (July 03) by the Gampaha Provincial High Court.
They were released on a cash bail of Rs. 200,000 and five personal sureties of Rs. 5,000,000 each.
Additionally, the court imposed overseas travel bans on them.
The defendants were strictly warned to refrain from influencing witnesses and were ordered to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every Sunday.The defendants were previously remanded over allegations of selling a state-owned land in the Kiribathgoda area using forged deeds.
Monara TV, launched with much fanfare just a year ago under the Swarnavahini media network, has reportedly shut down operations.
Employees have been informed that the closure is temporary, citing the need to resolve certain administrative issues.
The channel, led by Buddhika Wickramadhara, was ceremonially launched on June 25, 2024, with a grand event at Waters Edge.
Producers who supplied teledramas to Monara TV say they are owed nearly Rs.200 million in unpaid dues.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the parent Swarnavahini TV channel is also reportedly grappling with a serious financial crisis, paying teledrama producers only after 60 episodes are broadcast.
Producers claim they are compelled to wait about 03 months to recover an investment of around Rs.15 million per teledrama. Even then, payments are made in small portions, covering just 05 episodes at a time.
Producers who supplied teledramas before the appointment of Mr. Susara Dinal as CEO say it is even harder to claim their outstanding payments, as they have been asked to recover the dues from former CEO – Udara Wijesinghe.
The Swarnavahini Media Network is owned by Subaskaran Allirajah – Chairman of Lyca Group, which also owns Lycamobile, a global telecommunications company.
