News

Channel Eye will lease airtime to Lyca Group – Bandula (Video)

Published

2 years ago

August 16, 2023

editor

Sri Lanka’s state-run Rupavahini Corporation will lease airtime of its Channel Eye to UK based Lyca group to earn revenue and mitigate losses, Information Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.

“A few hours of airtime would be leased to Lyca group for cricket broadcasts for which 25 million rupees would be charged for a month,” Minister Gunawardana said.

“At the moment it is making losses and cannot even pay the electricity bill.”

When the transaction was brought to cabinet for approval, he was informed that the matter was within the purview of the Board of Directors of Rupavahini Corporation.

The transaction with Lyca group came from a proposal made to the board.

“I have instructed them to call for public bids for a longer term contract to lease airtime for sports and entertainment,” Minister Gunawardana said.

“I addressed the directorate and made it clear that whoever, locally or internationally, may be willing to purchase air time of the channel may come forward and purchase under a tender, starting from 25 million as a base rate, and possibly even at 200 million at best.”

The board of directors have been appointed to earn revenues and turnaround the state enterprise.

“If you have any other suggestions to earn revenues we are willing to consider it,” Minister Gunawardana said.

The Lyca Group’s broadcast entertainment arm consists of Lyca Productions, which has produced Kollywood blockbusters such as Ponniyin Selvan I (2022) and II (2023), Vada Chennai (2018); along with Tollywood blockbusters Pushpa (2021) and RRR (2022), the latter which went onto have an international release in the United States and Japan, after becoming India’s highest opening-day grossing film to date.

(economynext.com)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by economynext.com has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Special security measures implemented for Easter

Published

7 hours ago

April 17, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka Police Headquarters has announced that steps have been taken to implement a special security program in view of the upcoming Easter celebrations.

As Easter services are scheduled to be held on April 18 and April 20, 2025, special police security will be deployed to ensure the safety of devotees on those dates.

Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya has issued instructions to all Senior Deputy Inspectors General of Police (Senior DIGs) in charge of all provinces, Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), and Officers-in-Charge (OICs) in this regard.

Accordingly, the Acting IGP has further instructed officers to identify churches expected to attract large crowds as well churches where major religious services are held, to ensure security in and around those locations.

The Police, Special Task Force (STF), and tri-forces personnel are to be deployed to ensure security during the Easter celebrations.

News

Hot weather to continue

Published

7 hours ago

April 17, 2025

editor

A warm weather advisory has been issued for residents of the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Southern and Eastern provinces and in Rathnapura and Monaragala districts.

The heat index – the temperature felt by the human body — is expected to rise to the ‘Caution Level’ in several areas tomorrow (April 18), according to the Department of Meteorology.

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News

5 including a police officer, arrested with Rs. 30 Mn.

Published

7 hours ago

April 17, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka Police has arrested five individuals, including a constable from the Western Province Intelligence Division, in Dondra Head.

The arrests were made early this morning, and the suspects were found in possession of approximately Rs. 30 million.

According to the police, the Special Task Force (STF) acted on a tip-off and conducted a search of a vehicle, leading to the arrests.

The five individuals, including the police constable, were taken into custody by the STF.

Investigations are currently being conducted under the supervision of the Police Narcotics Bureau to determine the source and intended use of the large sum of money.

(News1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)