News

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

Published

2 months 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

Landslide warnings extended

Published

5 hours ago

September 30, 2023

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The Department of Irrigation says that the water levels in the Kelani River and Attanagalu Oya are rising to levels that requires attention.

Director of the Hydrology and Disaster Management Division of the Irrigation Department S. P. C. Sugeeshwara says that the Gin, Nilwala and Kalu Ganga remain at the flood level.

Many roads in the vicinity of the rivers have been inundated.

S. P. C Sugeeshwara warns that people should refrain from further using the rivers.

The landslide warnings issued to seven districts have also been extended, due to the prevailing weather conditions.

The Met Department predicts that the heavy showers in the South West will continue.

Heavy showers of about 75 mm can be expected in some areas.

News

“SLPP Leadership can change if needed”

Published

7 hours ago

September 30, 2023

editor

Former President Mahinda Rajapaska yesterday said that there should be a change in the leadership of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), if the need arises.

When the former President was asked about the veracity of the news on social media about imminent change of the SLPP leadership, said that he is not aware of any change in the leadership.

The President was speaking to the media after calling on Mahanayake Thera of the Rammanya Maha Nikaya Most Ven. Makulewe Sri Wimala Thera at the Vidyawasa Pirivena in Meerigama yesterday.

Commenting on the impending regulations on social media, the former President said that there are pros and cons in the social media. “I don’t have any issue with the social media,” he said.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa also visited the Sacred Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya and participated in religious activities. The Former President also met Chief incumbent of the Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkitha Thera and received his blessings.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, the former President said that he is physically fit despite social media reports to the contrary.

(dailynews.lk)