The appointment of Indika Marasinghe, a Deputy Director of the Set and Props Unit of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), to the position of its News Director has led to an internal crisis in the SLRC.
Sources said that Marasinghe has not yet assumed duties in the new position as of yesterday (29), since he had requested the position of Deputy Director of the Set and Props Unit along with the position of News Director.
They said that there were objections by the news staff to Marasinghe when he was working as Acting News Director a few years ago. The staff members have once again expressed their opposition to Marasinghe and therefore, it is learnt that he will unlikely to accept the Director post.
Meanwhile, the staff members are also of the opinion that Tilak Mahagamage who was appointed to the position of News Director following a proper interview cannot be removed without any charges.
Mahagamage has been appointed as the Director of the Set and Props Unit when there is already a director in that unit.
Internal sources said Mahagamage, who was appointed as the News Director following an interview, cannot be demoted and given a lower position as well.
It was also reported that News Director Mahagamage has been accused of not allocating more airtime for news related to Mass Media Minister Bandula Gunawardana, but no investigation has been conducted in this regard so far.
Meanwhile, Minister Gunawardana has also been accused of removing SLRC Chairman W.B.Ganegala from his post.
It was also said that individuals within the government had expressed their displeasure towards Minister Gunawardana for removing Ganegala, who is a renowned civil servant, from the Chairman position without asking him to resign.
