CSN Rupavahini stops

CSN Rupavahini stops!

It is understood that CSN Television Channel supposed to be belonging to Yoshitha Rajapaksa is to be closed down as a result of a decision taken by

the administration authorities.

As a result, it is reported that all its employees have been given holidays from last 24th while about 30 employees have been compensated and their services removed. In the meantime it is learned that Singha FM Radio which is affiliated and is being operated under CSN Channel is to absorb a section of these employees. 

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayaka revealed at the last interim budget that no tax payments due to be paid to the government has been paid by this channel. As a result of a new tax being imposed, Rs. thousand million was incurred by the last budget, it was said that a tax for over 6 broadcasting towers for sports channels would be imposed; and as a result the only channel that came under the hammer was the CSN Channel which is not in a position to pay such a huge tax and therefore it has decided to wind up this way. There is information to say that in order to build up this channel, the past regime had made use of State property in an improper way and in order to reap better benefits the authority to broadcast cricket games had been given political patronage. 

In the process, rumours spread around that salaries of certain officers of this channel were paid by the Presidential Office. Yasara, the former fiancee of Yoshitha Rajapaksa had functioned as the chief of this channel. This channel had taken great pains to popularise the game of rugger in Sri Lanka as well as racing while it had grabbed broadcasting rights over cricket and because they were broadcast in a manner the majority of those in the island were unable to see it, accusations were made against this channel that the game of cricket was made inconspicuous.

Together with an agreement with the news channel known as 'CCTV' in China, a repeat broadcast of their news was being operated in Sri Lanka. Though CSN television which was under Carlton Network, was closed down, the Singha FM Radio Channel is still in operation.