Mahinda orders Aussie tour rights given to Rupavahini

By Uditha Jayasinghe

The controversy surrounding Carlton Sports Network has dimmed at least for the time being with President Mahinda Rajapaksa giving an order to Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to give the broadcasting rights of the upcoming Australia tour to Rupavahini.

The Minister responding to questions by the media during the weekly Cabinet briefing yesterday assured that there would be no change in the broadcasting rights provided that Rupavahini can present adequate bid money. However he did not elaborate as to how much money should be bid or when the allocation of broadcasting rights would take place.

“The president gave me a direct order to give the broadcasting rights of the upcoming Sri Lanka- Australia tour to Rupavahini as they are the company that normally undertake it. This was done because there has been much discussion about the Carlton Sports Network bidding for the tour. So now the issue is solved,” he insisted.

However he stressed that if a specialised sports channel such as Start sports or Ten sports were to bid for a tour the government would consider it and that there was no prohibition for other specialised companies to come forward. Nonetheless until such bids are made the customary State channels will continue to telecast cricket tours.  

Previously there was much controversy caused by the bid of Carlton Sports network where several discrepancies and unethical behaviour was revealed through the media.