Sri Lankan media report record profit

Friday 16 Dec 2011
Sri Lankan Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella said that all government-owned media institutions have reported a record increase in income during the last two-and-a-half years when most world media institutions were facing a financial crisis, the Asian Tribune reports.
 
The Minister said that the Independent Television Network has earned a net profit of Rs 501.3 million (US$4.41 million), the Film Corporation has also turned out to be a profit-making institution and the income of Rupavahini (the National Television which operates channels on all the three languages) has steadily increased.

Mr Rambukwella also said that there was an era when journalists were instructed on what they should write with a pistol held to their head, and that era was over.

The Minister pointed out that among many programmes to enhance the knowledge of journalists, the government has granted Rs 100,000 (US$880) each to around 100 journalists for various courses.

 Galle District Parliamentarian Manusha Nanayakkara said there were 32 television channels and 49 radio channels functioning in Sri Lanka. He added that the government owned four television channels and nine radio channels.