From LankaNewsWeb
‘Randiva’ publisher, businessman Ravi Wijeratne, has decided to pay one month’s salary as compensation to the staff and close down the newspaper after June. Also, ‘Irudina’ and ‘Sunday Leader’, published by Leader Publications owned by businessman Asanga Seneviratne, will be closed down this week, the management has decided, reports say.
The management has told the staff to find a sponsor and continue with ‘Sunday Leader’ if possible. However, it has permanently decided to close down ‘Irudina’, whose editor is Jatila Wellabada. Its staff accuses Wellabada of trying to boost the image of Mahinda Rajapaksa, while the circulation of the unofficial newspaper of the UNP dropped from around 100,000 copies to mere 2,000 copies.
In addition, ‘Mawbima’ and ‘Rivira’ newspapers are on the verge of closure, say sources at the two newspapers. These two newspapers are in this plight because they are not getting any advertisement of state institutions, which they mainly depend on for their existence.
It is unfortunate that the closure of these newspapers would mean that nearly 100 journalists and close 1,000 other staff will be left without a job.
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