( June 21, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Film director Somaratne Dissanayake, the new Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, is unabashedly using the State television channel for self-promotion. One of his films is screened every Friday night on the “Sala Roo Siri Sara” segment of Rupavahini. A cursory glance at the station’s programme lineup showed that Mr. Dissanayake aired his production “Saroja” on June 5; “Punchi Suranganavi” on June 12; and “Sooriya Arana” on June 19. Another production, “Samanala Thatu”, is scheduled to be screened on June 26.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Mr. Dissanayake would sell sole media rights of all his films to Rupavahini, thus ensuring that these are repeatedly screened on the public-owned television station. Mr. Dissanayake’s wife, Renuka Balasooriya, has also worked her way back into the lottery programmes she once hosted on Rupavahini. She had been absent for many years. It is strange that proponents of the “Yahapalanaya” gimmick have not commented on these clear conflicts of interest.
Meanwhile, television circles are abuzz with the news that, not long after Mr. Dissanayake became Chairman, a tele drama produced and directed by Nadeeka Chandrasekera was abruptly cancelled. Nadeeka, a popular actress, had openly supported former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The drama, titled ‘La Sanda Pamula’ apparently did not attract sufficient advertisements. Not as many, one assumes, as Mr. Dissanayake’s old films do.
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