Kandy: The state media institutions which were making substantial profits in 1994 are now running at a heavy loss due to politicisation of the management by the previous government Media Minister Imitiaz Bakeer Markar told the media briefing at the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy.

The Rupavahini Corporation, and the Broadcasting Corporation are also running at a heavy loss the Media Minister said at the meeting after paying homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic.

The loss at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation is around Rs. 150 million the minister noted saying that it is due to inefficiency and lack of proper management.

Some announcers had been recruited even without passing voice test. Voice is very important for a radio announcer. But this qualification was overlooked due to ‘political qualifications’, he noted.

As it is the policy of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe not to discriminate employees on political difference, steps have been taken not to remove any employee of a state media he said.

However, following criticism over an article in the Sunday Observer, we are now compelled to re-consider this state policy he warned.

A member of the judiciary has been appointed to inquire the Sunday Observer article, he said.

He assumed that no room would be allowed to criticise or attack any religion by the state media.

The minister made this observation in response to Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyaratne who said that the Sunday Observer article denounced the importance of the Sacred Tooth Relic the most venerated object of the Buddhist world.

Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyaratne cautioned the minister about the freedom of the media and the Sandeshaya of the BBC to which permission is given once again to broadcast in Sri Lanka.

The Sandeshaya too attacked the venerated places in Sri Lanka in the past, he said.

Later the minister called on the Mahanayaka Thero of Asgiriya Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkita Thero who blessed him to continue services successfully maintaining peace and amity in the country.

The prelate told the minister that President Kumaratunga expressed the desire to cooperate with the UNF government in all its endeavours to establish peace and goodwill among the different groups.

Ven. Galagama Sri Attadassi Anunayake Thero was also present.

Secretary, Ministry of Media Kumar Abeysinghe, Kandy Deputy Mayor Z. A. M. Rasik, Gemunu Abeysundera and several others accompanied the minister.