The PM was angered by a twitter message posted by Bopage who has expressed his views against a decision by ITN to change its name and the night programme line up.

Wickremesinghe has asked him as to whether it was the media ministry secretary who made policy decisions of the country.

After the present government took office, the SLRC and SLBC were brought under the president’s supervision, while the PM is responsible for Lake House and ITN.

The PM appointed his additional secretary Saman Athaudahetti as the ITN chairman, and he has completely reorganized the institution and its programmes.

Accordingly, Lakhanda radio was renamed ITN FM, Wasantham television as Wasantham TV and Wasantham radio as Wasantham FM, and their logos were changed.

Also, midnight programmes were decided to be more suitable for adults.

Yesterday, Bopage telephoned the chairman and inquired him about the ministry not being informed about these decisions.

He noted that the opposition might take strong reservations to adults programmes, and that that might place the government in a difficult situation.

The secretary asked that such decisions be not taken at a time when both the media minister and the deputy media minister were overseas with the president.

Responding, Athaudahetti has said that this was done as per a policy decision taken by the government, and also that the media secretary would not be affected as ITN came under the finance ministry.

Thereafter, Bopage posted the twitter message expressing his protests.