The PM started a national media centre to disburse official information irrespective of the media ministry and the information department being there, in order to counter the media secretary’s interference, a spokesman for the PM’s office told Sri Lanka Mirror.
Ex-minister Imtiaz Bakeer Marker assumed duties as chairman of the centre yesterday (19).
Coming under the supervision of the PM’s office and located at Visumpaya, it will have Saman Athaudahetti (additional secretary to the prime minister), Ranga Kalansuriya (director general of information) and Dharma Sri Bandara Ekanayake (director general of president’s media) as members of its board.
A sum of Rs. 75 million has been set aside as expenses of the centre for the remainder of the year.
Most recent clash
The most recent clash between the PM and Bopage is over a decision by ITN to change its name and the night programme line up on the former’s instructions.
The PM was angered by a twitter message posted by Bopage two days ago, in which he criticized midnight programmes being made more suitable for adults.
I am firmly against such programmes which are damaging to our culture and children, the media secretary said.
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