National television staff goes on strike over salary delay

25 August 2022 06:22 pm - 17 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A few hundreds of staff members of the country’s national television Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) went on strike this morning for several hours, when they did not receive their August salary till this evening.

All six trade unions of the SLRC backed by over 200 staff members in various categories from the production to the labourer resorted to a work stoppage around 10.00am today as they had not received their salaries, as scheduled to be on every 25th of the month, sources said.

Sources within the national television told the Daily Mirror that a sum of Rs.65 million was supposed to be remunerated amongst a permanent staff of over 800 employees in the SLRC every month, which had not been made by this day morning as its financial management could not find such money.

The unions backed by the employees stopped all work except for the running telecast of its programmes yesterday for several hours until late afternoon, where ongoing discussions between the union leaders and the top management had resulted in the latter agreeing to pay the salaries before evening.

A spokesperson for one of the trade unions said the utter mismanagement of the institute had lead to this crisis, where it has become impossible to at least pay the employees’ salaries on time.

According to TU sources, the problem has started in early 2020 when one of the two main income generators of the television, of National Lotteries Board (NLB) live telecast of draws, had been taken out from the SLRC and had been given to the other state owned television service Independent Television Network (ITN).

The SLRC was generating a substantial amount of its monthly income through producing and telecasting the two weekly live lottery drawings of NLB and DLB (Development Lotteries Board) prior to 2019.

However, with the electing of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2019 and soon after in the following year, both the production and the telecast of the NLB drawing session had been taken out from the SLRC and the telecast rights had been given to the ITN. The production rights of the NLB programme had been given to state owned production house Selacine Television Institute.

The income from the NLB programme’s production alone generated a sum of Rs.40 million per month to the SLRC and all that had been transferred to the Selacine causing a severe revenue loss to the national television.

But very few had the knowledge that the actual production of the NLB programme had been awarded as a sub contract to a private production house owned by a prominent media secretary of ex-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

However, with this sudden loss of income the Treasury had agreed and had been paying the lack of funds to the SLRC for many months until that too was stopped several months ago.

Since, then the television was struggling to pay for their own staff and even the over time money of the staff was reduced by 50% once before about four months ago and the remaining 50% has not been paid to date, the source said.

The utter mismanagement of the state institute witnessed the transfer of its top two management posts, the Chairman and the Director General for four times between 2019 and 2022 to date being them the political appointments, the sources further said.

Attempts made to contact SLRC Chairman for comment was not successful. (Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana)

Comments - 17

Sugath Thursday, 25 August 2022 06:44 PM

Seriously. Its August and employer has all powers to pay them within same month. Sri Lanka never going to be developed country till these mond set of the people changed

Mahila Thursday, 25 August 2022 06:51 PM

Lack of Money (USD and resultant starvation of the populace) is the ONE AND ONLY, 'Paramount News' in Sri Lanka these days!! They didn't get “theirs”, decided to deprive sharing News all others!! No winners or Losers???!!!

Sampath Thursday, 25 August 2022 06:51 PM

What ? August is not over yet ?

Must strike until pay improves Thursday, 25 August 2022 07:30 PM

Government always has excuses. The estate workers just to get 1000 a day had to go through much turmoil while the well paid managers and owners complained they could never provide. Similarly the government is like that refusing the needs of state sector and state corporation workers. There is nothing but complete shutdown and refusal of skilled staff that will force the government to become respectful of staff, and later general public.

Marie Thursday, 25 August 2022 07:32 PM

Apply the general rule. If SLRC is running at a loss (obvious if they don’t have money to pay staff salaries) privatize it.

Mahila Friday, 26 August 2022 02:48 AM

Golden Rule prevalent in Sri Lanka, NEWS is property of Government!!!?? None other?? Therefore sadly, but realistically can't be PRIVATISED??!! Making Loses is their hobby and pastime!! Unalienable Sovereign Right, exercised on behalf and Benefit of SRI LANKANS as delegated to SLRC??!!

Under employed Friday, 26 August 2022 02:34 AM

Shame, if you are not happy then quit your job. There are many without jobs. Be thankful of what you all get these days.

Ghana sara Friday, 26 August 2022 03:16 AM

Useless channel anyway no one watches this anymore better to close it and send Everyone home. From the beginning it served no purpose. Budu saranang

Ram Friday, 26 August 2022 03:40 AM

Please send Dr Mervyn and he will make them work

Ram Friday, 26 August 2022 03:46 AM

Employees cannot be held responsible for the losses. It is the management that changes with the change of the Minister. The management must be appointed from the Administrative service with people who have delivered well. This should apply to all institutions

Lumbini Friday, 26 August 2022 05:15 AM

Rupawahini is a propaganda arm of the government. Just close it down or sell.

Demuni Uduwara Friday, 26 August 2022 06:47 AM

You all too contributed the management to mislead the majority for which repercussions are being followed!

No more tax man Friday, 26 August 2022 07:22 AM

Pls do not use our tax money to pay these laundry people

Maverick Friday, 26 August 2022 09:15 AM

Seriously? Did you even read the article? The causes of this issue, including complete mismanagement and Maina’s corruption, are very clearly detailed in this article. Knowing the corruption and greed that resulted in their suffering, do you expect these people to stay silent? They deserve justice, and not your ignorance

stop tax to SOE Friday, 26 August 2022 07:26 AM

All SOEs eating public tax money should privatized or PPP. Why treasury paid our money to them

Raymond Rodrigo (Journalist) Friday, 26 August 2022 10:13 AM

Very soon all the State and Private Media will join hands and come to the streets until Ranil and his 134 henchmen are chased away.

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 26 August 2022 12:09 PM

Useless employees, almost 90% hench-aiyas with political affiliation. These political ponnaya's should be kicked out.

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National television staff goes on strike over salary delay

Comments - 17

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