Politicians involved in illegal transmission of Indian cable TV programmes

By Yohan Perera   

Some politicians in the North, East and few elsewhere are involved in illegal transmission of Indian cable TV channels here, Sri Lanka Broadcasters Guild alleged yesterday.   

Convener Sri Lanka Broadcasters Guild Nuwan Liyanage told Daily Mirror that these politicians charge a fee from the local subscribers. “These politicos make use of dish antennas and cables to transmit the Indian cable TV programmes. They transmit programmes to small groups of subscribers. 

“One prominent politician from Puttalam is also engaged in this racket. It is going on in the estate sector as well. We don’t know whether the Indian channels are aware of this racket,” he added.   

He said this kind of racket is being carried out at some apartment buildings as well.   

Meanwhile, he alleged that reload cards are used to watch Indian TV cable channels in areas such as Wellawatte.   

“We have met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake some time back and informed him about it. He then appointed a committee comprising representatives from the media ministry, Telecom sector, defence sector and the broadcasting sector to look into the matter,” he said.

“We hope that the present government will put an end to this racket which has been going on for decades,” he also said.