Archives

by Uditha Kumarasinghe 

The People's Alliance (PA) yesterday expressed its opposition to the Government for providing radio transmission equipment to the Voice of Tigers through Norway.

"This is totally against the Customs procedure and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Act", PA Media Spokesman Dr. Sarath Amunugama told the PA weekly media briefing yesterday.

"The equipment for the Voice of Tigers was consigned to the Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo. This has been reported in newspapers and there has been no contradiction from the Norwegian Embassy. This raises many doubts about the neutral role of the Norway in the peace process", Amunugama added.

He said the equipment has been cleared by the Secretary to the Prime Minister without any Customs inspection. The equipment has been transported to the Wanni without any checking. The Government has not responded to the information provided in the media.

"There are Acts governing the SLBC, SLRC and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Parliament has also set up a Central Authority with powers of assigning frequencies and broadcasting facilities. There is absolutely no evidence that it has been consulted.

"So this is an illegal act and the Government has contravened to the laws of this country which has been passed by Parliament", he said.

He said the SLBC has a broadcasting facility in Wanni and a broadcasting station in Ponkudithivu in the Jaffna peninsula. Both were made inoperative by the LTTE. The Government has not taken any action to activate them. If there is peace, the first step would be to carry the peace message of the Government to the people of Jaffna and Wanni. The Government has failed to do so.

"We will look into the possibility of taking action in Parliament against the Mass Communication Minister as to why the SLBC is not exercising the powers given to it under the SLBC Act. Even the Norwegian Government is collaborating to break these laws".

The equipment given to the Voice of Tigers will enable it to reach not only the South, but also the North and even South India.

"There is an annexure to Indo-Lanka Accord which clearly says that the Government of Sri Lanka should discuss with the Government of India any matters pertaining to broadcasts that will go beyond the country. The Government of Sri Lanka is obliged to at least inform if not get the approval of the Government of India to set up these facilities".

Amunugama said this type of transmission equipment can also be used for military purposes. There is no special technology for civilian broadcasting and another technology for military broadcasting.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager