ABC Chief discharged from contempt proceedings

Wasantha RAMANAYAKE

The Supreme Court yesterday after a warning discharged Asian Broadcasting Corporation Managing Director Raynor Silva from contempt proceedings.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC with Justice Andrew Somawansa and Justice Jagath Balapatabendi. The MD was asked to explain as to why he had misled the Court in the pleadings of his affidavit tendered along with the rights application of ABC after dismissing the Fundamental Rights case filed by ABC.

The MD later pleaded innocent and stated in the affidavit that he had not intentionally misrepresented or suppressed facts by way of his affidavit.

Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardane for the ABC submitted that pursuant to the court order the Media Ministry granted the Media licence to operate five audio channels.

ABC, the petitioner in the rights application sought a court directive to quash the order of suspension of its broadcast licence by the Media Ministry.

The Media Ministry had suspended the ABC licence due to the broadcast of false news that had created panic among the people in the South, in October last year. Sanjeewa Jayawardane with Rajeeva Amarasooriya instructed by Sudath Perera Associates appeared for Raynor Silva.

President’s Counsel Palitha Kumarasinghe with I. Idroos appeared for the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and its Director General.

Senior State Counsel Nerin Pulle appeared for the respondents.