'We provide a commendable national service'

Our national newspapers provide a commendable national service and it was proved again and again last year. That is why we earned Rs. 663 million by selling national newspapers and Rs. 2,270 million through advertisements, said Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd, Chairman Bandula Padmakumara addressing employees yesterday marking the first working day of the New Year.

"We are the government print media institution. No matter what allegations are pointed at us by government opponents, it is our duty to communicate the government's development activities to the people and working to take forward Mahinda Chinthanaya - Vision for the Future. There is no doubt that the company's chief editors and staff carry out that task properly, the Chairman added. He emphasized that Lake House cannot be brought down by opponents.

Weekly papers popular

Our weekly papers have become more popular, he said, adding, last year we were able to add three more weekly papers Arogya, Manchu and Vidunena among other papers Tharuni, Budusarana, Subasetha, Navayugaya and Vidunena. Namaskara magazine which was launched last year has also become popular among the public. There is no doubt that Vidunena has also become more popular among students who sit for the grade five scholarship examination. We will take measures to establish a separate section to publish education magazines and books under the name Lake House, he said.

"This new year, our main objective is to uplift the Commercial Printing Department. Last year this department earned Rs. 381 million and our aim this year is to enhance it up to Rs.648 million. We were able to buy a web offset machine in 2010 for the Commercial Printing Department at a cost of Rs 136 million. With that we could print Adds magazine which is offered with the Sunday Observer. We had to spend another Rs 74 million to modernize the machine and it will be in operation from January 4. Then the Adds magazine will be printed with more pages and the same type of magazine will be issued with Silumina. We bought a CTP machine for the Commercial Printing Department by spending Rs 13 million.

"Another Rs 69 million has been allocated to buy a new four colour machine. We succeeded by earning a profit from the Vesak and Christmas greeting card printing project and we hope to enhance it this year," the Chairman said.

A few weeks ago in Parliament, opposition MP Gayantha Karunathilake said Lake House has no profit. He said so by considering wrong facts, the chairman pointed out adding, "as a responsible parliamentarian and a media spokesman of the UNP he should be embarrassed to make such a baseless speech.

He also mentioned about a team who provided these wrong statistics to him. I think you know them so I won't talk about them. Our employees should change their attitudes and show such politicians the correct path."

Profit-making

"I address you this happy new year with humble joy because we ended 2011 showing a profit in the company account report. The profit was Rs. five million.

This may look small when comparing it with the Rs. 3,385 million earning, but it is a big profit when comparing with the 2010 loss of Rs. 359 million. I remind you that the main reason for the big loss in 2010 was due to the allocating of over Rs 172 million for the workers who retired voluntarily," he said.

The chairman also thanked the Director Board and staff for their contribution in making profits. They made a contribution that matched their salaries, benefits and job safety. I think that they set an example for those who receive everything but do not make a contribution to the company.

We allocated over one third of last year's income for the welfare and salaries of employees. Rs. 631 million was allocated for salaries while Rs. 89 million was allocated to pay overtime.

The amount allocated to pay the Cost Of Living (COL) was Rs. 327 million. According to my knowledge, no other state institution in the country pays such a high amount of COL. Your Lake House is the only state institution that pays four and half months bonus and an attendance bonus. For this Rs. 164 million is allocated, Chairman Padmakumara said.

"Rs. 90 million is allocated for providing school books and school bags for the children of employees in the end of the year, to offer gifts for the employees' children who got through the year five scholarship examination, to provide money for the employees to buy books in September etc.

Increments

"Salary increments were given to all employees. According to a proposal of the managers, two salary increments were given to employees who carry out a productive service and three salary increments were given to employees who showed excellent performance," he said.

Salary anomalies of many employees, executives and managers were removed. Other salary anomalies and unjustifiable conditions will be solved this year. In 2010, there were some complaints about the canteen which provides food for about 2,033 employees but no complaints were received last year. Rs 45 is charged for a lunch but a payment of Rs 60 is added to the salary of an employee. Rs. 81 million is allocated to pay a premium for the insurance scheme provided to all employees and their families. An employee has been given an insurance coverage of Rs. 125,000.

The company has a doctor, a nurse and a medical team, and a pharmacy which offers medicine free of charge. Rs. 15,000 allocated for OPD treatment. I want to highlight another important thing. We are able to add Rs. 1,000 to this year's salaries. According to the decision of the Director Board, this will be added to the salary from April.

The company has also allocated Rs. 3.2 million for the employees with risks who do not get covered by the insurance. I point out that in 2010 the employees received Rs 82 million as insurance benefits, he said. Now we are in a new year. We have challenges and aims. The Director Board and I know that the workers have a positive mind to win all challenges. We will show our enemies that no one can do anything to the Lake House, he said.