Today(26th May 2020) Ministry of Information and Mass Media has decided to withdraw their decision revoke the Terrestrial Television Broadcasting License of the Carlton Sports Network (Private) Limited (CSN).
In Sri Lankan sports fans perspective today is a good day since at the time CSN was operational they broadcast every major sporting event in the world.
On the other hand in the taxpayers’ point of view at the time CSN was operational it has diverted the government own networks revenue to them in alarming fashion, SLRC allegedly paid Rs.143 million to broadcast the 2011 Cricket World Cup, garnering Rs. 556 million as revenue, whereas the right to exclusive telecast was given to CSN for Rs.125 million, that too for three years. The security of the SLC Nishantha Ranathunga also the CEO of the CSN at the time offered the contract to his own network, in a stark demonstration of conflict of interest.
From its creation, it had been an open secret that CSN was owned by President Rajapaksa's family even though those associated with the station denied this. The Rajapaksas have always implied that they made no investment in the CSN venture and definitely did not possess the kind of wealth required to start a company.
After the presidential election in 2015 Rajapaksa family lost their governing power of the country. As an indirect result of that CSN's broadcasting license was cancelled for violating government regulations by Mass Media Ministry in October 2016.
Answering a question raised by UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena under Standing Order 23(2) of the parliament then Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake stated 3 reasons for cancellation of a broadcasting license of CSN.
1. Changing its official address without prior notice to the Secretary of the Mass Media Ministry.
2. failed to submit their audited annual accounts to the Secretary.
3. CSN had failed to pay Rs. 1,000 million rupees that were imposed on it
According to the minister 3rd reason was the most important and valid reason for the cancellation of their broadcasting license.
In their debut Budget in 2015, Good governance government purposefully targeted CSN and made them impossible to operate by enforcing 1,000 million one time tax for sports networks which has island-wide coverage at the time.
With today's decision Carlton Sports Network (CSN) set to resume its operations. Let's hope current president Gotabaya Rajapaksha won't allow old corruption to happen again.