ABC Network MD warned and discharged for Contempt of Court

The Supreme Court yesterday warned Raynor Silva, the Managing Director of Asia Broadcasting Corporation Network Pvt. Limited and discharged him of the charge of contempt of the Supreme Court.

Raynor Silva was charged with contempt, for failing to submit to the Supreme Court, an accurate report of the news bulletin, broadcast by the ABC Network, late last year, referring to an LTTE attack on a village in Tissamaharama.

In this case, Silva in a rights violation application, had complained to the Supreme Court that the Media Minister had withdrawn the broadcasting licences issued to the ABC Network channels and that the decision of the Minister had been arbitrary.

The withdrawal of the broadcasting licences had occurred subsequent to an allegedly inaccurate news bulletin broadcast by the ABC, referring to the LTTE attack, on the villages of Ranminithanne.

Sanjeeva Jayewardene, Counsel for the petitioner Silva, told Court that Media Minister had restored five channels to the ABC Network, but the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission had issued only sixteen frequencies sufficient to feed three channels only. The TRC has to restore the other ten frequencies, to feed the other two channels.

The Court directed the TRC to consider the granting of the balance 10 frequencies. The proceedings were terminated.

Senior State Counsel N. G. Pulle, appeared for the Media Minister and the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission.

The Bench comprised the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justice Andrew Somawansa and Justice J. Balapatabandi.