Wakeup call for ITN

Long before the Supreme Court judgement on banning the use of loud speakers resulting in noise pollution was delivered; on 11th June 2006 I addressed a letter under registered cover (No.1233) personally to Mr. Anura Siriwardhana, Chairman, ITN to do away with the boring and annoying musical interlude in telecasting the news headlines in the ITN. I received his reply dated 23rd August 2006 that several changes were envisaged and that my request would be granted then.

As there was no favourable response to my request, on 06.09.2006 I addressed a letter personally to Mr. W.B. Ganegala, Secretary to the Media Ministry also under registered cover (No. 0020) with copy to Mr. Anura Siriwardhana, Chairman ITN (Reg. No.0021). I received a reply from Mr. Anura Siriwardhana dated 13.10.2006 that my request would be considered. Yet nothing constructive took place and the old abominable musical interlude continued unabated. In utter desperation I addressed His Excellency the President on 26.10.2007, bearing in mind how His Excellency solved the despicable episode of the cruel withdrawal of the pension receipt by restoring it. (R. 6395). Needless to emphasize that it was yet another monumental bureaucratic blunder. Most probably my concerned letter did not reach His Excellency and there was no reply. Failing all my attempts I decided to address the dynamic Secretary to His Excellency Mr. Lalith Weerathunga on 3rd January 2008. Very strangely I did not receive even an acknowledgement. Very probably my letter may not have reached him.

So, in utter desperation I decided to bring the facts to public domain through the courtesy of the print media for information of all concerned. I would humbly invite the discerning public to articulate their views on the issue.

I represent a cross section of the older generation and voice the opinion on their behalf as well. Most of us endure the disturbance by way of an unwelcome musical interlude in telecasting the headlines in the news bulletin. We are only interested in the day-to-day war situation in the country. With the heart rending news of violent carnage that takes place day in and day out isn't there a moral obligation to telecast news in a solemn and sober atmosphere? Pray, of what earthly use is a musical interlude especially in the modern context. It is most repulsive to the discerning.

Moreover, let me quote the authentic opinion of Dr.P. Kariyawasam in the Island of Wednesday 12th December 2007. He states inter alia "…Noise not only causes irritation or annoyance but also it does constrict the arteries and increases the flow of adrenaline and forces the heart to work faster." That is what ITN news is doing every day at 7.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. Most people, I mean the oldies, do not keep awake to view the English News telecast. ITN potentates, wouldn't it be better for you to free yourselves of the pre-conceived ideological positions in which you all are entrenched. We only endure the traumatic nuisance because we love, adore and cherish the war heroes who sacrifice their valuable lives for the sake of our beloved motherland. We only request a change for the better in telecasting news sans a burden to the exchequer. The hoi polloi bear up the crumbling escalating cost of living without a murmur and a fuss what so ever. So our grievance in this regard should be heard and addressed by the powers that be.

With all the protests ITN mandarins have the audacity to brag and pontificate that it is the family channel. My foot. Just observe how clear the Rupavahini news is. Please take a leaf from Rupavahini and put the kibosh into your damn nonsense forthwith by making amends even at this very late stage lest your much flaunted pro-people credentials would be irreparably dented. Over to you Mr. Minister of Media.