It looks as if Carlton Sports Network a TV channel started by the
sons of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is on the verge of a
serious financial crisis which could even lead to its closure.
The government through its interim budget which was presented to
Parliament yesterday imposed a onetime tax of Rs. 1 billion on all
sports networks that dodged taxation. Although Capital Maharaja
Organization also has a sports channel, the TV station, according to
sources, has a clean tax file.
Sources from CSN told on Friday
that the company was not in a position to pay Rs. 1 billion to the
government by way of taxes. This means the company which is also on
the verge of losing its cricket broadcasting rights has been plunged
into a serious financial crisis.
In this context, observers say, the closure of the controversial sports channel, is very much written on the wall.
It was awarded the rights for three years by Sri Lanka Cricket in May 2012, despite an earlier Cabinet decision to award the rights to SLRC. At the time, speculation was rife that the deal was fraudulent.
A month later, Sri Lanka Cricket was forced to admit
that CSN did belong to Namal Rajapaksa and Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the two
elder sons of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
However, SLC defended the decision to award rights to CSN, claiming that the deal took place according to proper procedures.
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