Anti-government protestors in Sri Lanka today broke into the state-run TV Rupavahini and took over the broadcast. The channel, thereafter, was taken off-air.
As per PTI’s report, the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) said that its engineers have suspended their live and recorded telecasts as the corporation premises are being surrounded by protesters.
A group of protestors who had entered the premises had demanded that they run only news related to ‘anti-government protests’ and entertainment programmes, a SLRC official said, as per Newswire Lanka reported.
The protestors were given 15 minutes to convey their side of the story to viewers from the studio, fter which the channel suspended transmission.
The channel, however, later resumed the broadcast, reports said.
One of the protestors, among those who took over the channel, said during the broadcast: “Until the struggle is over, the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation will only telecast programs of the Jana Aragalaya.”
"Until the struggle is over, the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation will only telecast programs of the Jana Aragalaya," a protester said during a live broadcast. The National TV channel is now off-air. pic.twitter.com/jsIcdnEyUq
— NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) July 13, 2022
Another protestor, who appeared on the broadcast, said: “Rupavahini TV should be unbiased media institution hereafter.”
" Rupavahini Tv should be unbiased media institution hereafter " A protestor who entered into the Sri Lanka National Television.#LKA #SriLanka #SriLankaCrisis pic.twitter.com/1XS6eEVtVW
— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 💉 (@SriLankaTweet) July 13, 2022
Earlier in the day, security had been beefed up outside the TV network’s office to “protect it from being stormed” after protesters demanded a “live broadcast”.
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