'Sirasa Super Star' dislodges 'Rajatha Rashmi'(LeN-Nov.04, 4.00 pm) Secretary to the Ministry of Media and Information W.B.Ganegala has ordered he Rupavahini authorities to immediately suspend 'Rajatha Rashmi' program which was launched to coincide with the Rupavahin's 25th anniversary.
A spokesman of 'Rupavahini' said the suspension was prompted by the misappropriation of huge amount of money.The goal of the program was to select the best young talent of the country in singing and preliminary competitions have so far been held in four districts - Kurunegala, Galle, Kandy and Colombo. But a staggering 30 million rupees have been spent as production cost for interviews held in these four districts.It is reported that each member on the selection panel had been paid 10,000 rupees per day and with hotel and transport charges this amount was reported to have exceeded Rs. 70,000. For the program held on October 18th , Rs 580,000 had been spent and the payment for artistes was Rs. 184,000. The cost for food and lodging for nine persons was Rs. 200,000.
The preliminary selection contests were to be conducted until February 15th.Rupavahini employees claim not even a sponsor had been found for the program and alleged it was a money squandering project with no benefit whatsoever for the Corporation. The Ministry Secretary has ordered a full probe on the funds spent so far on the program. 'Rajatha Rashmi' was designed to counter the popular 'Sirasa Super Star' program, but the Rupavahini's bid to outdo 'Super Star' had failed and Rupavahini sources said that Rajatha Rashmi had been suspended today before today's commencement of the second round of Sirasa Super Star program as it is unable to face it.A total of 51,000 candidates had participated in 'Sirasa Super Star' program.
A spokesman of 'Rupavahini' said the suspension was prompted by the misappropriation of huge amount of money.The goal of the program was to select the best young talent of the country in singing and preliminary competitions have so far been held in four districts - Kurunegala, Galle, Kandy and Colombo. But a staggering 30 million rupees have been spent as production cost for interviews held in these four districts.It is reported that each member on the selection panel had been paid 10,000 rupees per day and with hotel and transport charges this amount was reported to have exceeded Rs. 70,000. For the program held on October 18th , Rs 580,000 had been spent and the payment for artistes was Rs. 184,000. The cost for food and lodging for nine persons was Rs. 200,000.
The preliminary selection contests were to be conducted until February 15th.Rupavahini employees claim not even a sponsor had been found for the program and alleged it was a money squandering project with no benefit whatsoever for the Corporation. The Ministry Secretary has ordered a full probe on the funds spent so far on the program. 'Rajatha Rashmi' was designed to counter the popular 'Sirasa Super Star' program, but the Rupavahini's bid to outdo 'Super Star' had failed and Rupavahini sources said that Rajatha Rashmi had been suspended today before today's commencement of the second round of Sirasa Super Star program as it is unable to face it.A total of 51,000 candidates had participated in 'Sirasa Super Star' program.
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