NewsA television network owned by the family of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was suspended by the island's telecom regulator Tuesday, worsening a power struggle in the fractious ruling coalition. The closure of Telshan Network comes days after the station criticised President Maithripala Sirisena, who promised to end an era of draconian restrictions on the country's media. Sirisena, who rules in an unsteady coalition with Wickremesinghe, has specific oversight of the telecom regulator and the decision has aggravated frictions between the men. The network, owned by Wickremesinghe's eldest brother, was shut after the regulator accused its owners of defaulting on licence fees. Soon after being elected, Sirisena had lifted the internet censorship and media restrictions used freely by his predecessor, strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse.

Source: Sunday Times June 05, 2018 14:48 UTC