Media Minister Bandula Gunawardana has said that the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) will be amalgamated to form one company due to the continuous losses incurred by the two entities. 

This proposal had been mooted at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass Media.

The details were revealed when the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass Media met in Parliament on 23 November under the Chairmanship of Minister Gunawardana.

Presenting statistics from 2015, Gunawardana had reportedly pointed out how the two channels had made losses, adding that SLRC had made a loss of Rs. 277 million in 2023 and that SLBC had made a loss of Rs. 457 million in 2023. 

Gunawardana had pointed out that it was difficult for the Treasury to provide funds for these channels and that there were plans to convert the SLRC and the SLBC into a public company. The Cabinet has decided to appoint a committee to take further action in this regard.

The consultative committee had also been informed that the State media did not provide enough publicity for the various development projects implemented by the Government. 

Gunawardana had noted that public media should broadcast the inconveniences of the public who are affected by various dilapidated buildings, roads, bridges, etc., as well as inform the public about the facilities that have been provided to the public following the development.