Employers in Sri Lanka generally operate clumsily due to the lack of job security for journalists.
As a result, it is essential that we journalists work together and pursue it.
The former news manager of the Laika Mobile-owned Aadhavan media company, Kalavarshni Kanakaratnam, who was let off without warning or explanation, received a one million rupee settlement yesterday (18).
On May 24, 2019, Lyca, the parent business of Aadhavan, fired some of the organization’s top-level positions without providing a justification.
He said that despite pressure from several members of the organization’s London headquarters and Ceylon office to resign immediately, he was unable to do so without good reason.
After that, his office permit, permission to upload news site was revoked and he was forcefully fired.
A week later, in a letter from the Aadhavan company, they informed that the company was in dire financial straits and hence the layoffs.
Kalavarshni had filed a case against this unfair practice at the Colombo-Poralai Industrial Tribunal. He had also registered a complaint at the Bampalapitiya police station.
While this case has been dragging on for about 4 years, Aadhavan Media Company, owned by Lyca Mobile Company, agreed to pay a compensation of one million rupees on June 23.
Accordingly, the compensation was given yesterday (18) in the presence of the Chairman of the Industrial Court.
Journalist Kalavarshni commented to the media in this regard
“I wouldn’t call it a success. The reason is that the net worth of a journalist is not just 1 million rupees.
But it will serve as an example to my fellow journalists and a lesson to employers. They will think twice to evict without reason.
“The reason why I have settled for so much less than the compensation I demanded is because I have been struggling alone for the last four years without any help. You will know about the income of journalists.
“In that case, one reason is that it cannot be carried forward continuously. Next, what happens to those who have fought for justice in this country is not something I need to say openly. A series of phone calls from various people from that company is a testimony to this.
“All the five media organizations in our country who are walking around with the banner saying that they are working for the media have not opened their mouths on my issue.
Those organizations that only report immediately when something happens, or at least don’t report at all.
“The lack of job security for journalists in our country allows employers to do whatever they want. Therefore, it is necessary for us as journalists to unite and strive for it,” he said.
Lyca Mobile, a leader in the telecommunications industry in London, has bought many companies including Ben Holding in Sri Lanka with huge funds and has started new media companies such as Tamil FM and Oruvan website in addition to media platforms such as Aadhavan TV, Aadhavan Internet, Aadhavan Internet Radio.
It is also noteworthy that after mentioning in his dismissal letter that his company was facing a massive financial crisis, he spent several million at Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo on July 19, 2019 to celebrate the purchase of new companies in Sri Lanka.
